Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story (Winterbottom, 2005): UK

Reviewed by Richard Feilden.  Viewed on DVD

Once again Michael Winterbottom presents me with a problem. Unlike 9 Songs, my problem here isn’t whether or not I liked the film, because I do. No, in the case of Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, the question that vexes me is ‘will you?’ I’ll explain.

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman is a 10 volume comedic epic. It is renowned for its meandering nature, with the subject and narrator of the book unable to even reach the point of his own birth within the first two books. It is then an unlikely subject for a film. Perfect material for Winterbottom them! The conceit of the film is that it is a documentary about the production of said film. But of course the impossible film has never been made, so, in the tradition of Spinal Tap, what we have is a mocumentary. It gets stranger when you realized that some of the cast (effectively the entire British comedic acting world with the exception of Rowan Atkinson) are playing fictionalized versions of themselves and others are playing entirely different people. Steve Coogan creates a monster from himself – a womanizing, egocentric hack, as determined to leave behind his (real life) Alan Partridge character as he is to take all the limelight in the film. Rob Brydon on the other hand, whilst equally obsessed by his thinning hair and the color of his teeth, plays the loveable underdog in a supporting role. Their verbal fencing is hysterical, particularly if you are aware of their other work. And there is the problem. I’ve seen all of these people before and so the in-jokes come thick and fast. Not only has Coogan become every bit as vile as Partridge, but is also seen being interviewed by Tony Wilson, the Manchester music impresario that Coogan played in 24 Hour Party People. Dylan Moran has become every bit the alcoholic that he was in Black Books. Then we have Mark Williams (Harry Potter) who is not playing himself but become every bit the nerd that he embodied so well in the Fast Show. Stephen Fry explains the proceedings as only he can, then appears as a character in the film. And so it goes on. If you have seen these people on TV (both in character and interviews) so much that you feel you know them, then this is hysterical. I just don’t know how funny it would be if you didn’t.

Overall then I have to recommend this film, if only for the scene in which Coogan is lowered, red faced from the blood rushing to his head, into a giant womb. It’s a moment worthy of Spinal Tap and although the rest of the film doesn’t rise to the standard of its illustrious predecessor, it will put a smile on your face.