Stars: Paul Kaye, Vince Vaughn, Johnny Vegas, Estelle Harris, Mark Little, Bernard Cribbins

Director: Mel Smith

Summary: Cliff Starkey finds life dull and uninspiring in his home town on the English coast but he cannot keep out of trouble. The only thing that moves him is bowls but he plays to his own rules much to the disapproval of the older enthusiasts...

Directed by funnyman Mel Smith, BLACKBALL follows the fortunes of Cliff Starkey (Paul Kaye). Starkey lives in a traditional, quiet seaside town where nothing seems to inspire him except for bowls. However, inspite of his talent for the game, his working-class upbringing does not go down well with the middle-class members of the bowling club, even when he becomes the regional champion. However, his ability to wow the crowd is noticed and Cliff is signed up by sports agent Rick Schwartz (Vince Vaughn) and Cliff's popularity begins to soar. When he is picked for the national team to play against Australia, will he be able to live up to expectations

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Blackballmarks the feature debut of Paul Kaye, who spins a somewhat more likeable variation on his arrogant Perfect WorldTV persona in this underdog-triumphs-over-adversity comedy. Set, like Fawlty Towers, in the holiday resort of Torquay, and echoing the small-town seaside pettiness of Tony Hancock's The Punch and Judy Man(1963), Blackballis as bitterly class conscious as either, with Kaye as a working-class, potentially world-champion bowler with an enormous chip on his shoulder. Written by Tim Firth (the man also responsible for 2003's Calendar Girls), the film seems unsure what it wants to be, aiming potshots at the corrupting influence of big money TV deals and commercial tie-ins on traditional values, while simultaneously trampling on those very values by celebrating the repugnant antics of Kaye's MTV-generation angry young sportsman.

Director Mel Smith eventually swamps any satiric intent under a full slate of feel-good comedy clichés, though he does win fine performances from James Cromwell and Bernard Cribbins as Kaye's proud nemesis and kindly uncle respectively. While parts of the script involving their back stories seems to have been left on the cutting room floor, the restrained dignity these two elder statesmen bring to their roles speaks volumes about changes in attitudes between the generations. Consistently amusing, though too predictable to be hilarious, Blackballfeatures strong support from Vince Vaughn, Johnny Vegas, Imelda Staunton and Alice Evans. Stephen Warbeck's score really elevates proceedings once the product-placed rock soundtrack stands aside. --Gary S Dalkin

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Commentary - 1. Mel Smith - Director, Cast & Crew Interviews, Trailers, TV Spots
Year:	2003
Release Date:	February 16, 2004
Runtime:	93 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	D 095859
Keywords:	Comedy, General, Blackball
Genre:	Comedy