You may have seen the posters advertising the new Lee Evans/Kathy Burke film "The Martins". There are a couple of variations, but both have the family of the title, artificially posed against an explosive background, with Evans' dad character wielding a gun. "The ultimate nuclear family!", it reads.
Since both Evans and Burke are known as comic performers, there's nothing here to suggest that their new film isn't an out-and-out explosive comedy. Seeing the trailers will not disabuse you of this preconception: in one of the rapidly-edited clips, water from a garden hose sends a character flying off her deckchair. (This is Linda Bassett, incidentally, who plays the mother-in-law.)
So far, so slapstick. Imagine my surprise then, when I saw the actual film. It's not a wacky, knockabout comedy at all. It's a hard-hitting social drama from writer Tony Grounds (whose best TV work, Births, Marriages & Deaths was similarly difficult to pigeonhole). In fact, it's an urban tragedy. Lee Evans gives an almost straight performance.
The Martin family may be the ultimate 'neighbours from hell' (benefit-junkies, burning tyres in the back yard, etc.) but Dad's relationship with wife and kids is incredibly touching and real.
I came away from the film feeling gloomy and sad. This is social exclusion in action, people with nothing to cling to but the hope of winning a holiday in the Hatfield Recorder. So why is it being sold in such a crass way? (I think we can guess.) I spoke to both Evans and Burke and neither seems enamoured with the poster. But what can they do, they're just the stars of the film!
Moral: people who work in marketing are the real scum, not the Martins. Even film critics are more trustworthy.
Do you agree with Mr. Collins? Have you say on the Films .
Andrew Collins presents Back Row on on Saturday September 15th at 5.30pm. You can listen to Back Row then, or Radio 4 at any time, using RealPlayer and your computer.
