British Comedy Guide
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Veronica Lee

  • Journalist

Press clippings Page 37

Love him or hate him, James Corden undeniably does have a range of talents - actor, writer and co-creator of some very funny comedy (we'll politely forget the car crash of his misguided BBC sketch show with Mathew Horne). And now, dontchaknow, he's come up with another comedy vehicle, The Wrong Mans (****), which had a very accomplished debut last night.

Corden, late of the National Theatre and Broadway, has co-written, with fellow Gavin & Stacey alumnus Mathew Baynton, a comedy thriller in the style of Simon Pegg and Joe Wright's Cornetto trilogy, with appreciative nods (in the title) to Alfred Hitchcock's 1956 thriller and, in camerawork and misfit leads, to Peep Show.

Baynton is nice but weedy Sam, who wakes up one wintry morning with the mother of a hangover, only to find his pushbike has been stolen so he has to walk to work, as a town planning and noise guidance adviser for Berkshire County Council. On his way, he's the only witness to a car crash and he picks up a ringing phone; a man issues threats and in later calls it's clear a woman has been kidnapped.

At work Sam takes postboy Phil (Corden) into his confidence. Phil is beside himself; he's a 31-year-old living at home with his mum and he keeps trying to organise fun days paint-balling or bowling with his colleagues (oblivious to the fact they all think he's a boring knob); for him, this mystery is his very own live-action Grand Theft Auto, and he convinces Sam not to call the police but to try to rescue the woman and become heroes.

The opening episode efficiently essayed the set-up, and there are some promising relationships to be explored in the following five weeks. Sarah Solemani (who was so brilliant in Him & Her) is Sam's boss, but also the girlfriend who recently dumped him because he was too needy, while Tom Basden is the horrible colleague we'd love to be taken down a peg or two.

Corden clearly has pulling power, as those names above suggest, and Dawn French, Nick Moran, Rebecca Front and Dougray Scott will appear in future episodes - although David Harewood, who appeared briefly last night, shot his scenes before his Homeland stardom. The opener had some neat twists and turns and ended on a great cliffhanger. Definitely one to stay with.

Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 24th September 2013

Coming soon in stand-up comedy

Laugh out loud new shows on the road this autumn.

Veronica Lee, The Independent, 22nd September 2013

Brighton Comedy Festival, 4-20 October

Tickets are now on sale for the Brighton Comedy Festival (4-20 October), which takes place in several venues in the South Coast town.

Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 18th September 2013

Barking in Essex review

What should be played as fast-moving farce feels much longer than its two-and-a-quarter hours, and even the swearing becomes tiresome after a while.

Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 17th September 2013

Review: Ardal O'Hanlon tour

Laid-back anecdotal humour from the likeable Irishman.

Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 16th September 2013

Corporate gigs: Which comedians take the funny money?

Many comics pay their way with corporate gigs, says Veronica Lee. But they're not for everyone...

Veronica Lee, The Independent, 25th August 2013

Bridget Christie interview

"I was standing in a bookshop when I realised that this was a show I just had to do".

Veronica Lee, The Independent, 25th August 2013

Phoebe Waller-Bridge on her Fringe First winner Fleabag (Link expired)

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's sex-obsessed character in her Fringe First winner Fleabag is no Bridget Jones, writes Veronica Lee.

Veronica Lee, Edinburgh Festivals, 17th August 2013

Rubberbandits, Soho Theatre

Irish hip-hop spoofsters give an energetic performance.

Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 24th July 2013

Review: Family Tree, BBC Two

I wish I could say this opener was laugh-out-loud funny, but I can't.

Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 17th July 2013

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