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In the Loop, Movie

In the Loop 2009

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British political satire expanded from Armando Iannucci's critically-lauded BBC TV series The Thick of It. In the Loop features a great comic cast including a Steve Coogan cameo and Peter Capaldi, as the PM's lethally foul-mouthed Director of Comms. More

Incompetent British minister Simon Foster (Tom Hollander), along with his entourage, is sent to Washington after making contradictory comments about possible war in the Middle East. With everyone looking out for number one, and the fate of the free world at stake (but apparently incidental), politicians and bureaucrats bumbles their way through Machiavellian political dealings and toward comic resolutions that are, er, "unforeseeable". Hide

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3 votes / 1 comments The Talk

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    • Fleur

      Fricken hilarious movie!

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Flicks.co.nz Review

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Andrew Hedley Flicks Writer

Expanding from the BBC comedy series The Thick of It, which examined the incompetent bureaucracy of British government, In The Loop reaches out to include its Yankee counterparts in Washington. This trans-Atlantic satire is up there for one of the sharpest and funniest films you’ll see all year, jam-packed with enough fast-paced banter and cringe-worthy situations to fill a House of Lords. More

Taking its visual cue from the un-showy style of the television series, the film’s naturalistic handheld camera work and fly-on-the-wall approach proves engrossing. Highlights of the large ensemble cast include Tom Hollander as a haplessly naive minister, Chris Addison as an eager newbie, or David Rasche (ex-Sledgehammer) as a condescending State official. But it’s Scottish actor Peter Capaldi who blows a fuse as foul-mouthed spin-doctor, Malcom Tucker, constantly finding new ways to verbally abuse people.

Political satire can sometimes miss the mark by being too smug or self-conscious. In The Loop succeeds by focussing on the characters, rather than the policy. There is something both unnerving and very comforting about the idea that individuals at top levels of government may be as fallible and incompetent as the rest of us.

Don’t make the mistake of presuming this is dry humour for old people or ex-pat Brits. As Malcom Tucker says, “This is a government department, not some f*cking Jane fucking Austen novel! Allow me to pop a jaunty little bonnet on your purview and ram it up your sh*tter with a lubricated horse cock!” Hide

The People's Reviews

Rating:

18 ratings and 19 reviews

All reviews (19)

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"Climbing the Mountain of Conflict"

Iceman Nobody (?)

A ridiculously funny, smart and sharp comedy that tackles the bumbles of miscommunication between the US and the UK governments pre Iraq invasion and how it really isn't that far off the truth. A total triumph and one of the best comedies I've seen. I'd give it 6 if I could.

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Funny funny funny

Patricia Nobody (?)

The funniest film of the year. More laughs per minute than anything else I've seen. I saw it at the film festival. Aw, hilarious!

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In The Loop

Frith Nobody (?)

If this film is based on true facts and individuals I am horrified and scared that these types of people run the world. Some funny moments but didn't think it was the comedy cracked up to be. I don't mind the odd f***k now and again but the verbal assult of bad language was too much. The actors were very good with the sad characters they had to portray.

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Totally missable

John Nobody (?)

Just don't go to this dreadful excuse for a comedy;
downright inane, depressing and dreadfully scripted.
Perhaps all the bad filthy language is meant to make it funny if you don't like it after 10 minutes - just walk out otherwise it will make you sick.
It does not improve and there are absolutely no big laughs in this movie.

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In the Loop

Tina-Chai B-Grader (?)

If the star rating was minus 1 that is what I would rate this movie. The language was over the top and not many laughs at all. A film I would NOT recommend.

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Review

flyernzl Nobody (?)

One of the worst films I have seen.
Little more than a monotonous litany of swear words with no discernible action or plot.
A waste of money to make and to view.
We walked out after 30 minutes.

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Stupefyingly unfunny

Ken Nobody (?)

The only four letter word missing in this movie is lame. Don't waste your money.

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The difference between comedy and satire is not funny

keeshy Flicks Superstar (?)

Obviously polarising audiences from the looks of the previous reviews, which I wish I had read before I went. A friend said it was very funny, so I went along expecting a good laugh. Satire is not comedy and I hardly laughed at all. Very clever but certainly not everyones cup of tea, and a regretted investment of time and money.

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Saddened Viewer Nobody (?)

not much to say the only thing stopping this being a 0 is the rare one or 2 ok jokes (and the fact that flicks doesn't hav a 0)

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star star star star

Seats Nobody (?)

British/US political satire that left me in hysterics. I was quoting this thing for weeks after - "Climbing the mountain of conflict"? You sounded like a Nazi Julie Andrews! ". Malcolm Tucker brought to life by Peter Capaldi is brilliant. Go see it. Better then half the films showing at the moment.

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One of the best comedies this year

Benek Nobody (?)

I'm a little shocked at the number of negative reviews for this one. I found In the Loop hilarious. I actually want to see it a second time because some of the dialog is very fast and I'm certain I missed some jokes while busy laughing at previous ones.

Most good comedies these days are polarising -- due to their inevitable bad language and possibly offensive material -- and I guess this one is no exception. Either you love it or you hate it. I loved it. Would highly recommend to anyone who isn't afraid of the f word and the occasional penis joke.

The satire was so funny because it's probably more true than many of us would like to believe. There are so many things about politics that are ridiculous enough they hardly need to be satirical to be funny.

If you liked the look of the trailer or had a recommendation from a friend, GO SE IT. Don't be put off by the negative reviews. I have a feeling the people who knock movies like this probably don't like 9 out of 10 of the good comedies put out today. And this is definitely much smarter and better than your average comedy flick.

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Schoolboy Dreadful

Peter Nobody (?)

Dreadful, dreadful, dreadful.
Walked out after 10 minutes. A continual barrage of foul, extreme but lame very unfunny script language and nothing like inside a political Press office. Is it meant to shock? Horrible characters make you feel sick.
Totally unrealistic as no one today would put up with this offensive barrage, viewed or otherwise.
The worst film we have seen in 30 years! Minus 10 Stars, not 1.

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Lemon whatever

Honey Hoxley Nobody (?)

Hmmm... quality film reviewers (below) vs (some) Idiots on Flicks... whose view counts? I saw it twice and am considering a third time, so I place my bet on the professionals and not people who walk out after 10 mins and still think they can accurately judge it...

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In the Loop

Bill Nobody (?)

Time for reality. Loved it, will see again as soon as I find out where it is playing. Never stopped laughing. It is meant for adults not PC types.

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separated by a common language

bobbie Nobody (?)

A laugh out loud and clever film, which also has a touch of pathos running through it.
Loved it, and will see it again.

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Loved It,

Keith Nobody (?)

You need a good british sense of humour to understand it. It's great !!

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Very clever, VERY funny

Allo2JasonIsaacs A-Lister (?)

100 minutes of fast talking, razor-sharp, laugh-out-loud wit that plays out like the very best British sitcom. Intelligent political satire is rarely so articulate, hilarious and profane all at the same time. Deserves five stars alone for the demented vicious bile spewed so deliciously by Peter Capaldi. Possibly the smartest satire on bureaucracy during wartime since Dr. Strangelove

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Press Reviews

Empire (UK)

Spinal Tap meets Strangelove. A satirical demolition of Whitehall and Washington: politically astute, hilarious and terrifyingly real. Full review.

Guardian (Peter Bradshaw) (UK)

Alastair Campbell didn't like it - meaning you almost certainly will. Peter Bradshaw on the funniest, sharpest film of the year. Full review.

Hollywood Reporter

Painfully funny satire of British and American bureaucrats in the days leading up to the Iraq War. Full review.

Los Angeles Times

In the Loop is no precious show dog. It's a snarling, frothing little beastie straining at its leash. Full review.

New York Times

A sharply written, fast-talking, almost dementedly articulate satire on modern statecraft... Full review.

Total Film (UK)

In The Loop may have worked equally well on TV, but no rib is left untickled in a quickfire satire that depresses as much as it amuses. Gets our vote. Full review.

Variety (USA)

Intelligent political satire this expertly acted is nothing to sneeze at. Full review.