Alan Partridge is a funny movie, even if it ends up mostly pointless

As people get older, they struggle with the ever increasing feeling of wondering if they still matter. Technology doesn’t help matters, with new ways overwhelming the old ways all the time, from blue collar manufacturing work to old school newspaper journalism. Sometimes these changes lead to greater improvements for society as a whole, even if they cause problems with a workforce not used to the new order of things. But there is also the corporate, insidious side of things, concerned with the lowest common denominator and jumping on the latest fad.

Of course, this sort of subject has been covered in movies from Network to Wayne’s World, and countless other examples in other forms of media. By this point, it’s hardly a new worry, although people certainly still worry about it. The Internet and YouTube have made it easier for people to become famous with very little talent and no training, although often the more talented and charismatic ones tend to eventually do better than the rest. Usually, anyway. But as the talent pool of unpaid labor grows and more distractions are available to the public, sacrifices will be made in the old media guard, because there’s only so much money and energy to go around. And only so many hours in the day.

Alan Partridge is a movie about the eponymous character, created by British comedian Steve Coogan (who stars in the role), and has made various radio and television appearances over the years. The character had never been in a movie until now, although the film was already released in the UK as Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, which is such a silly name and an unknown reference in the US, it is not at all unusual the name was changed. In many ways, this movie is meant as an introduction to the character, so theoretically anyone can watch the film without prior knowledge.

I wasn’t so familiar with Alan Partridge, although I had seen Steve Coogan in other movies, and I felt like I got a pretty good handle on what Alan was all about. Which means that probably anybody can also figure it out, although there is a lot of humor in the movie that isn’t as funny if you don’t know or like similarly awkward or silly British humor, like the original The Office. Similarly, there are quite a few colloquial references that are probably a lot funnier to UK residents and essentially impenetrable to outsiders. Still, the story is an interesting take on the theme I mentioned above.

Alan Partridge is a moderately successful radio personality for North Norfolk Digital, working alongside hapless sidekick Simon (Tim Key) and late-night DJ Pat Farrell (Colm Meaney), an easygoing type. Alan is a bit of a fan of his own voice, but soon becomes worried when the station is taken over by the “sinister” Gordale Media, which plans to rebrand the station with the inspiringly, realistically stupid “Shape.” Of course I put the sinister in quotes, but that’s only because the corporation is portrayed as a singularly evil entity only concerned about profits with no nuance at all. Fair enough, but it merely makes the later confrontation more complicated.

When Pat is fired to make room for changes, he comes back with a shotgun and holds the entire station hostage, including the Gordale executives. He also refuses to speak to anyone outside or the police … except for Alan, his only friend (or so he believes). And now Alan must figure out a way to handle the furious Pat while somehow keeping his own ego in check. One of the things that’s interesting about the conceit is that there actually is a sense of danger, although it’s not that severe.

In general, the movie plays as a kind of mildly dark comedy, with medium stakes but nothing too serious. Alan starts off the movie as kind of a scummy guy, and the arc of his character is about whether or not he’ll redeem himself at all. Steve Coogan is certainly very familiar with his own creation, embodying someone at times sniveling while being reluctantly heroic. This isn’t a typical hero’s journey, as Alan is always thinking of himself, but then again, that’s what makes things amusing. Caring about your own career despite the threats of death, etc. Colm Meaney, always great in minor roles, is a standout here, showing off the sympathetic side of a man pushed to the brink by losing everything he cared about.

As the corporation is the clear villain here, Pat is easy to empathize with, even if he’s gone a bit mad. As someone familiar with more British comedy than most, I appreciate the humor of this movie, but it’s the sort of thing that could easily become tiresome if you don’t like that sort of thing. Alan’s arc is also very simplistic, and the story without many frills; the enjoyment comes from the silly situations Alan keeps finding himself in, usually because of his own mistakes. In the end, the movies doesn’t really make any point about corporatism and media conglomerates, that’s just to setup things up. It’s not a deep movie, but it’s a fun one.

Alan Partridge is now available in limited theatrical US release and Amazon Prime.