Customer Reviews

Are You Being Served? The Movie

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

I have read the various reviews on here that give this film version a bit of a panning. I note that the reviewers are also mostly from America. I felt it deserved a bit of an explanation from a Brit who saw this film at the movies when it was released and who has had an affectionate view of it ever since.

Back in the 70's it was traditional for many famous TV comedies of the time to get a filmed version released and AYBS was no exception. They were made mainly for domestic consumption - few people back then could ever have envisaged them being made so widely available, especially not in Video or disc format. Almost all of these TV spin-offs were essentially regurgitated episode scripts, with a bit of extra business occasionally thrown in for good measure. They deliberatley cashed in on the tremendous success of the TV series - just imagine it, with sometimes as many as 15 million peple regularly tuning in there was a ready made cinema market for such stuff!
The filmed version of AYBS is therefore different in feel - mainly due to the absence of a studio audience (the BBC did not use laughter tracks at that time - if they ever have!). There are some very, very funny performances in the film though - especially Mrs Slocombe getting her "jacksie full of vaccine" and getting her passport photo taken. From a UK perspective it is also funny as it shows up our tiny island's wonderfully parochial attitude to foreigners and 'going abroad' for a holiday; something that was still in its relative infancy at that time. It's more of a time capsule than the TV series is.
I would ask that you all give this film a second chance - it isn't as bad as some people have said on here, it's just different. The performances are still wonderful. Watch and enjoy if only to laugh at how gloriously pompous us Brits can be when we talk about our fellow European neighbours!
I have watched it more times than I care to remember - and it makes me laugh every time!

Having been a fan of AYBS for a number of years, I eagarly awaited arrival of this video, and the wait did not disappoint me. Old fans and new acquaintances will enjoy this movie once a few guidelines are realized. First, this is a movie and not a television show. The laughtrack is gone but the set is more realistic and more modern (the store setting, for example, looks like a real store and not a stage prop). Previous reviews regarding poor sound and lighting quality are perhaps a bit too demanding, as is the complaint that the jokes are straight from the show. I went through the entire movie before I "remembered the jokes" -- they flow through the movie well. Second, please remember that this is AYBS, its not supposed to be realistic as no good comedy is. The original cast is here, in their youthful, energetic selves. Its only fault, in my opinion, is that there's a lengthy delay before they get into the trip itself, but this is only a minor problem. I would recommend this video to anyone, providing that they judge the movie by its own standards and not compare it to the show.

First of all, let me say that I am American and "Are You Being Served? (the t.v. series) is one of my all time favorite shows. It is rife with clever humor, memorable characters, excellent actors, wonderful innuendo, and often sharp writing.

This movie is not.

Possibly the biggest mistake is taking the characters out of their natural element: Grace Brothers Department Store. Granted, at the time, the writers must have thought they needed to do so in order to expand the scope for a film. I'm sure that they were correct, in part. But the way in which they took the characters out of the store is pitifully lacking.

Grumpy, tipsey Mrs. Slocumb; fey Mr. Humphreys; superior Captain Peacock; dottering Mr. Grainger; sexy but common Miss Brahms; randy Mr. Lucas; and jug-eared Mr. Rumbold are very lovable and very loved characters. Add in cockney and sly Mr. Harmon and you've got a recipe for hilarity.

Sadly "The Movie" doesn't really deliver on that. The beginning of the movie is the funniest - it is set in the department store. It is also slightly surreal as we are introduced to the characters as if we were seeing them for the first time and as if they didn't already have a history with each other. (Since the movie is a spin-off of the highly popular television series, this introduction seems unwarranted).

The premise is that the store must close and Mr. Grace has sprung for a vacation for the department to go to Costa Plonka in Spain. Sound familiar? Of course it does. It was a premise of one of the episodes. Once there the staff is relegated to staying in tents in the garden of the hotel. Sound familiar? It's another episode. (the whole Mrs. Slocumb and the flatulant air mattress is even included). Mr. Humphrey's dons women's clothing; and Mr. Harmon outsmarts everyone.

Basically what I'm saying is that there is no real new material here......except for the finale....and that ain't good news.

Why, oh why, anyone would find it funny having a revolutionary general beginning his insurrection in the hotel? Not only does it not make a lick of sense pragmatically, but comically it is the death knell for the movie.

There is one thing that the movie did that the series never did: Mr. Humphreys is definitely gay in the movie, but it was always a source of fun speculation in the series. It's a mistake.

Though written by the same writers as the series, it seems to have taken all the things that were wrong in the series and used them to make the film. Gone is the banter at the ubiquitous "staff meetings" or the "canteen lunches". Instead, the writers miss the chance at an al fresco dinner to do the same. Mr. Grainger was always a source of hilarity with his dottering ways - and yet here he's almost written as an afterthought.

I don't understand the mistake with this movie. In 1977 the series was still in production and was quite funny. What happened here? I speculate that the writers didn't have the time to really give the time necessary to the film.

I bought this DVD without having ever seen the film. I don't regret it as it is part of what I consider my AYBS collection, but if you want to get your first taste of this phenonomenal series by seeing the movie first - DON'T! Watch the episodes on your local PBS station here in the U.S. or rent the episodes or buy them at your local store or here on Amazon. Each one is a gem, though as with any show - some are better than others. However, not a single one of them is bad - something I cannot say about this film.

It's really a shame. "And I'm unanimous in that!"

It is a great addition you any AYBS fan's collection. Starring the origional cast with Grainger and Lucas (however it has Mr. Harmon rather than Mr. Nash from Maint.)

The voices seem a little different in the movie rather than the television series, and you do miss the laughter from the audience - however it is still classic Are You Being Served and good for some great laughs!

If you are an AYBS fan buy this movie - if you are not a fan, well you should be! ;-)

Originally I found the AYBS movie a bit weak. Many of the jokes are repeated from the episodes, and the store looks different. Also, the plot is a little far-fetched. However, after viewing it several times (thanks to occasional boring Ohio winter days), I came to appreciate it much more. In fact I was laughing hysterically after watching it the third time.

The original cast is there, plus a few extras. The holiday to Spain idea is pretty creative, since we always hear the cast talk about holidays on the show. Certain jokes are new, and they are rather funny. Even if the movie doesn't strike you as original, or even funny, owning the movie is essential for any AYBS fan. Its like owning a piece of history, since the series only ran for 69 episodes.

I'm a big fan of Are you Being Served?, and I thought this movie was hilarious. This movie does contain a number of references and bits from various episodes, which to me adds to it's charm.
The original staff are on a wacky vacation together. The cast is great, and the story kept me laughing throughout. I recommend this DVD to any fan of the series.

This is the 1977 movie version of that venerable old Britcom, "Are You Being Served?", the staple of so many public television pledge drives. Deservedly so, for the series is hilarious even after multiple viewings.

After 1977, several cast changes occurred on the show, including the loss of Young Mr. Grace, old Churchill-esque Mr. Granger, and worst of all, the randy Mr. Lucas. Each was replaced on the show by a series of less-than-adequate stand-ins. So in a way, the movie serves as a snapshot of the series up to that point. It was at this time that the cast was both the best and at it's peak.

In the story, Grace Brothers is closing for remodeling. The only way to get the entire staff to agree to take their vacations at the same time is for Mr. Grace to provide holiday packages for each department.

While the film is a fun romp, it just isn't up to the standards of a typical episode. The cast certainly tries their best, and a lot of mileage is gotten out of John Inman's character, Mr. Humphries. Trevor Bannister is also in top form as the swinging Mr. Lucas, as is the rest of our much-loved cast.

But, something is just not quite right.

The first problem the fan may notice is that, without the live audience (and even to a degree, taping the action on video), the ambiance of the show is somewhat missing from the film. Think of watching your favorite sitcom without a laugh track... it's just strange.

Second, we've seen some of these routines before (the "Dear Sexy Knickers" letter, for instance). Happily, this sort of rehashing of material is kept to a minimum, and is understandable since the routines were so popular.

Third, and probably most damaging, is that the cast is removed from their natural environment, Grace Brothers' Department Store. Only the first ten minutes or so are placed in the store with what looks like similar (but not original), sets from the show (in fact, the sets look strangely even more cheap than the ones used for TV!). The balance of the film is set in Costa Plonka, a banana republic holiday resort perpetually in a state of revolution.

All in all, it just doesn't work. The movie, on the whole, turns out to be both fun and somewhat flat. Removing the cast from Grace Brothers may have seemed like the only solution for a film version, but it might have been better to have a series of vignettes that take us through a typical day at Grace Brothers.

This is a must see film for the "AYBS?" fan, but it may also be a bit disappointing. Full marks for the cast, but only a C- for the material they had to work with.

This movie was so disappointing... The lighting, and the loss of the laugh track... Are You Being Served? is a loud show, the laugh track keeps the feeling of tension and fun going.. they try to replace it with some awful carnival music, but it just doesn't work. If I had money and a time machine, I would go back in time and fix the lighting, the sets, and either put in a laugh track, or film this live. I still love the show and I don't know why they didn't pay attention to the lighting or sound... It is a tragedy! The lines are good but you will need a creative imagnination to make this film work!

The worst of the original TV series (which is classic) is ten times better than this tired, uninspired junk. Do not bother with it.

Gone is the department store, the clever dialogue, the laugh track (yes sometimes this is needed), and a sense of direction.

It is silly without being funny. A tremendous opportunity utterly lost.

Buy the complete series DVDs instead.

Great movie, however some of the lines are the exact same from the show. It is though a must see for any fan of AYBS.