The new Reggie Perrin is a welcome success
April 24, 2009 by Martin Hoscik · 12 Comments
Photo: BBC/Objective Productsion/Rory Lindsay
I’ve always felt some programmes and films should never be remade or updated and when I heard of the BBC’s plans to revive Reginald Perrin I thought it was one of the worst ideas ever.
My one, single, desperate hope for it was the presence of Martin Clunes as Perrin. I dared to be confident that alone in the ranks of today’s comedy actors Clunes would be able to do the part justice.
Thankfully my confidence was rewarded with the one of the better written sitcoms of the past few years – the new series is a definite success.
Clunes gave a solid performance which instantly cemented his claim to the character, his timing was superb and his portrayal of a world weary every man couldn’t fail to invoke sympathy and pity.
The writing was deliciously sharp and the gags mostly hit the mark, though there were a few predictable clunkers such as the one about the old wellness officer retiring through ill health.
The cast was first rate, Neil Stuke was excellent as Perrin’s boss and Moving Wallpaper’s Lucy Liemann oozes sex appeal as the object of Perrin’s lust and attention. On the minus side I could have done without the annoying Steve and Anthony, two characters who looked like they’d wandered in from an episode of The Green Green Grass.
If the series can maintain the quality of this first episode it’ll prove a worthy successor to the original.
You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me !!!!! Have you seen the originals at all???? Your comments strike me as from someone who has been numbed by the mediocirty of recent sit com rubbish. Thin quick gags over dubbed with canned laughter is no subsititute for real quality.
Canned laughter spoiled it.
Canned laughter was awful… but I think this stood up very well. It wasn’t a remake but then Clunes said himself it was a re-imagining. Nice touch to see the old Sunshine building at the start.
@Watch the originals before commenting – Yes I’ve seen, and like, the originals hence my initial scepticism at the decision to make a new version, I just happened to think this was good in its own right.
The all new Reggie Perrin series is awful. Truly, truly awful. It would have been better without any mention of Reggie Perrin. If it had advertised itself as a new David Nobbs series with a different title it would have been more acceptable. I watched 10 minutes and that was enough. It was cheap, nasty and that canned laughter was an insult to the intelligence…
i am 34, have all 3 series of the original series on dvd. i am a fan of martin clunes, the script involving david nobbs and simon nye intrigued me.
now i have seen the first two episodes my observations are, martin clunes plays the part well, if you had not seen how well leonard played the part. leonard was a genius, it is hard to compete. martin just does not have the expressions leonard had. also, neil stuke, the second ‘matthew’ in ‘game on’ plays chris, originally CJ, plays the part well but again chris barron nailed the part in the 70s.
the most annoying part of the show is the acting for the new tony and david parts, reg’s assistants. these could do with being changed.
overall it is a good show that stands up on its own if not compared to closely to the original. the sunshine desserts buiding being showed was a lovely touch and there have been some good comedy moments. i hope it is not only one series, it owul dbe nice to see what future adventures nobbs and nye have in mind.
Granted that the original was absolutely brilliant, and Rossiter was perfectly cast but I have still laughed plenty during this remake and I think Clunes is doing as good a job as could be hoped for, i do think sometimes people put ‘classics’ on a pedestal and anything that tries to go near the hallowed path gets slated, sometimes unfairly. I hope the series keeps up the early promise.
I really like it.. It’s NOT a remake.. it’s a new take on it.. The script is funny and Clunes is excellent..
I thought this weeks was the best so far – nice tight script and some fantastic moments between CJ and Reggie… and the scenes in “first class” hit the nail on the head for me!
I see you have put me in the cast of the new Reginald Perrins series, but why oh why can’t people spell my name correctly ?
Ah well………..
resignedly,
Lawrence Haworth
He could never compare with the late and great Leonard. But still worth a look, Clunes plays a convincing role and there are a few laughs along the way. The canned laughter should go though.
Anthony Wall – don’t forget the fourth series – The Legacy of Reginal Perrin, which unfortunately dragged on and wasn’t great. It was John Barron who played CJ, not Chris. Haven’t seen this new one, as I’m still marooned Down Under, so hope to catch it at some point. The original will always be one of my favourite telvision programmes ever.