Eric & Ernie
Eric & Ernie
| 01 January 2011 (USA)
Eric & Ernie Trailers

Single drama telling the story of Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise's formative years, from child stars to national treasures. 'Big head, short legs' is Eric Bartholomew's first impression of Ernie Wiseman, but their friendship endures and, encouraged by his well-meaning but determined mother Sadie, Eric became the funny man to Ernie's 'feed'. After a successful stint in children's variety, they work their way up the ladder of live performance, but after a disastrous television debut in the series Running Wild, Morecambe and Wise learn to trust their own instincts and just make people laugh.

Reviews
Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.
Actuakers One of my all time favorites.
Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.
studioAT Morecambe and Wise remain to this day one of the best double acts of all time and this great drama from the BBC shows us their early years. We all know what happened when they achieved fame so it is nice that this drama focuses on the other side of the coin.The casting in this is great. All the actors playing Morecambe and Wise not only look the part but capture the voice and characteristics of the two men and in some places you start to think you're watching the real men.Victoria Wood is also great as Sadie, Eric's mother and her story arc is at the centre of this piece that is beautifully captured by director Johnny Campbell.My only grumble is that much like every other media piece surrounding the comedians this drama is centred more on Eric than Ernie but otherwise this is a great drama.
jc-osms I'm of that generation that religiously waited for and watched Morecambe and Wise's usually superb BBC TV specials in the mid 70's when they were at their peak (although nowhere near enough credit is given to their writer Eddie Braben) and so was very interested to watch this dramatisation of their formative years.It has to be said that their old employer does them proud with a well written, produced and acted TV movie. In truth I could find little to fault in it, my only complaints being perhaps the limited dynamic arc in the story itself and a little too much screen-time for the inspiration behind the project, Victoria Walters. That's not to say she's not good in the part of Eric's pushy, typical show-biz mother, but she takes too much focus away from our heroes, to the, as I say, slight detriment of the piece.The other main casting credits work very well, with Jim (Vic Reeves) Moir a revelation as Eric's docile dad and the young actors playing Eric and Ern as spot on as they could be with look, voice and mannerisms. They have that essential ingredient for any double-act, chemistry. The script includes some decent gags, but enough of what really matters here, drama, to make it entertaining.The duo's well-known personae are developed naturally and enough signposts are inserted to their future routines and catch-phrases to please admirers of their later work. As I indicated, this wasn't the most essential show-biz bio-pic I've ever watched but it was amongst the more entertaining of them.What did I think of it (so far)? Definitely not "Rubbish!"
Kate Howse A perfectly cast and brilliantly acted TV movie. A funny and moving portrayal of Eric and Ernie's early days together. Victoria Wood and Vic Reeves were excellent as Eric's parents. Daniel Rigby and Bryan Dick were spot on as Eric and Ernie, their facial expressions and mannerisms were excellent, almost to the point that you believed they were them! If it had been slightly longer it would have been interesting to see the relationships with their future wives expanded on a little more.A must see programme for any Morecambe and Wise fan!So why only 9 out of 10? - Because it finished too soon! I would have loved it to have gone on and told the rest of their story.
jack-552 Eric and Ernie is an accurate portrayal of the early lives of John Eric Bartholomew and Ernest Wiseman, who became household names as the popular double act Morecambe and Wise in the '60s. The story starts just before the duo met and traces their relationship through until the beginning of their successful television careers. It is told with great love and reverence though does not leave out the initial animosity felt by Eric towards the slightly older and somewhat arrogant Ernie who was already a successful child performer, nor his dislike of dancing lessons. The only significant omission, in my view, was their separation during the war when the friends were conscripted and Ernie joined the Merchant Navy while Eric was sent down the mines as a Bevin Boy to help the war effort. Eric's parents are portrayed with great tenderness by Viv Reeve and Victoria Wood. Casting two northern comics for these roles was genius as they are brought to life as natural humorists without falling into the trap of casting Eric's mother, Sadie, as simply a domineering stage mum. Ernie's own family come to life by the fact of being completely absent from the tale. There are no great surprises for anyone who knows of their early lives and careers nor any revelations or secrets revealed but it tells a fascinating tale of how two men who became comedic partners as child performers could have kept their act and their friendship fresh and vibrant throughout their acquaintance and comic careers. It is not over sentimental and is unlikely to make you cry, unless it is as a result of the laugh out loud moments with Eric's off the cuff wit and banter with his friend. I can recommend this portrayal to any fan of Morecambe and Wise - no childhood illusions will be shattered here. This is also a good introduction to anyone who does not know their work. I hope it will inspire people to find their old recordings of their various shows though you might want to miss out their early TV experience in Running Wild.