The Inbetweeners Movie: A Hilarious and Heartfelt Coming-of-Age Comedy
Simon (Joe Thomas), fresh from being dumped by his lifelong crush Carli (Emily Head), embarks on a lads’ holiday to Malia, Greece, with his friends Will (Bird), Jay (Buckley), and Neil (Harrison), all in pursuit of “sun, sea, sex, and more sea and sex.” Expect dodgy hotels, painful sunburn, fishbowls of booze, girls who are up for anything, and a yacht party that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Let’s face it, truly great teen movies are rare. So, hats off to “The Inbetweeners Movie,” a feature-length adaptation of the hit British comedy series, that delivers gag after gag with a uniquely British twist on American-style gross-out humor. Think “Superbad,” but even more outrageous.
Fueled by Jay’s deceased grandfather’s inheritance, the lads, who “look like the worst boy band in the world,” descend upon Malia. There, writers Iain Morris and Damon Beesley subject them to a full-blown “holiday from hell,” complete with encounters with amorous pensioners, turf wars over sunbathing spots with disabled girls, projectile vomiting contests, sleeping in ant nests, defecating in bidets, and a run-in with a master of auto-fellatio. The film weaves in familiar threads from the series: the action kicks off in Britain, and Simon remains hopelessly fixated on Carli, who, predictably, is also vacationing nearby. The movie is essentially a series of increasingly shocking set pieces (the dance-off to impress the girls is particularly memorable), with the level of awkwardness escalating as the story progresses.
Cinematography and Visuals
Thankfully, the film boasts some genuine cinematic flair. The opening shot, which starts with a wide view of the sky before swooping down through suburban streets and peering into a window where Jay is pleasuring himself with the aid of the internet, goggles, and a honey-glazed ham, is what “American Pie” might look like if directed by David Fincher. Slow-motion shots are also used strategically: when the boys emerge from their hotel in “Pussay Patrol” t-shirts, they evoke the iconic “Reservoir Dogs,” eliciting instant laughter. The same technique highlights the garishness of the Greek resort.
Character Depth and Performances
Unlike the players on the Arsenal football team, the characters in “The Inbetweeners” have always possessed a surprising amount of depth, and the film is no exception. The four potential love interests – the wise Alison (Laura Haddock), the lovelorn Lucy (Tamla Kari), the vivacious Jane (Lydia Rose Bewley), and the wholesome Lisa (Jessica Knappett) – all have their own moments of pathos and deliver memorable lines. However, Theo Barklem-Biggs steals the show as Richard, one of those perpetually stoned “space cadets” who roam the resorts, muttering things like “Cool…cool…cool…” under his breath. He only appears sporadically, but his presence is unforgettable.
The Heart of the Film: Friendship
Ultimately, “The Inbetweeners Movie” is a story about friendship. Amidst all the vomit and lost virginities, the film offers a surprisingly realistic portrayal of young men. Pay attention to the poignant conversation where they realize that going to university might mean the end of their friendship. Bird, Thomas, Buckley, and Harrison are all excellent. While the series hints at the underlying decency of the main characters, it’s far more evident in their performances here. They learn from their mistakes, which is another significant departure from the series. Their friendship deepens, but without any saccharine sentimentality. By the time they return to Britain, something remarkable has happened: the boys seem to have grown up, just a little.