Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa is the big-screen debut of Steve Coogan’s much beloved TV character; Alan Partridge. First gracing our screens in 1991, Partridge is a Norwich radio DJ and aspirational TV presenter. 20 years down the track in Alpha Papa, Partridge is thrown in (way over his head) to a hostage situation as the negotiator.

When North Norfolk Digital radio is taken over by a giant media conglomerate and rebranded, the studio makes some cuts and one of the older DJ’s Pat (Colm Meaney) is cut loose. Later that night, he returns to his place of work with a shotgun, and takes the station hostage during a launch party. Pat refuses to communicate with the police, apart from through his old pal, Alan.

Coogan’s performance as the endearing yet completely repellant Alan Partridge is just perfectly seamless in its delivery. The comic depth he brings to a tense situation and the faultless physical comedy shows well on the big screen, with Meaney capturing the audience’s sympathy while Coogan makes the slightly heavier moments light again with snappy quips. Felicity Montagu reprises her roll as Partridge’s assistant and moral compass Lynn, and plays her part brilliantly in this action-comedy.

It is hard for me to find fault with this film, with everything coming together quite perfectly. The pacing never feels stale, even when the jokes require the film to move slower, and every joke hits the mark brilliantly. You’ll start laughing before the opening credits are finished, and won’t stop till the closing credits. Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa is a well-rounded British comic realization on the big screen that I implore everyone to go see.

8/10

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa opens at Luna Leederville on October 24th.