TV Review

Published Tuesday 6 May 2008 at 10:30 by Harry Venning

A drama exploring Jane Austen’s non-event of a love life was never going to be a thrill-a-minute action extravaganza, but there were many moments during Miss Austen Regrets when I was desperate for something, anything, to happen. Even Austen’s death occurred off screen.

Viewers with more patience than me would doubtless have relished the film’s sharp dialogue, nuanced characterisation, beautiful look and impressive cast. I would have even joined them in celebrating Olivia Williams’ dynamic performance in the title role, portraying Austen as a flirtatious battleship, capable of blowing away any man she chooses to point her wit at. Even Adrian Edmondson, as bankrupt brother Henry, was unexpectedly good.

But at the end of the day - and I believe Austen said as much in Mansfield Park - there is no arguing with a numb arse. And by the final credits of Miss Austen Regrets mine had calcified.

Courtship rituals have certainly changed since Jane Austen’s time, as The Inbetweeners only too graphically demonstrated. To impress a girl today a young beau must get drunk, declare his affections in spray paint on her dad’s drive, and throw up like a fire hydrant all over her mum’s kitchen, saving one final blast of vomit for the head of her little brother.

Inbetweeners is a new sitcom by Iain Morris and Damon Beasley about four suburban sixth formers and their ceaseless striving after the unattainable, namely girls and alcohol. It features jokes about unwanted erections, gay dads, toilets, fit mums and disabled girls in wheelchairs being hit on the head by frisbees. It isn’t subtle and it isn’t charming, but it is driven by a irresistible sense of fun that never flags for a moment. The lead characters are all interesting and engaging, portrayed by a quartet of excellent young actors who perfectly capture all the cockiness and confusion, ecstasy and excruciation that fills the terrifying no-man’s-land between childhood and adulthood. I laughed, I cringed but, most importantly, I stayed on to watch part two of the opening double bill.

I’m afraid The Invisibles should have remained that way. A criminals version of Old Tricks, it tells the story of Mo (Anthony Head) and Syd (Warren Clarke), once Europe’s most elite and celebrated burglars, who come out of retirement to save the deeply indebted skin of Syd’s useless son.

Quite apart from being formulaic, witless, unbelievable, miscast, badly acted, boring and accompanied by an appalling and intrusive seventies-style soundtrack, The Invisibles doesn’t make any sense on any level.

Why have Mo and his wife (Jenny Agutter) moved into sheltered accommodation for the elderly when they are both clearly in vigorous and rude health? How come an entire criminal community lives in the same sleepy seaside village far from any potential rich pickings? Why drive away from a robbery rehearsal at such high speed it attracts police attention and causes a pile up? How come the local pub landlord can beat up a loan shark and his entire gang?

And the biggest mystery of all, what is Jenny Agutter doing occupying one of the most thankless roles in the history of TV drama?

On a more positive note, I did quite like the credits.

DETAILS

Miss Austen Regrets - BBC1, Sunday, April 27, 8pm

The Invisibles - BBC1, Thursday, May 1, 9pm

The Inbetweeners - E4, Thursday, May 1, 10pm