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Beyond the Pole (2009)

Director: David L Williams

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3 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

This film is a genuine oddity, fusing up-to-the-minute eco-doc aesthetics with a woolly Britcom storytelling style. When directionless losers Brian (Rhys Thomas) and Mark (Stephen Mangan) feel the urge to do something dynamic to stress the perils of global warming, their best idea is to embark on a carbon-neutral, vegetarian and organic two-man hike to the North Pole. Filming the adventure on handicam, the pair set out into the frozen wastes armed with grit, gumption and blind British optimism.

There’s a lot to like here: memorable supporting characters, a few digs at the lentil-and-patchouli crowd and some terrific landscape photography. But the script is a loose affair, meandering from set piece to set piece without building up a head of narrative steam. It’s also not funny enough and is packed with improvisational asides that may have been hilarious on set, but just doesn't work in a feature.

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London Issue 2060: 11-17 February, 2009

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User reviews of this film

Peter Bradshaw said...

Posted on May 18 2010 21:41 Sorry, but this film is not a comedy - it is funny, but it is actually a very dramatic and moving film. It should have been sold as what comedy drama rather than a goofball movie as it is much better than that. Terrific. Emotional. Inspiring.

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jax said...

Posted on Mar 04 2010 11:28 This film is the funniest thing I have seen for a very long time. I would totally recommend it.

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wowthatsbonzer said...

Posted on Feb 11 2010 03:27 This film was brilliant! I don't know how Tom saw it but sounds like he had a bad day! We saw it in a packed Cinema in San Fran and everyone loved it!

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