Clockwise (PG)

Clockwise Review: Ever been late? course you have, everyone has, except one, one person who lives his life by the ticking of the clock and does everything and anything to the turn of the clock, that is until one day a simple mistake turns his world upside down.

This person, is no ordinary person, oh no, he's the head of a secondary school no less. Thomas Tompkin Grammar School to be precise and this man, a man of the watch, Brian Stimpson rules the school with strict discipline involving around time!

The Timekeeper

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Woe betide anyone who is late by a minute! So for all those who have turned up late have a thought for Mr Stimpson 'cos, if you are a minute out of schedule you are late late late!

John Cleese plays Mr Stimpson, with finess, and the usual wit you would expect from this versatile funny man. Taking away his role as a hotel manager in a seaside resort and put him into a school and the comedy will follow him wherever he goes or whatever he becomes. Putting it quite simply John Cleese was the right man for the job!

The Plot in General

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The film starts off at school as headmaster stimpson exacts his rigid timekeeping on everyone, from his pupils to his staff and he's right on the ball! God forbid those who fall prey to his vigilance and even his long suffering wife Gwenda (Alison Steadman) has to live by the rules of time.

He has been chosen to his delight to a headmasters conference up in Norwich and has great delight in telling his school this with gleaming pride.

The Simple Mistake

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Only when he gets to the station that things start to go awry. OIe silly, simple but earth shatteringly changing mistake happens. He goes right instead of left.

'The train to Norwich,' he asks the porter

'On the left gov'

'Right'

'Left'

And then things go badly wrong when the train he is actually supposed to be on leaves and he finds himself on the train to Plymouth! He gets off only to find he has left his grand speech on the train!

Anyone can make that mistake right? Left, no right?

We then follow him as he madly and hopefully bumbles his way trying to get to Norwich on time! Finding a reluctant pupil Laura to drive him in her fathers old car!

You have to laugh as things go from bad to worse as his wife thinks he's having an affair with Laura and drives herself and three batty women up to Norwich!

FURTHER ADVENTURES

Along the way things get even worse and Mr Stimpson's life is turned upside down as time turns on him.

This film is hilarity all the way through and the real John Cleese shines through!

Follow the adventures he gets up to along the way, including turning into a Monk and a private striptease! As well as being wanted by the police for all manner of crimes!

WANTED!

Stimpson becomes a wanted man! As the charges amass as he become embroiled in an epic chase to get to Norwich on time, by any nefarious or criminal activity necessary, aided and abetted by Laura he finds life isn't ticking the right way for him any more!

FAWLTY TOWERS RELIVED

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Note when he's smashing the phone in a phonebox in frustration the ironic similiarity to when he was thrashing his car with a branch in Fawlty Towers!

His reputation will be in tatters and all because of a simple mistake! You can't help but feel sorry for him!

SPOT THE STAR

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Watch out for familiar faces, I'll give you two, but the rest you'll have to spot for yourself!

Geoffrey Palmer: One of the headmasters at the conference (better known for A Fine Romance) and ironically appeared in Fawlty Towers as the Doctor!

Remember the Old Grange Hill? Remember Stewpot? He appears as a cameo role at the station as truant Glen Scully (played by Mark Burdis)

BRIANS OPINION

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Unfortunately I didn't get the opportunity to see this brilliant film at the flicks at the time! But nevertheless I have seen the video umpteen times and each time I never fail to laugh. It is guaranteed to have you in stitches, Cleese style!

If you are a fan of John Cleese or you like a good clean harmless family comedy then this film is for you!

"If you've ever been late, you'll know what this film is about"

Directed by Christopher Morahan

Written by Michael Frayn

Released in 1986

Violence: None

Naughty Bits: A couple (but I'll leave you to seek those out)

Sex: None

Humour: Tonnes

Swearing: None