This Is England '88

Get ready to cry, laugh and tie curling awkwardness. Just when you let your guard down and laugh. The next scene leaves you in anguish or tears. It's a master class in tragicomic relief. The settings put you right back in the 1980's, where kids and youth Rommedahl the streets. There are some absolute architectural "beauties" and prime 1980's dekor, That curbs any lurking nostalgia.

Slow paced, nothing much really going on, and if there is they're sure to stretch it out for hours. Sequences are too long with lots of slow filler scenes that tend to drag. Acting is acceptable with the exception of stephen Graham who is outstanding as usual. Dialogue isn't the best and generally needs more direction. Maybe it would make a better music video than a film.

The most recent (to date) of Shane Meadows's TV follow-ups to his hit film THIS IS ENGLAND, THIS IS ENGLAND '88 sees the viewer catching up with the gang some five years or so since the movie and two years since the events of THIS IS ENGLAND '86. Sadly, it's the weakest offering yet, and any interest generated in the setting and characters has long since diminished thanks to a distinct lack of originality.

I love the original film and THIS IS ENGLAND '86 had some strong, compelling moments when it eventually got going. This one doesn't. Once again, we get the dreary Lol moping around - surely this woman is one of the most depressing ever put on a TV screen? It's worse than EASTENDERS! Meanwhile, Shaun engages in an unlikely 'love triangle' plot - yeah, we had that already in '86 - while Woody attempts to lead an 'ordinary' life.

Gone is the power and compelling writing that made the earlier instalments so special. At this stage, I'm only watching because I'm interested in what happens to the characters, but it's becoming a chore to sit through. There are still great actors here - Joe Gilgun is given some great scenes at last - but the miniseries feels directionless, aimlessly delivering scenarios that are just too familiar to make an impact. And Stephen Graham's screen time is way too limited - let's hope he makes a triumphant return in THIS IS ENGLAND '90.

In 'This is England 88', Shane Meadows picks up the story of the group of young people whose lives he previously chronicled in a feature film and an earlier TV series. If I have to criticise this work, it's that it's structure is that of an extended coda to its predecessors; there's not much in the way of novel plot, and perhaps too many emotional "payoff" scenes, something Meadows does well but they have more impact when set at the end of a tauter, more defined story. But of course, such scenes are not the only thing that Meadows is good at. As usual, he gets great performances from his (mostly unprofessional) cast, and manages to make the bleak surroundings of working class England almost unbearably beautiful and affecting. This it top class television; but I also feel these characters, as brilliantly as they have bee brought to life, are now done.

Another excellent showing in the series.

Shaun now in college, studying drama, still with Smell. They aren't doing too good. I have to admit, this character is kind of annoying me now. He's just kind of irritating, but in a lovable way. That scene he has with Smell at the party was really heartbreaking. You really feel her pain. Hope things change in the 90 installment.

Poor Lol. She is going through so much in this latest installment. Now a single mother to, well you know whose baby it is. She has to bear the torment of what occurred and the guilt for Combo. All of which eventually bites her in the butt by the time this series ends.

Woody is the ultra superstar in 88. The performance was just amazing. You can feel the passion, you can really feel the anger. The way he reacts to the Christmas Day incident really pulls on the heartstrings. His love for Lol is undeniable.

It's amazing the power that a well written, acted, and produced piece of film/entertainment can have on you. I really feel like all the characters are my friends now. I'm an outsider looking in, but in a weird way I kind of feel like Shaun in the 1st installment. He was lost, they took him in and now he is like family to them. The viewer was lost in the first installment and with this being the 3rd in the series, we are now family.

I could go on and on. Just go and watch this. You'll be hooked right away.

This gets a LennyReviewz Score of: 9/10.