Infidel, The : Top Ten Best British Comedies




Fish and chips, bulldogs and Phil Mitchell; some of the things that help to keep Great Britain great. Comedy is another strong point , and the release of The Infidel on DVD on the 9th August features such comedy legends as Matt Lucas, Miranda Hart, Richard Schiff and of course, Omid Djalili to make us all proud of our little island. So from ten to one, here are a few of the films that have kept the nation smiling….


10. Ali G Indahouse – The Sultan of Staines extends his empire as he is being used in a ploy to bring the Prime Minister down through his lewd and crude antics, but makes the Government more popular than ever by helping him get down with the kids. Sacha Baron Cohen represents youth culture with witty dialogue and hilarious irony, and by of course proving that there is nothing funnier than a man in a yellow tracksuit being taunted with fried chicken.

9. Run, Fatboy, Run – Proving that a pregnant fiancé isn’t the only thing he can run away from, Simon Pegg plays the lead who decides that the sight of an overweight middle aged man running the marathon is the way back into the life of his lost love. The quick wit and impecible timing makes up for the seemingly bland plot, and the direction of former Friends star David Schwimmer ensures there is a heavy dose of emotional slapstick too.

The Infidel DVD8. Lesbian Vampire Killers – A novel addition to the list, this makes the top ten for sheer ambition and originiality. James Corden and Mat Horne make a fine double act as they play two desperate, beer fuelled lads up whose night out in the moors ends a little differently as they are surrounded with sexy women who want more than a free drink to power the resurrection of a vampire queen. A weirdly primal idea that will have men running for the hills.

7. East Is East – A 90’s favourite combining a chip shop and strict Islam, East is East plays on the cultural clash for laughs, and somehow successfully combines this with a heavy dose of family morals and a message of tolerance. Set in 1970’s Salford, the high comedy factor proves that it really isn’t all that grim up North.

6. Shaun of The Dead – Simon Pegg’s second addition to the list shows him as another hopeless who is willing to do anything to get his life back on track, but this time the zombie apocalypse has arrived. It is more than his ex-girlfriend who is at his throat as the undead start to tear the population apart, forcing Shaun to become an unlikely hero amongst the carnage.

5. The Infidel – Proving that an identity crisis can still conjure up a few laughs, Omid Djalili reminds his audience why he has been a successful comic for over two decades. The original plot sends a clever message, as Djalili plays a man who ups his Islamic credentials to shun the fact that he was discovered to be born Jewish. The absurdity of the situations is what gives The Infidel it’s sparkle, proving that with the right talent even the trickiest of issues can raise a smile.

4. Carry on Camping – A compilation of the best of British wouldn’t be complete without this Carry On classic. Using more clichés than you can shake a stick at, sexual mishaps and a few tents provide a heavy dose of original slapstick. Proving that family friendly can be funny, this film has only got better with age - unlike the scantily clad Barbara Windsor featured.

3. Kevin & Perry Go Large – Two very British boys fly their flag high on the beaches of Ibiza as they follow their dreams of becoming superstar djs and losing their virginities in the process. Harry Enfield and Kathy Burke do the cult television characters justice through their fantastic characterisation of middle class youth, with the writers adding in a few catchy lines for good measure. Watch out for their club classic “All I Wanna Do is Do It (Big Girl)”, which they only had to unblock a toilet by hand and leak Kevin’s parents’ sex tape to have debuted.

2. The Full Monty – Former steel workers becoming male strippers sounds like a film that belongs on the top shelves, but Robert Carlyle and his band of not-so-merry men give this story some heart. Set in Sheffield there is a gritty element which balances well with the situational comedy which The Full Monty relies on. Despite the heavy themes of father’s rights, depression and unemployment, highlights include dancing in the dole queue and a fat man in a thong.

1. Monty Python’s Life of Brian – Arguably the most quotable classic British comedy of all time, the ever popular Monty Python team exceed expectations with this religious satire. Billed as being “so funny it was banned in Norway”, legions of fans turned it into a cult classic since it’s release in 1979. No longer banned in quite as many parts of the world, but so dangerously funny perhaps it should be.

See Omid Djalili and a variety of British comedy heroes in The Infidel, released on DVD on 9th August. Find out more Here