I remember seeing a 'classic' British theatrical comedy as a teenager in London, 'No Sex Please We're British' in the late 1970's and my vague recollection was it was rather good fun and despite the farcical nature of the play; usually an anathema to a cynical 14 year old; I laughed. More than once. The live action added so much to the experience. 'Noises Off' is a film about the staging of a similar production but we get to see the farce behind the farce. Or at least that appears to be the intention.
Unfortunately I did not laugh once. I smirked and appreciated the talents of the actors involved. The cast is on the whole pretty good (Carol Burnett, Michael Caine, Denholm Elliott, Julie Hagerty, Marilu Henner, Mark Linn-Baker, Christopher Reeve, John Ritter, Nicollette Sheridan, Kate Rich) and all involved do a more than passable job with the script. This comment may appear contradictory to the overall summary I have given, but I am truly baffled as to the "tears of laughter", "you'll laugh from beginning to end", "I could not stop laughing during the entire movie!", " Completely hysterical!" and other hyperbole used by many of the 'critics' on this site about this film.
I can see how the original theatrical production would have worked as a live performance and the complexity of action would have been very funny on the stage. But as a film? While it is indeed a well written piece of theatre, as a comedy film, it looses so much in translation, it just isn't that good.
So, worth seeing? Yes - but do not expect too much. If you buy this DVD, on a comedy scale, expect it to be amusing at best.
Unfortunately I did not laugh once. I smirked and appreciated the talents of the actors involved. The cast is on the whole pretty good (Carol Burnett, Michael Caine, Denholm Elliott, Julie Hagerty, Marilu Henner, Mark Linn-Baker, Christopher Reeve, John Ritter, Nicollette Sheridan, Kate Rich) and all involved do a more than passable job with the script. This comment may appear contradictory to the overall summary I have given, but I am truly baffled as to the "tears of laughter", "you'll laugh from beginning to end", "I could not stop laughing during the entire movie!", " Completely hysterical!" and other hyperbole used by many of the 'critics' on this site about this film.
I can see how the original theatrical production would have worked as a live performance and the complexity of action would have been very funny on the stage. But as a film? While it is indeed a well written piece of theatre, as a comedy film, it looses so much in translation, it just isn't that good.
So, worth seeing? Yes - but do not expect too much. If you buy this DVD, on a comedy scale, expect it to be amusing at best.