Prismark10
The 1980s were unkind to some of our beloved post World War 2 comedians. Morecambe & Wise ceased to be funny when they moved away from the BBC. Frankie Howard and Tommy Cooper had shows on ITV in the early 1980s but they were a laughter free zone. In fact Cooper only got a positive buzz when he made a rare BBC appearance on Seaside Special where he did his hat routine.Tommy Cooper who unfortunately collapsed live on TV was a unique comedian and a very talented conjurer. A few years after his death his mistress went public with their long term affair. Some years later other comedians such as Bob Monkhouse told stories of his drinking and violent temper.This bio-pic starts with a common story (in fact something I myself have done) of a man going to a bazaar in Turkey, putting on a fez and shouting 'just like that.'David Threlfall with added make up does a good impression of Cooper although he is a bit thin. Cooper was physically imposing. The film deals with his tightness, his drinking, the tempestuous relationship with his wife and his affair with his mistress. The prolonged recreation of his death on a TV show felt like a mis-step to me.Good performances but nothing out of the ordinary like the bio-pics of comedians we have had on BBC4 in recent years where we delved into the dark heart of the subject.
loveagoodstory
There have been a raft of biopics of bygone British comedians over the last ten years, some excellent. Many forget to, or fail to, impart the humour and joy that the subjects brought in the first place. Sometimes there seems to a keenness to deliver the 'dark side' of the jester too bluntly.'Not Like That, Like This' tells a strong story that isn't at all diluted by the prominence of the daft and delightful comedy of the man in the centre of it, Tommy Cooper. It's clear all the way along why audiences loved the man who could come on, say nothing and have them collapsing with laughter. He had a complicated life and it's well told through a brilliant performance by David Threlfall, who grasps the physicality of the six-foot-four comic as well as his mannerisms and captivating delivery. The rest of the cast, fronted by Amanda Redman as his strong-headed and driven wife Dove and Helen McCrory as his mild-but-adoring mistress Mary, fill it out to a very solid programme.Obviously it'll be a little less relevant to those who didn't know of Tommy Cooper but the story doesn't rely on prior knowledge so you'll lose nothing from it if you're coming into it cold.
bignastybastard
As someone who was born after Tommy Cooper passed away I never had the opportunity to appreciate him while he was alive. I have always heard my parents and others rave about how funny he was so I thought this was definitely worth a watch.I was not disappointed. David Threlfalls portrayal of Tommy Cooper is absolutely amazing. Due to the effort the production crew put in to making him actually look like Tommy Cooper and plus the fact that Threlfall is an outstanding actor I didn't even realize it was him playing the part, in fact I even had to IMDb it part way through to realize it was him. He genuinely brought the part to life.I loved all the one liners throughout this film and immediately got to appreciate Tommy Cooper as a comedian and as a man. One criticism I've heard is how Tommy Cooper comes across as a chain smoking drunk. At the end of the day yes he may have had a drink problem but these things often come with the entertainment industry, but its not like he was ever violent to anybody and at the end of the day Tommy Cooper was a human with faults just like everybody else.Overall I believe this film educated people like me and the next generation just who Tommy Cooper was and through this film and an amazing performance from David Threlfall, Tommy Cooper can live on and continue to be apriciated.
rhyan-carter
It was like watching Tommy himself. Scenes onstage were bit for bit the exact same as those by the original - which is no small feat to mimic a man's comic timing, posture, facial expressions, voice, and all round charisma. I personally think it's one of the best biopics made in a long long time, I thoroughly enjoyed it. If there isn't a BAFTA somewhere for this I'll be thoroughly disappointed.The core 3 cast members were spectacular as a performance, and obviously Cooper's wife and mistress weren't in the public eye as much so we can't really say how accurate their portrayal is, but the dramatic impact they had in relation to Cooper in this is perfect.Seriously, just so impressed by this performance.
AD
