MovieChat Forums > Rock & Chips (2010) Discussion > Not as good second time around but still...

Not as good second time around but still very interesting .


I had seen this before but coming fresh of an OFAH binge I thought it would be time for a re-vist.

I have to say I didn't enjoy it as much this time around. The switch to drama didn't bother me, in fact I liked it but there seems to be so much out of character here it's a bit odd.

Freddie the Frog was always described as charming and likeable but here he's actually quite aggressive and sleazy and it doesn't seem like the same person. Also the funny thing about Del idolizing his mother is the fact that everyone else but him could see that she was a bit of a tart but again she doesn't come across this way at all in R&C and that takes away some of the humour of the original series now that we can see what she was like plus the character has definitely been retconned as there are many descriptions of her being a bit drunk and whorey which was what made it funny.

The Nag's head also looks nothing like the pub as we know it. Many jokes were made about the ancient decor in OFAH which suggested it hadn't been changed in decades but it looks like a completely different pub which is a shame as it would have been nice to see the same set.

I unfortunately didn't buy James Buckely as Del either. He could have been any old cockey London kid at that time and displayed virtually none of the characteristics of the character. Lewis Osborne as Trigger was great though and really nailed the character and the voice.

Can't fault the rest of the main cast though, Nicholas Lyndhurst especially looks like he's relishing being in a more serious and sinister part, especially one that's so connected to his other character and he's absolutely brilliant at it. Great production values all round too, it really does feel like the early 60's.

I can see what John Sullivan was trying to do and for the most part he pulls it off but there are moments of trying to sneak in sitcom type humour and in a laughtrack-less period drama it just falls flat on it's face.

Severely retconned and not not accurate in a lot of places but it's a fascinating watch at any rate even just to try and spot the characters.

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