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It Couldn't Happen Here [1988]

Starring: Pet Shop Boys, Joss Ackland, Barbara Windsor, Gareth Hunt, Neil Dickson
Format: Dolby PAL Surround Sound
Released: 26 May 1997
RRP: £5.99
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

Occaisonally amusing, always bizarre misfire - By: Timothy Larabee, 31 Jan 2008
It's not as bad Cool as Ice or Spice World, but It Couldn't Happen Here will not make it to the history books anytime soon as a great cinematic achievement. The Pet Shop Boys can't act. Neil's passable, but Chris is uneasy on screen, apparent in the diner scene.

It Couldn't Happen Here seems to have a loose narrative involving a murderous priest, an existentialist dummy, & an odd pilot. Some of the plot circles around a fictional childhood of the boys. Most of it features Neil & Chris walking around while they are either performing their songs, or their songs play in the background. In this sense, it plays like a long form music video. Some of the imagery is neat, but most of it grows tiresome.

But something about this movie, besides my favorite musicians, has me revisit it. It's not your typical long form music film. There are scenes that are just bizarre & seem to lack any proper context except in & of themselves. Notable are the conversations with the priest & the boys where he muses about weapons, salvador dali, & being a "bilingual illeterate." Oddly, these are jokes from comedian Stephen Wright. How they ended up here is an oddity...

More fun & strange though is when Neil & Chris are in a diner & Gareth Hunt brings in a dummy that starts providing a strange philosophy of time. It's probably lifted from somewhere, but it sounds at home here, once you accept that bizarre seems to be the apt word for this film.

There's lots of other memorable images: a man on fire, men painted like zebras, & people quoting John Milton. It's a strange film. It's not good or great by any means. The mere fact it has the Pet Shop Boys makes it an interest for fans. If you're in the mood to watch some curious, bizarre cinema, however, you might also find something you like.
It couldn't happen here, more like it DID happen there! - By: Madam Boogie, 22 Jun 2003
I've seen this film as I owned it years ago & it's hilarious! There are appearances by Barbara Windsor, Joss Ackland, Gareth Hunt & others!

The scene where Chris Lowe throws a plateful of fried eggs at Barbara Windsor is priceless as they run down her front & the expression on her face is so funny.

Chris & Neil act so laid-back in the film that you'd think they'd falll over & the music is brilliant! Personallly, I feel their music was at it's best when it was in the 80's.

A cracking film if you are a true & loyal Pet Shop Boys fan & you'll love Neil in his black mac holding his umbrella & speaking with a cool air about him.

Joss Acklands scene as a psycho passenger rambling on about alll sorts of bizarre poetry while sitting in the back of Neil & Chris's taxi is hilariously funny & one of my favourite scenes.

But the best laugh in the film which cracks both Neil & particularly Chris up with laughter is the scene in the cafe' with Gareth Hunt ordering beans, more beans, & a side order of beans.

Surreal, but great stuff! The music rocks too! :-)

It couldn't happen here, more like it DID happen there! - By: Madam Boogie, 17 Jun 2003
I've seen this film several times & the scene where Barbara Windsor has a huge plate of fried eggs thrown at her by Chris Lowe is one of the funniest things I've ever seen! The look of horror & surprise on her egg-strewn face is hilarious.

Joss Ackland (oldish cool actor with diplomatic immunity off the Lethal Weapon film) plays a fantastic part as he sits in the back of a taxi with Neil & Chris in the front & Joss is acting bizzarely, putting on a very strange voice & quoting strange poetry & ramblings, it reallly is full of various actors/actresses cameo appearances, so much so, it'll keep you entertained from start to finish.

If you like the Pet Shop Boys a lot & their music, then you'll love this film. Most of the music in it is from the 80's which I personallly feel was their best recording time as artists.

There are some very moving, poignant scenes in the film & matched with the music it will have you alternating between tapping your feet, to crying with laughter to feeling sad.

Great stuff, & after seeing the PSB's in concert approx 4 times & shaking Neils hand in an after-show party which I gatecrashed at Pinewood Studios in 1991 AND seeing this film too, I've a lot of very fond memories. :)

If you're a very big fan of the PSB's then you'll treasure this film & will watch it over & over again, as the previous reviewer wrote, you will see different things each time you watch it!!

It couldn't happen here, more like it DID happen there! - By: Madam Boogie, 17 Jun 2003
I've seen this film several times & the scene where Barbara Windsor has a huge plate of fried eggs thrown at her by Chris Lowe is one of the funniest things I've ever seen! The look of horror & surprise on her egg-strewn face is hilarious.

Joss Ackland (oldish cool actor with diplomatic immunity off the Lethal Weapon film) plays a fantastic part as he sits in the back of a taxi with Neil & Chris in the front & Joss is acting bizzarely, putting on a very strange voice & quoting strange poetry & ramblings, it reallly is full of various actors/actresses cameo appearances, so much so, it'll keep you entertained from start to finish.

If you like the Pet Shop Boys a lot & their music, then you'll love this film. Most of the music in it is from the 80's which I personallly feel was their best recording time as artists.

There are some very moving, poignant scenes in the film & matched with the music it will have you alternating between tapping your feet, to crying with laughter to feeling sad.

Great stuff, & after seeing the PSB's in concert approx 4 times & shaking Neils hand in an after-show party which I gatecrashed at Pinewood Studios in 1991 AND seeing this film too, I've a lot of very fond memories. :)

If you're a very big fan of the PSB's then you'll treasure this film & will watch it over & over again, as the previous reviewer wrote, you will see different things each time you watch it!!

Probably best for die-hard Pet Shop Boys fans. - By: , 23 May 2001
A fairly 'out there' movie which only die-hard fans could reallly appreciate. I wouldn't say it had the greatest of plots or storey lines, but gives you a different perspective of Chris & Neil. They can't act & don't reallly try too which is one of the best things about It Couldn't Happen Here. They're musicians trying something different & it's funny! You can watch it over & over again & still find something you missed before. Worth a look & a bit of a giggle at!