No, this did not transfer to the screen successfully at all. Just like most other sitcoms ( bar the 'Dad's Army' film, which is watchable when there's nowt else to do ), this starts off in the doldrums - and stays there. The trouble with trying to transfer something like 'The Likely Lads' from the small screen to the big one in the first place, is the pseudo-emotional baggage it inevitably brings with it. The series, which was good, has the perceived emotions behind the title, as its hook. 'What's happened to us? Who are we? Remember when?' This can be sustained for thirty minutes, fifty once a year ( the Christmas Special where Terry is a taxi-driver is brilliant ). But, just like Lancashire's worst ( and chuck in Yorkshire for good measure )the Tyne's very own version of 'Ay, Lass, remember when' soaps, comedies and films all fail when it's given a grander suit ( some even fail in their work clothes ). The nostalgia-cum-pathos comes across as sick-making, and if the central characters stare at the clichéd landmarks too much ( ie cobbled streets - Manchester, the Mersey - Liverpool, and the Tyne Bridge on this ), then the whole thing is just too depressing. The honest truth about 'remember when' stories, is, unless you had the busy season of Henley, Wimbledon, Ascot and the Opera to distract you, then you were more likely to be staring at the Tyne with a view to jumping in it, because the reality was/is there were no better days that have gone, just misery. OK, I haven't mentioned the actual plot in this but there's no need. The birds, booze, marital misunderstandings and a sometime interfering friend ( or threat to the ambitious wife ), are all overshadowed by this 'Ee lad, we used to 'ave a grand time, what happened to us?' malarkey. Sorry, but this film is very, very poor and does no justice to the sometime-brilliance of the series.
John Haines
John Haines