Like nearly everyone in the UK I am a huge fan of Morecambe and Wise. I truly believe that they were probably the greatest comedy double act ever. So I watched Victoria Woods biography of Eric and Ernie s early years with a little trepidation. I really shouldn't have worried. The BBC have obviously pulled out all the stops. Eric and Ernie is a master class in how to honour two show biz legends. The writing, direction and especially the performances were simply perfection. Daniel Rigby and Bryan Dick were spot on. They managed to show the friendship between Eric and Ernie without lapsing into parody. Special mention should be made of Vic Reeves who played Eric's dad, George. The part was played with quiet humour and dignity and Victoria wood was especially good as Eric's pushy mother. The only reason that I have given Eric and Ernie 9 out of 10 is that I had a small pang of regret when the credits rolled. I really wished that I could had maybe half an hour more. maybe showing more of the great years of Morecambe and Wise. Maybe one day they could make a sequel, but only if its up to this standard.
12 Reviews
Funny, affectionate and beautiful- as a tribute to an unforgettable comedy duo, this is close to perfection
TheLittleSongbird6 January 2011
I absolutely loved Eric and Ernie, for me it was one of the best programmes over the festive season. Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise are an unforgettable comedy duo and never fail to make me laugh or cheer me up. Eric and Ernie is a funny and affectionate tribute, and is close to perfection. The only reason why it isn't quite is that I agree it was a little too short. That said, visually Eric and Ernie is lovingly crafted and accurate, while the music is beautiful. The script is in my view superb, Peter Bowker(who also penned the script for the unforgettable Occupation) has a real talent for writing dialogue, the story is beautifully structured and never less than immensely engaging and the chemistry between Eric and Ernie was a joy as well as their antics and routines. The drama is also wonderfully directed, and there is never a dull moment. The acting hits the nail right on the head, Daniel Rigby and Bryan Dick are both brilliant and the supporting cast with Vic Reeves, Victoria Wood and Reece Sheersmith are stellar. Overall, Eric and Ernie was brilliant, you can tell a lot of work and care went into this, and I am just amazed it turned out so well. 9.5/10 Bethany Cox
The Best Programme of the Festive Period
Bernardo_OReilly2 January 2011
Simply the best programme on British TV over the festive period. Unlike previous biopics of comedians which tend to be dark and depressing, Eric and Ernie was a warm, moving and funny story of the early days of Britain's best loved double act.
The cast was marvellous, it was really like watching the real Eric and Ernie perform. Victoria Wood and Jim Moir (Vic Reeves)were outstanding as Eric's parents.
The film was clearly a labour of love and it shows in every detail.
So why did I give it 9 instead of 10? Well, I would have preferred it to end with their song "Bring Me Sunshine".
The cast was marvellous, it was really like watching the real Eric and Ernie perform. Victoria Wood and Jim Moir (Vic Reeves)were outstanding as Eric's parents.
The film was clearly a labour of love and it shows in every detail.
So why did I give it 9 instead of 10? Well, I would have preferred it to end with their song "Bring Me Sunshine".
Wonderful!
loudbabe_284 January 2011
A perfectly cast and brilliantly acted TV movie.
A funny and moving portrayal of Eric and Ernie's early days together. Victoria Wood and Vic Reeves were excellent as Eric's parents. Daniel Rigby and Bryan Dick were spot on as Eric and Ernie, their facial expressions and mannerisms were excellent, almost to the point that you believed they were them!
If it had been slightly longer it would have been interesting to see the relationships with their future wives expanded on a little more.
A must see programme for any Morecambe and Wise fan!
So why only 9 out of 10? - Because it finished too soon! I would have loved it to have gone on and told the rest of their story.
A funny and moving portrayal of Eric and Ernie's early days together. Victoria Wood and Vic Reeves were excellent as Eric's parents. Daniel Rigby and Bryan Dick were spot on as Eric and Ernie, their facial expressions and mannerisms were excellent, almost to the point that you believed they were them!
If it had been slightly longer it would have been interesting to see the relationships with their future wives expanded on a little more.
A must see programme for any Morecambe and Wise fan!
So why only 9 out of 10? - Because it finished too soon! I would have loved it to have gone on and told the rest of their story.
Accurate & lovingly told tale of two friends who became household names
jack-5522 January 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Eric and Ernie is an accurate portrayal of the early lives of John Eric Bartholomew and Ernest Wiseman, who became household names as the popular double act Morecambe and Wise in the '60s.
The story starts just before the duo met and traces their relationship through until the beginning of their successful television careers. It is told with great love and reverence though does not leave out the initial animosity felt by Eric towards the slightly older and somewhat arrogant Ernie who was already a successful child performer, nor his dislike of dancing lessons.
The only significant omission, in my view, was their separation during the war when the friends were conscripted and Ernie joined the Merchant Navy while Eric was sent down the mines as a Bevin Boy to help the war effort.
Eric's parents are portrayed with great tenderness by Viv Reeve and Victoria Wood. Casting two northern comics for these roles was genius as they are brought to life as natural humorists without falling into the trap of casting Eric's mother, Sadie, as simply a domineering stage mum. Ernie's own family come to life by the fact of being completely absent from the tale.
There are no great surprises for anyone who knows of their early lives and careers nor any revelations or secrets revealed but it tells a fascinating tale of how two men who became comedic partners as child performers could have kept their act and their friendship fresh and vibrant throughout their acquaintance and comic careers. It is not over sentimental and is unlikely to make you cry, unless it is as a result of the laugh out loud moments with Eric's off the cuff wit and banter with his friend.
I can recommend this portrayal to any fan of Morecambe and Wise - no childhood illusions will be shattered here. This is also a good introduction to anyone who does not know their work. I hope it will inspire people to find their old recordings of their various shows though you might want to miss out their early TV experience in Running Wild.
The story starts just before the duo met and traces their relationship through until the beginning of their successful television careers. It is told with great love and reverence though does not leave out the initial animosity felt by Eric towards the slightly older and somewhat arrogant Ernie who was already a successful child performer, nor his dislike of dancing lessons.
The only significant omission, in my view, was their separation during the war when the friends were conscripted and Ernie joined the Merchant Navy while Eric was sent down the mines as a Bevin Boy to help the war effort.
Eric's parents are portrayed with great tenderness by Viv Reeve and Victoria Wood. Casting two northern comics for these roles was genius as they are brought to life as natural humorists without falling into the trap of casting Eric's mother, Sadie, as simply a domineering stage mum. Ernie's own family come to life by the fact of being completely absent from the tale.
There are no great surprises for anyone who knows of their early lives and careers nor any revelations or secrets revealed but it tells a fascinating tale of how two men who became comedic partners as child performers could have kept their act and their friendship fresh and vibrant throughout their acquaintance and comic careers. It is not over sentimental and is unlikely to make you cry, unless it is as a result of the laugh out loud moments with Eric's off the cuff wit and banter with his friend.
I can recommend this portrayal to any fan of Morecambe and Wise - no childhood illusions will be shattered here. This is also a good introduction to anyone who does not know their work. I hope it will inspire people to find their old recordings of their various shows though you might want to miss out their early TV experience in Running Wild.
Best of its kind
beresfordjd8 January 2011
Daniel Rigby and Bryan Dick portrayed Eric and Ernie to perfection. It must have been an incredibly daunting task to do Morecambe and Wise's material and make it work. And make it work they did. Daniel Rigby had Eric down to a tee and Bryan Dick was equally as good as Ernie. Jim Moir played Eric's dad in an understated way and Victoria Wood was her usual reliable self as Eric's mum. The writer of the this piece did a fantastic job, capturing the times and the rhythms - he made it all hang together perfectly. If this does not win some kind of award this year there will be no justice. I had waited to see this eagerly but with trepidation as I would have thought it impossible to pull off, but pull it off is what they did, with aplomb.
Brought me sunshine
Lejink8 January 2012
I'm of that generation that religiously waited for and watched Morecambe and Wise's usually superb BBC TV specials in the mid 70's when they were at their peak (although nowhere near enough credit is given to their writer Eddie Braben) and so was very interested to watch this dramatisation of their formative years.
It has to be said that their old employer does them proud with a well written, produced and acted TV movie. In truth I could find little to fault in it, my only complaints being perhaps the limited dynamic arc in the story itself and a little too much screen-time for the inspiration behind the project, Victoria Walters. That's not to say she's not good in the part of Eric's pushy, typical show-biz mother, but she takes too much focus away from our heroes, to the, as I say, slight detriment of the piece.
The other main casting credits work very well, with Jim (Vic Reeves) Moir a revelation as Eric's docile dad and the young actors playing Eric and Ern as spot on as they could be with look, voice and mannerisms. They have that essential ingredient for any double-act, chemistry. The script includes some decent gags, but enough of what really matters here, drama, to make it entertaining.
The duo's well-known personae are developed naturally and enough signposts are inserted to their future routines and catch-phrases to please admirers of their later work. As I indicated, this wasn't the most essential show-biz bio-pic I've ever watched but it was amongst the more entertaining of them.
What did I think of it (so far)? Definitely not "Rubbish!"
It has to be said that their old employer does them proud with a well written, produced and acted TV movie. In truth I could find little to fault in it, my only complaints being perhaps the limited dynamic arc in the story itself and a little too much screen-time for the inspiration behind the project, Victoria Walters. That's not to say she's not good in the part of Eric's pushy, typical show-biz mother, but she takes too much focus away from our heroes, to the, as I say, slight detriment of the piece.
The other main casting credits work very well, with Jim (Vic Reeves) Moir a revelation as Eric's docile dad and the young actors playing Eric and Ern as spot on as they could be with look, voice and mannerisms. They have that essential ingredient for any double-act, chemistry. The script includes some decent gags, but enough of what really matters here, drama, to make it entertaining.
The duo's well-known personae are developed naturally and enough signposts are inserted to their future routines and catch-phrases to please admirers of their later work. As I indicated, this wasn't the most essential show-biz bio-pic I've ever watched but it was amongst the more entertaining of them.
What did I think of it (so far)? Definitely not "Rubbish!"
Brilliant is what I think of it so far
studioAT14 June 2012
Morecambe and Wise remain to this day one of the best double acts of all time and this great drama from the BBC shows us their early years. We all know what happened when they achieved fame so it is nice that this drama focuses on the other side of the coin.
The casting in this is great. All the actors playing Morecambe and Wise not only look the part but capture the voice and characteristics of the two men and in some places you start to think you're watching the real men.
Victoria Wood is also great as Sadie, Eric's mother and her story arc is at the centre of this piece that is beautifully captured by director Johnny Campbell.
My only grumble is that much like every other media piece surrounding the comedians this drama is centred more on Eric than Ernie but otherwise this is a great drama.
The casting in this is great. All the actors playing Morecambe and Wise not only look the part but capture the voice and characteristics of the two men and in some places you start to think you're watching the real men.
Victoria Wood is also great as Sadie, Eric's mother and her story arc is at the centre of this piece that is beautifully captured by director Johnny Campbell.
My only grumble is that much like every other media piece surrounding the comedians this drama is centred more on Eric than Ernie but otherwise this is a great drama.
Speechless, I am
jonathan-747-461628 October 2021
You just cannot make a better biopic than this.
Even their voices were down to a T, which is usually the most overlooked bit. They couldn't have got any closer to the real Morecambe & Wise unless they stuck a camera in the faces of the real M & W. This is so good it must have been a secret candid camera having followed them in real life. I'm just speechless.
You really can't see the join.
Even their voices were down to a T, which is usually the most overlooked bit. They couldn't have got any closer to the real Morecambe & Wise unless they stuck a camera in the faces of the real M & W. This is so good it must have been a secret candid camera having followed them in real life. I'm just speechless.
You really can't see the join.
Bringing sunshine
Prismark1028 September 2014
Morecambe and Wise have become a much loved comedy duo in Britain mainly because the same few BBC Christmas Specials get constantly repeated. As someone remarked, if they were so good why are we not seeing the rest of their output?
However it was only a matter of time that we see the formation of their beginnings as a partnership in 1941, a friendship that lasted over 40 years. It is undoubtedly a charming story, well acted by both leads that tells the story of these young performers and the beginnings of this famous comedy act until they launch their television careers although it would be some time before they would make it big on television.
Vic Reeves and Victoria Wood play Eric Morecambe's parents although Ernie Wise's parents are not featured. There is nothing much earth shattering here, a tale told well with some sentimentality and stereotypes but despite the acting it is not always entirely memorable.
However it was only a matter of time that we see the formation of their beginnings as a partnership in 1941, a friendship that lasted over 40 years. It is undoubtedly a charming story, well acted by both leads that tells the story of these young performers and the beginnings of this famous comedy act until they launch their television careers although it would be some time before they would make it big on television.
Vic Reeves and Victoria Wood play Eric Morecambe's parents although Ernie Wise's parents are not featured. There is nothing much earth shattering here, a tale told well with some sentimentality and stereotypes but despite the acting it is not always entirely memorable.
Clichéd Biodrama About a Great Comedy Duo
l_rawjalaurence23 May 2014
Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise were for decades Britain's best-loved comedy duo. From humble beginnings in the last years of variety, they worked their way up through the theater, then on to television, radio and stardom. Jonny Campbell's biodrama contains two remarkable impersonations of the two comedians from Daniel Rigby (as Morecambe) and Bryan Dick (as Wise). They have both the vocal and physical mannerisms spot-on, and make an admirable double-act in their own right. As a piece of drama, however, ERIC & ERNIE founders on its clichés; during the wartime sequences, we have to hear snatches of Winston Churchill and King George VI speaking, complete with the obligatory air-raid siren; in the variety theaters where the comedy due ply their trade, there has to be the smoke-filled dressing-rooms and the fat theater manager (Ted Robbins) smoking a cigar. And don't forget the extracts from the classic backstage musical from 1933 - FORTY-SECOND STREET. And to cap it all, we have Victoria Wood playing Eric Morecambe's mother as a dominant figure incorporating every single stereotype about the Northern English woman, complete with full-strength cigarette hanging from the side of her mouth. She washes the front steps of a house, makes Sunday lunch and bosses her hapless husband George (Jim Moir aka Vic Reeves) around. The quintessential Nora Batty-type figure (from Roy Clarke's LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE), all she lacks are the cheap stockings and the pinafore permanently strapped round her waist. It's a shame that such potentially suggestive material should have been approached in so slipshod a manner; there was ample opportunity for the director and production team to recreate the world of the last days of variety, in which touring acts toured Britain to unappreciative audiences, most of whom were more interested in the nudes that often came on between the comedy acts.
Watching for my sweetheart Miranda Hart, even though she's not in it.
MyMovieTVRomance6 December 2023
Watching this for my sweetheart, Miranda Hart. She's not in the movie, but it's a biopic of her comedy hero and his sidekick, Eric Morcombe and Ernie Wise.
Miranda loves Eric so very much, and it makes me care about them too. She is my darling, and we tend to have the same taste and things. So I'm sure when I get into their show, even if it's not my style, I will still like it.
Another reason to see this is Victoria Wood's involvement. I was pleasantly surprised to see her name be the first one flashing in the credits when I started watching it. So I'm looking forward to that. She was my British comedy favorite before I found my sweetheart, Miranda. But I still adore Victoria Wood, for different reasons. She was never my crush, she was always my role model in a way. I wanted to be more like her, and I saw a lot of myself in her. In the case of Miranda Hart, I'm just absolutely smitten with her and want to marry her. So I love them both, but as you can see, for totally different reasons haha!
If you love British comedy, I recommend this. It's got history, so much history attached to it.
Miranda loves Eric so very much, and it makes me care about them too. She is my darling, and we tend to have the same taste and things. So I'm sure when I get into their show, even if it's not my style, I will still like it.
Another reason to see this is Victoria Wood's involvement. I was pleasantly surprised to see her name be the first one flashing in the credits when I started watching it. So I'm looking forward to that. She was my British comedy favorite before I found my sweetheart, Miranda. But I still adore Victoria Wood, for different reasons. She was never my crush, she was always my role model in a way. I wanted to be more like her, and I saw a lot of myself in her. In the case of Miranda Hart, I'm just absolutely smitten with her and want to marry her. So I love them both, but as you can see, for totally different reasons haha!
If you love British comedy, I recommend this. It's got history, so much history attached to it.
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