Inbetweeners 2

Art & Culture

Not quite sure how you review this film. It's the same as the first one, except the boys (men, really) are a couple of years older, and it all takes place in Australia. Apart from that, it's pretty much the same recipe as first time round, which isn't entirely surprising, given the original's success.

The Inbetweeners was born over 6 years ago as a small E4 programme that became gradually more and more successful, eventually spawning a full length film that was the biggest hit of 2011, and one of the biggest UK comedy hits of all time. Hardly a surprise then, that Will, Jay, Neil and Simon have been reunited for a second bite at a very prolific cherry, even though they now range in age all the way up to 30.

If you're familiar with the first film and/or the TV series, you won't need me to explain the difference in the four characters; and if you haven't seen either, I suspect you're not going to be that interested in this film anyway. Simon is the least stupid of the quartet (which slightly begs the question of why he hangs out with them in the first place), but he joins his mates for a trip down under where one of them has been working for a while. Jay boasts about what a great life he's having in Oz, ut it will hardly come as a surprsise to learn that he is exaggerating more than somewhat.

But then plot is not the reason why it will be so popular. The issue of winning and losing girlfriends is simply a convenient hook on which to hang any number of poo, willy, and wee wee jokes. Yes, it is that puerile, and there's no good pretending otherwise. As to whether it's funny, I leave that to you to decide. The four manboys are certainly endearing despite and/or because of their complete hopelessness as human beings, and their unfailing capacity to make the wrong decisions at any given moment. I enjoyed the first film, but frankly could have done with a repeat, even though I can see why it was made.

The question is, when do they stop?

5/10