Ali G Indahouse

The past few years have proved that with a little ingenuity a decent idea on TV can be turned into a money spinning motion picture, and Ali G is a lot better than a mere 'decent idea', and his big screen debut shows why he has become the most popular TV character since Del Boy (OK, I might be stretching it there a little).

The challenge of bringing Ali G to the screen is more based on the fact that his TV incarnation he is merely an interviewer, and who would want to see Parkinson the movie? As such the linking device for a series of lowbrow sketches (they used to call them plots, you know) revolves around around Ali being elected to parliament and becoming incredibly popular despite his massive stupidity. As a post-film game you may wish to try and name as many films and sit-coms as possible that have already used this premise.

The fact that the film largely succeeds is down to the flawless execution of the main character. Despite the character being irredeemable naff to anyone with even a passing memory of sobriety the film leaves the audience rooting for the well-meaning protagonist in the same way one would Frank Spencer. The main character's faux cool allows the story to include such clunky sympathetic devices as Ali teaching admiring scouts in his spare time. The introduction of his long suffering girlfriend Julie as a believable entity does more to balance the film than anything else, probably because it is the only thing in the film not related to an obsession with marijuana or hip-hop. This is shown best during a flashback of the two meeting on the dance floor with Ali decked out as an eighties new romantic.

Far more jokes miss than hit, and the film's apparent fear of dwelling on any joke in case an audience silence causes the entire venture to implode makes sure it never drags. It can make uncomfortable viewing seeing Michael Gambon and Charles Dance prostituting their talents so shamefully for a cheque akin to the unwitting interviewees on Ali G's show. But as a British equivalent of a Farrelly brothers film Ali G In Da House is a without doubt a success.

David Goody