476. The Festival; movie review

THE FESTIVAL
Cert 15
98 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong sex references, crude humour, sex, drug misuse, very strong language

One of my favourite times of the year is June when, if we are successful at getting tickets, we go to Glastonbury Festival.
It is such fun that I didn't think a movie which surrounded the comedy moments could possibly go wrong.
Indeed, I was doubly excited because the film was made by the creators of The Inbetweeners.
My anticipation was quickly dampened. The Festival is turgidly unfunny and if I met any of its characters at Glastonbury I would be running into the next field.
Iain Morris's film stars Joe Thomas as a graduate who has gone into a tailspin after his girlfriend (Hannah Tointon) breaks up with up on the final day of term.
After hiding himself in his bedroom for weeks, his best friend (Hammed Animashaun) forces him to go to an unnamed festival to hoick him out if his despair.

There is only one problem - his ex is also at the festival and he is living the delusion that she will reconnect with him.
Anyway, the woefully underprepared mates set off and chaos ensues pretty much as soon as they get on the train.
Almost every mini-disaster involves Thomas's character being a charmless pillock to everyone other than his ex-girlfriend to whom he is a fawning idiot.
On the end of his witless arrogance are his best pal, a geeky but personable fellow festival attendee (Claudia O'Doherty) and a one-legged roadie (Kurt Yaeger).
There are cameos from Noel Fielding, Nick Frost and Jemaine Clement but none can save The Festival from being a car crash of a movie.
Its gags are puerile as it ticks every dimwitted stereotype about music festivals. Indeed, I came to the conclusion that none of its makers had ever been to one.
If they had, they would have been able to make mirth where instead they just created misery.

Reasons to watch: If you are into puerile jokes about drugs
Reasons to avoid: Desperately unfunny

Laughs: One
Jumps: None
Vomit: Yes
Nudity: Yes
Overall rating: 2/10

Director quote - Iain Morris: "I would be absolutely delighted if people compared it to The Inbetweeners favourably because I'm really proud of the show. I can't believe people are still talking about it. I think it's totally natural that people would compare it and see it in the same light."

The big question - Have the makers ever been to a festival?

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