The Wrong Mans

Refreshingly funny and light hearted without the excessive use of crass humour for a cheap laugh. Good comedy duo in Corden and Bayton. Well worth the watch, even if the premise is silly.

The Wrong Mans is a TV series that I didn't hear anything about until I saw it advertised a week or so before it aired. It looked like a decent show and I liked James Corden in Gavin & Stacey so I decided to give it a go. As the weeks went on the series just got better and better and it turned out to be very good.

Sam (Matthew Baynton) and Phil (James Corden) are the case of a mistaken identity following a phone call that was not intended for them. They are thrown into some quite bizarre situations. They are always on the run for one thing or another and they are just two innocent guys. The action is quite fast paced and each episode ended on a cliff hanger and you just wanted to see what would happen next.

The action was all sorts such as car chases and being taken hostage. When one thing is sorted out, something worse happens. The drama is really good and you really feel for the main characters. The acting all round is impressive. Then there was also the humour side of things, each episode had its moments. It wasn't the funniest series I've ever seen but it had just enough to give the series a different side. Silly humour in a completely serious situation, like debating how Ginsters is pronounced while there is somebody chasing you who wants to kill you.

The way it ended made me think it was all over but since it has already been confirmed that there will be a 2nd series I am really looking forward to seeing what will happen next. Hopefully it won't go downhill from here because the 1st series was extremely impressive.

9/10.

An epitome of splendid British comedy! A fast-paced tastefully funny show with great dialogues and laced with some appropriately portioned action scenes. The plot is simple, two male employees of an obscure town council get involved in a criminal underworld, double agent-turned culprit, law enforcement chase only to find themselves deeper in the mess. The script is smart, carefully and very well written. When you'd think you know what comes next you are in for a surprise, as the story has its twists and turns. The acting is superb, the actors in the leading roles play characters that are likable and who are quite the opposite of today's boring all muscular and super smart super heroes. We are shown two ordinary guys with ordinary thinking and who eventually do manage to make a great job of living through all sorts of dangerous situations, and even the score with the bad guys. The wrong mans is thoroughly entertaining, and is one of the very best of its kind in recent years. Strongly recommended!

From the very first frame of this clever Hitchcockian comedy/thriller you will be glued to the screen wondering how the two leads are going to escape the situations they find themselves in. Time after time, inventive, funny and dangerous escape plans are hatched and executed with a cleverness we haven't seen on TV for a long time.

There are so many moments in the series were it delves into the cliché and tired tropes of thrillers, yet takes them and twists them in clever and unexpected ways which makes it so much fun to watch.

Episodes three and five are stand outs and it's one of those series where you just want to watch the next episode immediately. The production values are great and the acting in general is good.

My only complaints are: 1. I'd like to have seen the love interest developed a little smoother and 2. The last episode does fall into those tired and cliché tropes of movies in general. It feels lazy in comparison to all the cleverness that has led up to the ending, but the journey as a whole is still extremely satisfying and ultimately a blast to watch. Totally recommended.

Most television or movie comedies are not funny. Fact. You may disagree but how many comedies actually give you the physical reaction of laughter?

Don't misunderstand me, a comedy can be good without actually provoking a laugh. 'Friends', for example was quite good, but laugh out loud funny? Not very often. Like I said, most simply arnt funny, they should be called nicities, or quitegoodities.

Any televisual or movie media should aim for the high watermark of provoking a physical reaction. Horror should make you wince, cower, look away, think. Action should raise your heart rate and get you on your feet. Drama should make you cry or talking. And comedy. Comedy should make you laugh out loud.

The Wrong Mans is the first new comedy for ages that has made me do this. Its genuinely funny. It has characters who I like and care about in absurd situations. It has 2 stand out central performances and has obviously been written by 2 people who know what they are doing and have been given free range to go and do it.

I think it's brilliant. Not 'Father Ted' brilliant, but still brilliant.