I didn't enjoy "Up the Creek" when I watched it a couple of weeks ago for the "House of Hammer" podcast. I wasn't looking forward to this sequel and, despite the fact that I think it's marginally better, I was right to feel gloomy.
The aging Frigate "Aristotle" is sold by the Navy to a North African State. Charged with delivering the ship, and spying one more chance to make a profit, the Bosun (Frankie Howerd) plans to sell tickets to the public and provide a cruise experience whilst on the journey. To do so though, they'll need a malleable Captain, so decide to organise a return for hapless Lieutenant Fairweather (David Tomlinson) to take command.
I do think that ultimately this film suffers from the same problem that befell "Up the Creek" in that it's a comedic premise that's forever in search of a few jokes to actually make it funny. I do say that this one is a tiny bit better though, and that's largely because of Thora Hird and Frankie Howerd. I deal with the sacrilegious one first - whilst I'd never say that Howerd was the equal of Sellers in any other way - I do think that Sellers was a bit too lowkey in the original, and Howerd at least brings his energy to the character, and frantic energy is what a farce needs. Thora Hird, back for another memorable Hammer role is a battleaxe wife in the (fine?) tradition of the role and she has the best delivery of the few amusing lines.
But it's not funny. It's just 90 more minutes of "don't let him look in there" as they gently point hapless Tomlinson around the ship and away from the passengers. Lionel Jeffries returns as does Hammer regular Eric Pohlmann as the President of the fictional country purchasing the boat. Pohlmann is joined by other future Bond Alumni, Shirley Eaton - who plays a love interest / distraction for Fairweather.
Happy to be done with this franchise now, although unfortunately Hammer's next film is another comedy. I'm not looking forward to it.
