David Farmbrough This undeniably a Comic Strip film, but it is also very much the B-team playing here. There is no big talent in the leading roles except for Phil Cornwell who is wasted playing a rather stereotypical estate agent. There is not enough screen time for Rik Mayall, Richardson himself and Rebecca Front, and Nigel Planer has more or less a walk-on part. Sheridan Smith is delightful in the lead role as a nouveau-riche cockney girl moving to the home counties mediocrity of a Barratt Home in Berkshire, and newcomer Tamer Hassan makes the most of a thankless role as her Colombian friend. The programme is bereft of any of Richardson's clever directorial flourishes and seems to suffer from a fear of close-ups. In terms of writing, there are similar lacks of imagination. You imagine from the start that the various couples are involved in some sort of swinging scene, and it would have been good if this expectation could have been subverted. What made the Comic Strip so good in its early years was that it didn't rely on just one writing team, and a script by (say) Patrick Marber or Rik Mayall might just brighten things up a bit.

treyparkeratemyhamster Very disappointed with this one.Back in the 80s The Comic Strip were daring, innovative, groundbreaking and downright funny. They had the ability to make you laugh, make you cry and make you go EWWW! With the stroke of a pen. The collective evolved with the advent of the 1990s, and then had a long break. Following that came 4 men in a car/plane which were great pieces of television in their own right….Then came Sex Actually. Which from the title suggestions (to this writer) it could be a funny spoof on the equally dire film Love Actually – the stereotypical Cockney Sparrar, bumbling posh bloke, ad nauseum. But instead it comes out a bit like the thought of your parents doing you-know-what.The story – from what I can gather is about some room in a house where something unspeakable happened. And that's it.It was desperate, pointless and not funny. The characterisations were on the whole good. Rik Mayall was very funny as usual. The casting of Sheridan Smith failed to hit the mark. A lesser known actress may have been a better idea because I can only see her as that woman off Two Pints of Lager. A matter of – Bad Actress, Bad Decision.The plus points – It was a Comic Strip Film.It was a valiant attempt by Richardson and Richens to bring an adult themed film but I really think they should stick to what they do best – bringing the masses something a little bit different. Actually - Just bring back Glam Metal Detectives.