People Just Do Nothing: Big in Japan

[BritishHobo]

Has anybody seen this yet? I'm currently nearing the end of a marathon of the show, as I've been meaning to watch it for ages and the film's been a kick up the arse. I love seeing British sitcom films in the cinema, I'd have been disappointed

The show is so good, as everyone else obviously realised years and years ago. My only negative has been that Grindah is such a horrible manchild cunt that it often borders on cruel and abusive (plus the weird, unpleasant plot in series 5 where lovable cuddly comedy standout Chabuddy G is essentially raped repeatedly by Miche's paedophile mum, before she cheats on him and then posts revenge porn of him online - top laughs!) Otherwise it's incredible, and I think stays pretty consistent without letting its characters become too exaggerated.

It's weird timewise for me because this is obviously a bit of a revival several years after the series ended, whereas for me the whole show has basically only happened this week. But I'm looking forward to seeing what they've done with the characters after a few years away.

[olliebean]

Reminds me, there was a PJDN documentary on the telly last week that I haven't got around to watching yet. It's on iPlayer for ages yet: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09qkpt8

[canadagoose]

This is more about the series itself, but I didn't find it funny when I saw the first episode. Does it get better than that?

[paruses]

First couple of eps seem like they are copying The Office / Gervais a bit too closely - Grindah mainly. Definitely worth sticking with I think if only for how good Beats and Chabuddy get. And Rochelle.

[Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth]

It does improve. I watched the first episode, didn't laugh once and decided it just wasn't for me. I saw a few more some time later and laughed a fair bit.

I have to agree about Grindah, though. He's just too much of a shithead to be funny, which is a problem, given he's almost always onscreen.

[Mobius]

Oh cool didn't realise this came out today. I posted a trailer for it a while back here

I enjoyed their recent podcast, was a good environment for them. Love the show, love the lads. Hopefully the movie isn't a load of shit.

[Scrapey Fish]

Finding it hard to convince myself that the film will be good even though I loved the show. The trailer didn't seem funny but here's hoping.

Agree about Grindah being probably the worst character.

[BritishHobo]

This is more about the series itself, but I didn't find it funny when I saw the first episode. Does it get better than that?

I've tried the first episode a few times over the years, and there definitely is a feeling of "oh, oblivious dickheads talking to the camera about how brilliant they are, yeah", seen it all before with The Office etc. But it's definitely much more than that, and I think that shines through quickly once you press on. I thought it was going to entirely be Brent-esque situations with delusions of grandeur, but while that does happen from time to time, it's got a lot more going on, and becomes much more about the lovely daftness of the characters, and the creators' affection for the world of garage music and pirate radio.

[The Mollusk]

The show's more comparable counterpart, in terms of how it might appeal to others, is Trailer Park Boys and not The Office. PJDN holds a lot of similarity in how the gang are largely just kids who never adapted to the real world growing up and ended up staying in this little fantasy bubble where they don't ever need to feel too challenged by the outside world. A lot of the humour comes from when they're forced to get outside that comfort zone or to change.

Also similar to TPB is the camaraderie between them, they don't like to admit it but they only have each other and there's an underlying sentimentality which is made all the more sweet whenever it pops up to the surface. Oh, and that the female characters are a lot more grounded in reality. I love that Miche has big, unrealistic dreams outside of this bubble but she loves Grindah to bits and supports him passionately.

[olliebean]

Is this not available to stream anywhere?

[Mobius]

Came here to ask the same thing - looks like it might be cinemas only? No chance of me watching it in Australia then

[Mobius]

Just a bump because if you weren't aware, this is 'available' in the usual places.

Quite enjoyed the movie, just more of the same. Felt like the characters had reached the end of their lifespan by the end of the series, and this definitely confirms it. Some funny bits but also quite a few jokes repeated from the show.

3/5 if you really love PJDN you'll enjoy the movie.

[wooders1978]

I find this very mediocre to be honest - I think the mistake they made was 1) not spending more time revisiting the characters back home 2) the characters stories have been told as mobius said, the end of series 5 wrapped it all up nicely 3) trying to crowbar them all into the Japan storyline which was only really about beats and grinder