British Comedy Guide

Phoo Action

Did anyone see this on BBC3?

Had so much potential, but lots of it was cack. A few good moments though. For those of you who don't know anything about it, then it's a live action Manga comedy drama written filmed in Scotland 2012.

The bunff below is taken from the BBC website. Bumff, what a bloody great and underused word!!. Oh and it also stars Apollo Creed from the Rocky Films.

"Car chases, kung-fu and comedy come together in the wonderfully warped world of Phoo Action – an offbeat 60-minute drama special for BBC Three.

Based on characters created by Jamie Hewlett (Gorillaz, Tank Girl) for The Face comic strip Get The Freebies, Phoo Action is set in 2012, when London is in the grip of mutant criminals, The Freebies.

Only Terry Phoo, a hapless Buddhist kung-fu cop, and unruly teenage heroine Whitey Action, the daughter of Police Chief Benjamin Benson, can save the nation.

Together they form an unlikely but effective crime-fighting team who bring together chaos and comedy, mischief and mayhem, to become heroes for a future generation in the face of Britain's super-vile, super-famous mutated criminals.

Jaime Winstone (Kidulthood) stars as teenage anarchist Whitey Action, Eddie Shin (ER) as martial arts sweetheart Terry Phoo and Rocky legend Carl Weathers as Benjamin Benson, Chief of Police and long-suffering father to the rebellious Whitey.

Jaime Winstone loved playing the role of Phoo's resident teenage anarchist Whitey Action: "It's not every day that you wake up and become a super hero… I was happy to be sucked into the comic strip madness!"

Producer Matthew Read says: "Jamie Hewlett is one of the most visionary talents of his generation and so it was always going to be a major challenge adapting his work for the screen.

"Throughout production we were incredibly careful to be true to the tone and visual flair of his original comic strip. The project managed to attract a really wide variety of talent, both in front and behind the camera.

"Their professionalism has resulted in a film that is very off-the-wall, but also mixes genres to create a visually dynamic, definitely silly and surprisingly British piece of television which has a real sense of cohesion to it and is ultimately very charming."

Phoo Action also stars Danny Webb (Still Crazy, Life Begins) as the sinister and power-hungry Lord Rothwell; Talulah Riley (St Trinians, Pride and Prejudice) as Lady Eleanor Rigsby, Whitey's party-loving posh pal; and Sanjeev Kohli (Still Game) as Alan Arthanayake, a celebrity-obsessed news anchorman.

Phoo Action was the first drama to be filmed in BBC Scotland's new state-of-the-art headquarters at Pacific Quay in Glasgow.

It is one of six bold and vibrant new dramas for BBC Three, being shown as part of the channel's relaunch. The others are: Being Human, Mrs Inbetweeney, The Things I Haven't Told You, W10 LDN and Dis/Connected.

The dramas combine hot new talent and established names, covering a wide range of maverick tales set both in the present day and the future.

Phoo Action is directed by Euros Lyn whose credits include the award-winning episode of Doctor Who: The Girl In The Fireplace.

I liked that Whitey was dressed a bit like Tank Girl, and Phoo was cute. But I only watched isolated 5 minute bits here and there, so I can't really comment on the show. I'll probably try and catch it all if it's repeated, though.

Quote: Rosco @ February 12, 2008, 10:21 PM

Phoo Action is directed by Euros Lyn whose credits include the award-winning episode of Doctor Who: The Girl In The Fireplace.

Wow. Couldn't really sense any of the genius that was that Who episode in this show.

I enjoyed it and it has potential but there was something "off" about it and I can't quite put ym finger on what. Sure it's supposed to be a little weird but that kind of worked against it. I thought it could easily loose 10 or 15 minutes. But I would love to see a series.

Jaime Winstone's (sp?) cute, by the way. :P And Eros Lyn is a great director. He's done some great Who episodes.

It was the fact they stole from every single film and tv program under the son.

The Buddha bit was shades of Monkey
The guys yellow suit was Kill Bill/Enter the Dragon
The guys mask was Kill Bill

I must admit though. They ripped the absolute pish out of Wills and Harry. Not sure if the real life team will be all that happy with their Phoo characters

They weren't stealing!
It was an 'homage'. :)

Quote: zooo @ February 12, 2008, 11:16 PM

Wow. Couldn't really sense any of the genius that was that Who episode in this show.

That was a saaaaaaad episode. :(

Quote: Rosco @ February 12, 2008, 11:27 PM

The Buddha bit was shades of Monkey
The guys yellow suit was Kill Bill/Enter the Dragon
The guys mask was Kill Bill

As I have seen precisely nil of those films, I'll give this a go. If it's repeated.

How can it be a homage when it was done in a comic strip before Kill Bill. Anyway, I'd like to see more.

Is that what he wore in the comic strip though? I've never actually seen it, although I love Hewlett's other stuff. Are there any pictures online anywhere?

Quote: Aaron @ February 13, 2008, 10:31 AM

That was a saaaaaaad episode. :(

It really, really was. :(

I watched this high on drugs and it came across as a normal TV drama :S

Saw it was ok, and that's terrible.

Get the freebies absolutely rocked.

Aaaagggghhhh! Jame Hewlitt is quite possibly the best, and most original British comic writer/artist going, and unlike others (you know who you are Moore and Gaiman), he hasn't taken the yankee dollar.

So why do people insist on turning his fabulous ideas into rubbish live action, and not superlative cartoons.

I mean did nobody watch the Gorillaz videos, and go,
"Ah I get it that's what supercool looks like,"

Please say there's an animated version of Hewligan's Haircut in the pipeline.

Isn't James Hewlitt Prince Harry's dad?

Ha ha, James Hewitt, I always thought it was Chris Evans,

cue multiple gags about ugly famous ginger male stars.

Quote: sootyj @ February 13, 2008, 5:37 PM

I mean did nobody watch the Gorillaz videos, and go,
"Ah I get it that's what supercool looks like,"

Nope.

Sod Gorillaz.

Tank Girl was teh coolest.
(when I was 16.)

Image

zooo is now the sexiest girl nerd.

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