Bad Tidings

As Christmas movies go, I've seen better. But I've also seen a lot worse!!!! Chris McCausland and Lee Mack clearly have great chemistry and deliver some witty (and mostly clean) gags throughout that the whole family can enjoy. I made the mistake of reading other reviews online before watching and clearly entered with extremely low expectations, but I was pleasantly surprise to be honest. This isn't a Christmas classic and I don't think it was ever intended to be one, but if you want to switch off and enjoy some light-hearted Christmas fun then go for it - ignore the wannabe Times movie critics.

Bad Tidings is a simple TV movie in the time-tested Christmas tradition but a surprisingly charming one at that. The movie is elevated appreciably above mediocrity thanks to the kinetic duo of Lee Mack's animated slapstick performance juxtaposed brilliantly with Chris McCausland's deadpan eccentricity; the two comedians do a great job winding each other up and playing off one another. This isn't too surprising to me, as someone who was already a fan of their work on Would I Lie to You, but the movie does a good job of capturing an essence of their comedic styling that could've easily been missed. This all combined with a solid script that can elicit some genuine laughs and you've got a competent if unambitious and well-tread Christmas movie. The plot isn't amazing but it's functional and brief enough to not overstay its welcome. It starts out strong enough with the predictable but well executed neighborly one-ups-manship which ultimately serves to set-up a rather lackluster derivative of the Home Alone premise; except, instead of being a kid protecting one house from two burglars, it's two grown men protecting a whole neighborhood from four burglars but the action plays out much the way you'd expect. While that's definitely the weakest aspect of the movie, at around an 80 minute runtime, it never drags on and the formula still manages to be endearing enough to have the whole thing feel worth while.

In conclusion: while Bad Tidings certainly doesn't break any new ground, when approached with the right expectations: it's a competently made TV movie, an effective Christmas treat, and a satisfying comedy vehicle for Lee Mack and Chris Causland.

Me and my mate Paul are in agreement that this is possibly one of the worst things we've watched, we both had high hopes but struggled to keep it on, les won't even watch it after our reviews, poor and disapointed . It could have been so much better but I'm not going to let it spoil my Christmas. I like Lee mac. He's great on the 1% club but found everything over acted on this... Don't waste your time even putting it on... Some of the scenes really are cringe worthy, I think Sky need to have a long hard look at their self's for actually thinking this was worthy of prime Christmas viewing but knowing sky they'll probably commision Bad tidings 2.

Watched Bad Tidings last night the much hyped Sky comedy with Lee Mack and Chris McCauseland.

What a wasted opportunity.

It starts out okay, with the two comics as opposite neighbours who hate each other, McCauseland winding up Mack because he likes having someone who doesn't treat him with kid gloves because he's blind. There's a few good interactions and I did laugh a few times, too.

It all goes to hell when the two are left in charge of their street after a power outage on Christmas Eve meaning others have to leave to be with family or whatever as there's to be no heat or light etc over Christmas.

Cue local villain family deciding to go on the rob, and the two enemies trying to stop them. Of course, they become friends under adversity, because of course they do. The villains are appallingly written and acted (by a some otherwise decent actors, too), and much of the 'action' is too dark to see clearly which doesn't help.

Maybe setting it at night in houses with no lights wasn't the smartest idea...

I ended up being pretty bored and not caring how they inevitable victory was achieved. The two leads are pretty unlikable, never a good idea, and I got the feeling Lee Mack really should have been brought in as a writer as well, as half an hour of 'Not Going Out' has three times the laughs of this bloated soon to be forgotten holiday 'special'

2 out of 5.

Reading some of the reviews on here, it's as though people are expecting a big budget blockbuster movie.

It's a Sky made-for-TV movie made on a low budget.

It's basically an extended episode of Lee Mack's BBC Sitcom, "Not Going Out". If you enjoy that show and the ridiculously implausible storylines, you'll like this film. Lee plays Neil and the actor who plays his wife is very similar to the actor who plays Lucy in Not Hoing Out.

Lee Mack and Chris McCausland's styles of comedy blend together well. It is all a bit silly, a bit implausible and over the top, but it's a fun romp that you can put on and not have to think about too much. Not everything has to be an epic work of cinema. It's fun. It's an easy watch. It's family-friendly.

It won't be winning an Oscar (or even an NTA) but it's a fun is a fun 1hr20 of mindless humour and perfect for the festive season.