Teens in London – The Inbetweeners Movie

I really wanted to go and see “The Rise of the Planet of the Apes” but I was over ruled. My 19 year old son had said that The Inbetweeners was a fun movie and my teenage daughter wanted to go. It’s rated as a 15.

We trekked into Richmond on a cold, rainy August evening (situation normal then) and gathered our numerous bags of chocolate and Haribos around us. After the inevitable adverts and some trailers (none of which I can recall so I don’t think I was impressed by anything) the movie started. I had managed to catch a couple of the TV episodes beforehand so I was aware that it centred on four uncool 18 year old blokes in their quest for girls. I liked the character Will – whose parents’ divorce meant he was removed from public school and placed in Rudge Park Comprehensive where he is subjected to merciless bullying.

The unconventional “now you’re leaving school” speech by the tyrant teacher Mr Gilbert was funny. I have to admit that the early scene when Simon is dumped by his girlfriend had me laughing straightaway. And then off they went to their holiday in Malia in Crete (which has been the subject of numerous documentaries about drunken/misbehaving teens).

The awful accommodation they found themselves in provoked further laughs. There was plenty of toilet humour, aftershave-on-freshly-shaved-pubic-area and throwing up gags.

They are enticed into an empty night club and the scene where Neil leads the dancing over to the group of girls to “We no speak Americano” was priceless. I was almost crying with laughter – especially with the later scenes of him with older women.

Simon’s insensitive obsession with his ex Carli whilst talking to the lovely Lucy was poignant yet funny. Jay’s machismo, poolside antics and sleeping in an ant’s nest maintained the comic pace – and there’s a nice twist when he ends up with the plump but jolly girl Jane.

Will’s wit and brilliant send-up of Alison’s Greek boyfriend – especially when it proved true – was memorable. Most of the movie is about Simon’s quest for tickets for the Boat Party with some skinny-dipping and blokes larks thrown in for good measure.

It’s risqué in parts, there’s a lot of drinking and the language might cause offence to some. But the teens adored it and as an accompanying adult I admit that it made me laugh too.