Everybody’s favourite renaissance cultural commentator Philomena Cunk returns with a new three-part series that does exactly what it says on the film can. Cunk, immaculately inhabited by Diane Morgan, takes an in-depth look at cinema from its start to the present day, speaking to crtiics, industry experts and actors along the way.
You’ll laugh and you may even learn something. Because the funny thing is that Cunk’s spoof trilogy does actually tell you the history of the movies from silent film to the advent of AI. You just have to separate the facts from the fun. And there’s a lot of fun. Highlights include Cunk thinking that Hitchcock’s first name was Ian after reading the word Hitchcockian. Interviewee Mark Kermode, who plays a straight bat despite surely spotting a set-up, puts her right with a brilliantly executed put down.
Among those on the receiving end of her dimwit expertise are Benedict Cumberbatch (good sport) and blockbuster director Michael Bay (very good sport, or completely bemused). Steven de Souza (screenwriter, Die Hard, Commando) is another star who somehow tolerates her puerile probing.
While the lead writer is the very clever Charlie Brooker a lot of the gags are pretty childish – getting names confused (Stanley Cupboard’s 201?) or simply mispronouncing them – it’s the way that Cunk delivers each line that winkles out the laughs. When she tries to recreate a famous Buster Keaton slapstick stunt it’s blindingly obvious what is going to happen, but the way Cunk makes it happen will still have you falling out of your chair.
And, as i said, you may even learn something. People usually compare Cunk to Ali G or Dennis Pennis but this reminds me of Horrible Histories, or even a really ancient comedy book, 1066 And All That – which doesn’t just take the piss out of history it teaches you about it too. Except that this is unique. Positively Cunkian. Put Cunk on the film studies syllabus now.
Cunk on Cinema, Thursdays from November 12, 10pm, BBC Two and already all on iPlayer. also on Netflix in USA.
Credit: BBC/Pacesetter Productions/Olly Courtney
