Are You Being Served? (1977)

Why did the makers of these spin-offs always insist on breaking with the winning sitcom formula?

OK, it's creaky, incredibly dated, and the sets (or was there just one set?!) are wobbly, but that's all part of the charm. It's also quite perceptive of the attitude of the British abroad, that still persists to this day. My friends and I always seem to end up quoting from this film when we go abroad! The best scene has to be when the myopic Ernest Grainger, who's never been on a plane before, enters what he thinks is the lavatory (it's actually the cockpit). 'Oh, I'm sorry - will you be long?' he says to the pilot. 'About two hours' replies the pilot. 'Oh dear- I'll go to the other end' replies Mr Grainger. Absolutely priceless!

I am giving this three stars just because it is Are You Being Served. I have a soft spot for this silly old show, I have to admit. Technically, it probably deserves two. It has a dreadful soundtrack, (really, they should be shot over it), half the jokes have already been used in actual episodes. (I physically cringed when I saw the cliched Arabs coming). However, I did still quite enjoy this and laughed, just because it is these well known and loved characters. Some of it takes place at Grace Brothers, most of it follows the team on holidays to Greece. The story is pathetic, but I can forgive a lot to see Mr Humphries mince around and Mrs Slocombe make comments about her pussy! I guess you can figure that anyone who seeks this one out probably liked the show and will enjoy it, and those who didn't like the show, can't imagine why they would bother with it to start with. Slight and inoffensive (in an Un PC way!).