Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)
Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)
| 18 March 2000 (USA)
SEASON & EPISODES
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  • 1
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  • Reviews
    Patience Watson One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.
    Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
    Raymond Sierra The film may be flawed, but its message is not.
    Roxie The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;
    Flippitygibbit I refused to watch this when it originally aired, treasuring the memory of the late, lamented 1960s series with Mike Pratt and Kenneth Cope, but I can never resist a challenge. I should have known better. Not quite a remake, and more of a parody than a homage, this show didn't quite know how to play it, and plumped with infantile comedy and cartoon plots and characters. The three main characters were little more than caricatures of the actors, and only Emilia Fox could act (Bob Mortimer is painful in a straight role). The supporting cast were merely comedian-acquaintances of Vic and Bob's wanting to be part of the in-joke, and far too aware of the situation to be convincing. And the CGI, though the effects couldn't help be an improvement on those available 30 years earlier, merely dazzled the viewer with lights and camera work, and did little to mask the poor quality of the scripts and dialogue. All style and no substance. (And whereas the 1960s show is mocked for being very much of its time, this 'update' is now also very dated, with 'Matrix'-style fashions, obligatory 'girl power' scenes, and less than subtle tension between the two living leads.)
    ADAM-53 This was simply the greatest surprise of the year so far on UK TV. I must confess to not liking Vic and Bob in anything else (like the Fast Show and League of Gentlemen, they are simply not funny) but in this they pulled the trick. They were helped by some great scripts, witty invention and good special effects. Only the last episode failed to stand up to scrutiny (too much fantasy not enough of the "detective" type bit). The ratings success of this has more than justified a second series, and the ratings for once aren't wrong. Witty, humorous and poignant, and with some great actors (Fox and Baker especially) in support. I look forward to a second season of something on TV for the first time in about a decade.
    Mike Hall Don't watch this if you're expecting to see the 60's version of Randall and Hopkirk, with prettier effects. Randall and Hopkirk 2000 (as I shall call it), is nothing of the kind. It is the same TV series in name alone and that's the way it should be.Gone are the seedy back-street meetings of a TV series that seemed to be almost embarrassed to feature this fantasy element - which only arose because creator Dennis Spooner wanted to write a series about a ghost. The original Randall and Hopkirk was almost apologetic about the fact that one if its main characters was dead.Thankfully Randall and Hopkirk 2000 revels in it. The plots are a little predictable, but if you want heavy detective drama go watch Cracker. Writer Charlie Higson did what they daren't in the 60's. He had fun.The only real flaws are Reeves and Mortimer. Whoever told Vic and Bob that they can act should be shot through the lungs. That said, there has been a very clear improvement in the quality of their acting as the series has progressed.And don't even get me started on Tom Baker. The man is a genius!Roll on series two!
    ajrfx There's very little to say about this series that's not negative. It was a good idea, but Vic and Bob just can't pull it off when they're required to act, proving once again they are not Morecambe and Wise. Reeves seems to make no effort to act, he looks slightly drunk and bored, whilst Mortimer looks uncomfortable in the role of the straight man. A combination that's very dull and not funny. This isn't helped by the overall smug attitude of the production. They must assume simplistic plots, overacting and one dimensional characters are enjoyable Saturday evening viewing. The direction is flat, the dodgy camera work and pseudo-experimental editing are irritating and there was absolutely no need for all the flashy and poor digital effects work. The ghost world looks like Vic Reeves and Tom Baker in front of a blue screen and the vanishing/ appearing gag is totally overplayed. Most of all, however, it's neither funny or exciting, so what was Charlie Higson thinking of when he thought he could write all the episodes.Hopefully the BBC will learn that we viewers deserve better home grown Sci-fi comedy/drama and don't give this a second series.