MovieChat Forums > Man to Man with Dean Learner (2006) Discussion > 'I just get these terrible headaches'...

'I just get these terrible headaches'...

posted 17 years ago by gamedesignersage
14 replies | jump to latest

That line in Bitch Killer just made me laugh hard, as did the rest of BK, and indeed Episode six altogether. That episode certainly matched Darkplace in terms of consistent quality.

On a whole though I have to say MtM doesn't quite reach Darkplace levels. My only problem with the show was that some episodes were not really consistent throughout, quality-wise. There would be some funny moments and then it would take quite a while again before another one hits you. Episode six of course was the exception.

The stealer's of the whole show were the old footage takes, whether they be of films or footage from Deano's After Dark. It's because of Darkplace and the likes of War of the Wasps and Bitch Killer that I am glad these guys have been greenlighted for a feature film, because they sure can do 'cult'.

I just hope that film comes soon!!!

[–] highlandland 17 years ago

Greenlit a film? On the strength of the old footage?

I liked some of those bits too, but to commission a movie just because someone knows how to use old stock 15% of the time (a slightly higher ratio than the show was actually funny for) is insane!

[–] servo-9 17 years ago

They're brilliant at pastiche.

Ayoade directed AD/BC, which starred Matt Berry. It is superb. It's on YouTube.

[–] highlandland 17 years ago

I've seen bits of AD/BC but I must admit I've always found the segmentary nature of watching things on Youtube a bit off-putting. Hopefully, BBC3 will show it again in a month or so's time. :)

I'd argue strongly that Ayoade and Holness aren't any good at pastiche. Darkplace is too confusing in its references (compare it some of the Comic Strips or the Rutles or even bits of "The Simpsons", and you'll maybe see what I mean). I think its fairer to say it exists to make people laugh on its own terms.

As does MTM, which of course is the problem - it doesn't make people laugh. And it doesn't make people laugh because its a complete and utter mess. Darkplace kept it together, but MTM has shown the gaps in Ayoade and Holness' writing.

[–] gamedesignersage 17 years ago

You're mistaken. They've already been greenlighted a film, on the strength of Darkplace alone.

I'm just saying that because of Darkplace, and the likes of War of the Wasps and Bitch Killer that I can see them being right at home making a B-movie, cult-classic.

[–] highlandland 17 years ago

Well, I suppose, after Shaun of the Dead, there's a gap in the market. The trouble is, you can't consciously make a b-movie cult classic - you just make a film, and then see what happens.

Darkplace is a cult because of (a) its subject matter (which was shooting fish in a barrell, really) and (b) its unavailability for two and half years. Now there's a fan base, anything Ayoade and Holness do can be a "cult" without any conscious effort.

I hope they don't become lazy. We'll see.

[–] servo-9 17 years ago

I certainly don't agree that Darkplace's humour is supposed to work on its own terms. Much of the funniness comes from the technical mistakes, cheesy music, bad 'deliberate' jokes, ridiculous plot developments etc. You'd only find that funny if you already had noticed this kind of thing in bad programmes, and found it funny.

I think they have to be given credit for the skill required to nail that kind of thing on the head, which they have done.

[–] highlandland 17 years ago

Never seen an 80s programme where the sound is completely out of sync in the way it is in Darkplace, or where the special effects are anything like as bad, even accounting for comic licence. And that stilted joke thing at the end was done by "Police Squad" back in 1982. Twenty-two years later it just seemed old and tired.

Some of the plots were better than others. "Skipper the Eye Child" had some good bits (Graham Linehan, especially) but most of it (my son was a grasshopper etc) was pure pigswill. Then we had "Scotch Mist", a rip off the Angus Podgorney episode of "Monty Python" if ever I saw one. None of these were pastiches, just student-friendly nonsense.

However, I am a fan - honest! - and to prove it, I'll concede that the theme sequence IS a good pastiche. Very good indeed, in fact. I just wish, in the end, they were overall better scriptwriters.

[–] servo-9 17 years ago

You drive a hard bargain - no doubt about it.

I love Darkplace unreservedly. I contend that it is a masterpiece.

[–] highlandland 17 years ago

A hard bargain, eh? Well, I'll contend it's extremely flawed. Then, after several hours haggling, we'll end up with "very good but flawed", which I reckon is about right.

[–] highlandland 17 years ago

Oh, and just like Life of Brian, I'll throw in the gourd for free!

:-)

[–] servo-9 17 years ago

All right, let's settle on that then.

I presume the gourd will be shipped by courier?

[–] highlandland 17 years ago

I'll take it to the Post Office and let them work it out.

If its bigger than a letter box, but smaller than a caravan, it will cost £1.00 minus its weight in grammes multiplied by pi. If its bigger than a caravan, then it will cost £1.66 multiplied by the postman's three most popular intergers.

Eeh, this new mail price system's gonna make Christmas fun! :)

[–] hellrider 17 years ago

The whole series had me laughing like a drain (although I must admit that is a presumption on my part, having never heard a drain laugh).
I've seen stuff from the 80's with worse lip-synch, but conveniently enough I can't remember the names of them (although I'm pretty sure the Peter Jackson film 'Bad Taste' has worse synch - good old 8mm).
The thing that made this funny for me was remembering the 'horror' show my mum used to watch, like 'Friday The 13th: The series, etc, and noticing that everything in Darkplace was just brilliantly sending it up.
Let us not forget also, that the Stephen King remake of the series 'Kingdom Hospital' - which was shown a week or two after darkplace started - gives a good indication of what specifically Darkplace was 'homage-ing'. Obviously not the remake, but the original series.
Also, the self aggrandising of Garth Marenghi also seemed appropriate.

So, there it be; My reasonings of why the series was so great, so ahead of it's time, that it could have been made 20 years prior. As said by me, attempting and failing to impersonate the legend that is Garth 'Slasher' Marenghi, circa an old blog entry of mine.*

*I lost my train of thought with all the mentions in this thread of Darkplace.

Umm, Yeah, I actually though Man to Man was pretty darn funny, especially with how they added to Dean Learner's character, and revealed how downright nasty he is.

Hail To The King, Baby - Ash
Morosoph, my new favourite word.

[–] 17 years ago

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