TV Review - Spaced: A Witty Mash-up of Movie References and Fart Jokes

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            This is a review I wrote as an example of a TV Review for my Cinema class.  I had them read the review and discuss what they thought of the tv show without even seeing the first episode; whether or not they would watch it.  They all said that they would and how excited they were to see this show. I showed them the first episode of season 1.  

Spaced

A Witty Mash-up of Movie References and Fart Jokes

            Imagine Strangers on a Train, but without all the messy business about killing each other’s spouse.  Imagine Friends, but without the constant annoying “will-they-won’t-they” between Ross and Rachel.  Imagine your best mate’s steady stream-of-conscious flow of movie quotes and references.  Put all of these images into a blender and season with marijuana, booze, cigarettes, and a dash of tea.  Bake for 25 minutes and you will have the TV show, Spaced, premiering on BBC4 this September.

                                                                                                     (Spaced DVD promo photo)

            This surprisingly witty comedy—even with the frequent toilet humor—is sure to delight anyone who feels like they are stuck in limbo.  Somewhere between Millennial and Generation X lays Daisy (Jessica Hynes nee Stevenson) and Tim (Simon Pegg).  These twenty-somethings find themselves homeless when they meet as total strangers, so they do the only logical thing; they lie about being a couple so they can rent an apartment.

             Director Edgar Wright, famous for his “Cornetto Trilogy,” directs Mr. Pegg of the same franchise and Ms. Hynes (Harry Potter & the Order of the Pheonix, The Rainbow) through a series of snags and near misses as they try to keep their plutonic relationship a secret from their landlady, Marsha (Julia Deakin), who is more oblivious than keen, probably due to the cigarettes and copious amounts of booze she swills.

                                                                                                    (Season 1 Episode 1: "Beginnings" with Jessica Hynes and Simon Pegg)

            Mr. Pegg and Ms. Hynes have such chemistry with each other that the rapid dialogue seems effortless, which it should since they developed the scripts for BB4.  The most apparent thing that leaps from the script is the absolute fondness of classic films and film styles.  These playful send-ups will keep any movie buff either swooning with excitement or groaning with obvious contempt that they hadn’t thought of this first. 

            While the references are wonderful to see in script and dialogue, it is Mr. Wright’s true study of film genre and technique that make these references leap off the page and into the audience’s face.  Mr. Wright’s direction is innovative and seems to mirror the constant movement and anxiety-riddled twenty-something lifestyle.  With no scene ever really finishing—but rather sliding into the next—he keeps the audience engaged for the full 24 minute episodes.  He knows how to edit the show in order to make everything feel as if it is a metaphor for the way these young people experience life: ironically. 

            A supporting cast of characters, which could have easily been 2-dimensional plot pushers, are rich, vibrant, and full of their own special brand of neuroses.  Tim’s best friend, played by Mr. Pegg’s true life best friend and “Cornetto” co-star, Nick Frost (Paul, Tintin) with such precision that he is both a military wanna-be and lovable dolt.  Daisy’s friend, Twist (Katy Carmichael) provides a dynamic foil for Daisy. Ms. Carmichael’s performance, while grating at times, resembles your friend that you secretly think keeps you around because you are fatter than she is in photos.  Finally, there is Tim and Daisy’s neighbor, Bryan.  This starving artist played by Mark Heap (Stardust, World’s End) is an archetype that we all poke fun at when we want to feel superior in our sense of style and taste.

            Do yourself a favor; set aside time to watch each episode a few times to catch all the subtle film references.  And remember that this show is not for the high-brow, sophisticated palette.  It is a bag of crisps and a solid stout (or two...or four) with your best mate laughing at each other's bodily functions.  So take off your monocle and live a little.  Put on your best beanie and choker necklace and get Spaced.

Title: Spaced Airing Date: 24 September 1999 (UK) Director: Edgar Wright Writers: Simon Pegg, Jessica Hynes Stars: Simon Pegg, Jessica Hynes, Nick Frost, Mark Heap, Katy Carmichael, Julia Kline Rating: TV-M Category: Comedy Run Time: 25 minutes