ShadeGrenade The 1977 film version of David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd's hit B.B.C. sitcom set in the fictional London department store of 'Grace Brothers' has acquired notoriety for all the wrong reasons. A poll a while back listed it as the worst ever film based on a television show ( what? Worse than 'Sex & The City 2'? Surely they jest? ). Some twit who shall henceforth remain nameless ( and deserves to be ) wrote on a blog devoted to old horror paperbacks: 'The 70's was a time when the film of 'Are You Being Served?' was regarded as the ultimate in hilarity'. It goes to show just how some will brazenly distort facts in order to make a cheap point. I was around then, and it was not regarded as the 'ultimate' in anything, just the latest in a long line of British sitcoms to make a fair-to-middling transfer to the big screen. Critics poured scorn on 'Served?' and the cinemas in which it played were barely full.The cast are all present and correct; Mollie Sugden as bossy 'Mrs.Slocombe', John Inman as camp-as-a-row-of-tents 'Mr.Humphries', Arthur Borough as grumpy 'Mr.Grainger', Frank Thornton as urbane 'Captain Peacock', Wendy Richard as sexy 'Miss Brahms', Trevor Bannister as randy 'Mr.Lucas', Arthur English as 'Mr.Harmon' the janitor, Nicholas Smith as pompous 'Mr.Rumbold', and, last but by no means least, Harold Bennett as 'Young Mr.Grace', who despite being of pensionable age is still going round lusting after pretty girls. The film has the gang off to the Costa Plonka ( groan! ) where, after encountering the usual stereotypes - including Andrew Sachs as the hotel manager - they become involved in a revolution in a scene reminiscent of the climax of 'Carry On Up The Khyber', only to be saved from annihilation by Young Mr.Grace at the controls of a tank. What can one say? Its cheaply made and full of corny - even for those days - jokes and is on the whole pretty appalling, yet somehow manages in its own cock-eyed way to be rather endearing. The original theme tune has been wisely retained, and overall 'Served?' has the feel of a long episode rather than a film. There's something very British about it - and that's no bad thing.Sadly, Borough died a year later, making this one of his final appearances as 'Grainger'. Bob Kellett also directed the film of 'Up Pompeii' which made 'Served?' look like 'The Importance Of Being Ernest' by comparison.It is a sad man who does not laugh when 'The Emir' ( Derek Griffiths ) has his inside leg measured with a tape stuck to a balloon, which then deflates noisily ( like a colossal fart ), causing Mrs.Slocombe to remark: "Its supposed to be a sign of good manners in their country!".

Dougal Cameron Ever see some of those SNL sketches that are funny on the show but not nearly as good when a movie is made out of them? AYBS: The Movie is like that.All your favorite clerks from Grace Bros. go on holiday together, but there's a lot missing from this movie. Just like with Grace & Favour, it suffers because it's not in the store. It's really hard to make these characters work and flow as well when they aren't in the store, IMO. I mean, the chemistry is great between the cast, as always, and there are some pretty funny moments in the movie, but it's just not as good.The Arabic customers scene was similarly done before, and the ending really left a lot to be desired. Also, there was no laugh track. Not that you would expect there to be one in a movie, but not hearing that laugh every time someone does a joke just isn't the same.If you like the show, it may be worth renting. It's good for what it is, but it's not a movie you're going to want to watch repeatedly.

voyageruk I watched this film last night on a free DVD given away with a national newspaper and i have to say my wife and i I ENJOYED IT! Yes,it has oodles of cheese and camp moments but it was fun.I love the funky,Are you being served? opening theme tune at the beginning and the movie feel picture quality.Yes,the script is dodgy but not as dodgy as the Costa Plonka in a studio with cheap sets and the pretty abrupt ending with young Mr Grace storming through the hotel wall in an armoured vehicle dressed like he has just stepped out of Dad's Army! I never really cared much for the series only having seen a few episodes so i wasn't affected by the repeat joke syndrome so i found the film really amusing.Menswear!

filmbuff69007 This is like a Carry on.with loads of laughs Mr Rumbold is absolutely hilarious.Its surprising that so little of the cast were used in carry ons they certainly could tell the same jokes with a twinkle in there eye.this is bawdy postcard humour at its best.