'Alan Partridge' Movie Review: Steve Coogan Shines In Hilarious Comedy (New York Film Festival 2013)

In 1991 the fictional radio and television presenter created by Steve Coogan and Armando Iannucci and known as Alan Partridge first appeared on the radio. The character soon made several appearances on TV and various radio specials. After years of playing the character Steve Coogan has decided to bring the heavily praised personality to the big screen in a comic and smartly executed feature film.

The film opens when famous DJ Alan Partridge's (Steve Coogan) radio station is taken over by a new media conglomerate. The conglomerate sets out to get rid of the older DJ's including Partridge and his co-worker Pat Farrell (Colm Meaney). When Partridge decides to convince the new conglomerate to fire Farrell, the former employee decides to take 12 members of the company hostage. Partridge is then forced to work with the police to stop the siege.

At the heart of the film is Coogan's turn as the narcissistic and arrogant Partridge. The character is unlikeable as he only seeks to gain fame from the siege. At one point while he is with the 12 hostages, Partridge tries to impress one of his co-workers, Angela, by showing her that he is on the news. However when he realizes that he is no longer on the channel, he begins to flip through the TV stations to look for himself. Another moment that shows the character's egoism is when his best friend Lynn (Felicity Montagu) threatens to steal the spotlight away from him. Lynn does an interview in the news and makes headlines. In line with his arrogance, Partridge decides to end their friendship.   

However Coogan's comic touches help make the character charming and even likable in certain moments. At one point a police officer (Anna Maxwell Martin) asks him if he will collaborate on the case; Coogan shows Partridge's fear by not only giving the character an anxious face but also by trying to converse about something else. What comes out of the scene is a hilarious laugh-out loud moment.

Another hilarious scene in the film is when Partridge convinces the committee of the new conglomerate to fire Pat. When he realizes that he is in consideration to get fired, Coogan's face is one of fear and helplessness. For that brief moment, viewer actually feels for the characters; however, Coogan balances the empathy by telling the committee to "Just Sack Pat!" The movement from a very dramatic moment to one of swift lightness is brilliantly executed.

Meaney also adds a brilliant performance as Farrell and balances the comic tone of the film. While his character is still the major part of some great gags, Farrell is the heart of the film with his constant attempts to appeal to the viewer and his ultimate failure in every respect. At the beginning of the film when Farrell is fired, the character's vulnerability overrides the overall comic tone throughout. His tragic dimensions are even more effective at the climax of the film when Meaney discovers Partridge's betrayal. His actions lead to extreme behavior that while funny, show Farrell's loneliness and desperation. The development of the character enables the film to strike a balance between a farce filled with caricatures and a comedy with complex beings.

That does not mean that Meaney is unable to portray some good bits of comedy. In fact, while Partridge tends toward lighter fare, Farrell is filled with some dark comedy. One of the most memorable moments in the film is when Farrell shows Partridge the hat he created for one of the hostages. Pat goes on to insert a rifle into a tube he created for the hat. While it is an off-putting moment it is also hilarious. Another comic moment is when Pat threatens to kill his hostages if they do not come up with a theme song for his program. The ensuing sequences and Pat's reactions are among the most memorable parts of the film.  

While the performances are incredible, the originality of the film is what ultimately makes it resonate. While "Alan Partridge" deals with serious issues like a siege and companies firing older workers, its charm comes from the manner in which it subverts genre conventions. Every police cliché is joked about and every convention of public radio is toyed with. The whole hostage thriller gets turned on its head with the hostages seemingly having more fun in some moments than one would expect given the circumstances.

Ultimately "Alan Partridge" is a joyous ride that merits repeat viewings.