Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Izzy Adkins The movie is surprisingly subdued in its pacing, its characterizations, and its go-for-broke sensibilities.

erin s. Steve Coogan and Henry Normal, writers of The Parole Officer, both have had moments of brilliance in their careers. The Parole Officer, however, is not one.The film is ostensibly a comedy, but devotes most of its screen time to hackneyed, and frankly boring, story lines: Coogan plays Simon Garden, a parole officer who discovers corruption within the Manchester police department, and assembles some of his former, reformed clients in order to help him steal the evidence needed to bring this to light. There's also a chemistry-lacking romantic subplot involving a policewoman, and not many laughs.Coogan has delivered some of his best, funniest performances when allowed to just freely ramble, often improvising. The Parole Officer, with so many plot "twists" to work in, eschews any such quiet hilarity, and when it has room for a joke, goes with obvious, crude bathroom humour (there are a surprisingly high number of boner jokes). The amount of time spent on the convoluted crime/corruption plots also cuts characterization to a minimum. Even Simon Garden, our supposed protagonist, is not given much personality or character history beyond, "he has some sort blood sugar disorder requiring him to eat crisps a lot." Furthermore, the plot's much-heralded action sequences end up being rather dull, and the music selection (late 90s/early 00s pop) does not help, as it has not aged well.Coogan has a few funny moments, and there is a very short, very strange cameo by Simon Pegg and Julia Davis, but there is nothing in The Parole Officer to justify a recommendation. It is better off forgotten, as one failed venture of some very talented people.(For those severely crushing on the Coogs, and curious to see him in the glasses and smart suit on the poster, just skip to the dialogue-free end credits montage – you won't miss much.)

lastliberal Steve Coogan (A Cock and Bull Story, Hot Fuzz)shines as a parole officer, who was wrongfully accused, joining his band of parolees in a delightful comedic romp to clear his name. Lena Headey (300) joins the fun, as does Omar Sharif.Not being familiar with Coogan's work on British TV, I was impressed with his talents and think there is some fine work ahead from him. Of course, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Headey, and would like to see much more of her.I usually don't go for crude humor, but I did have to laugh at the roller coaster bit.

Carol D Looking for a surprise package containing wacky antics, super slapstick, impeccable comedic timing? This is THE film! What a great surprise to have stumbled upon this flick! HIGHLY recommend it. The individual characters were well written and superbly acted! The humor was so refreshingly unHollywood.You Brits: PLEASE keep cranking out more of this stuff!!! Those of us who have written off what tries to be contemporary comedy churned out of Hollywood do so because it's the same old gag from the same old macho or cheap shot mentality, akin to the easily-titillated tastes of a 12 year old. The Parole Officer is great adult comedy!!!

David198 This film has been almost universally criticised by reviewers, so much so that I rather assumed it would be an unfunny dud. I was pleasantly surprised!(S0ME VERY MINOR SPOILERS)The plot may be highly improbable and have some gaping holes (e.g. why didn't the murderers just destroy the incriminating video?) but it is a very strong storyline that carries you and the film along with it. The presence of Omar Sharif and Jenny Agutter lend real weight to the cast list - Sharif in particular is excellent though Agutter is under-used. And there are many genuinely funny scenes. The all-singing all-dancing 'feelgood' finale is reminiscent of Bend It Like Beckham. And for this British reviewer it was refreshing to see a very British film for a change, with British locations and a totally different 'feel' to most US fare.In my opinion, where the movie could have really benefited would have been from a rewrite of the weaker sections, where the jokes fall a bit flat. This could have taken it from being a good film to a great one.