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Sex Lives of the Potato Men

  • 2004
  • Unrated
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
4.6/10
2.7K
YOUR RATING
Sex Lives of the Potato Men (2004)
Comedy

Follows the sexual antics of a group of potato delivery men in Birmingham.Follows the sexual antics of a group of potato delivery men in Birmingham.Follows the sexual antics of a group of potato delivery men in Birmingham.

  • Director
    • Andy Humphries
  • Writer
    • Andy Humphries
  • Stars
    • Johnny Vegas
    • Mackenzie Crook
    • Carol Harvey
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.6/10
    2.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Andy Humphries
    • Writer
      • Andy Humphries
    • Stars
      • Johnny Vegas
      • Mackenzie Crook
      • Carol Harvey
    • 91User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos30

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    Top cast36

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    Johnny Vegas
    Johnny Vegas
    • Dave
    Mackenzie Crook
    Mackenzie Crook
    • Ferris
    Carol Harvey
    • Chip Shop Woman
    Helen Latham
    • Chip Shop Girl
    Dominic Coleman
    Dominic Coleman
    • Tolly
    Mark Gatiss
    Mark Gatiss
    • Jeremy
    Kate Robbins
    Kate Robbins
    • Joan
    Nicolas Tennant
    • Phil
    Angela Simpson
    • Vicky
    Lucy Davis
    Lucy Davis
    • Ruth
    Ceris Jones
    • Poppy's Brother
    Joy Aldridge
    • Massage Shop Woman
    Laurence Inman
    • Porn Shop Bloke
    Alfie Hunter
    • Matthew
    Craig May
    • Ruth's Boyfriend
    Nicola Reynolds
    Nicola Reynolds
    • Poppy
    Robert Harrison
    Robert Harrison
    • Kevin
    Jenny Jay
    • Helen
    • Director
      • Andy Humphries
    • Writer
      • Andy Humphries
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews91

    4.62.6K
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    Featured reviews

    10grahamsp

    Oscar, Bafta material.

    It was the worst film of the year. A waste of Lottery money and disgusting.

    PLEASE. It's a film for crying out loud which is not trying to change the world or lead us on a path to enlightenment.

    I laughed my ass off. In your face crass humour all the way and if you don't like it then turn it off. A few beers and 90 minutes of gut wrenching laughter made me recommend this film to mates and they loved it.

    If you are a prude, looking to unite mankind or think Spongebob Square Pants is silly then this movie is not for you.

    Its a film people and personally I loved it money well spent.
    8trinitybay9

    Reviewers missed the point

    This film has been treated most unfairly.

    If the message of the film was 'these men are always lusting after and getting sex-isn't that great!', then I would agree with the comments about it being 'for morons' as one reviewer put it.

    However, these men are losers. They lust after sex, and it always goes wrong. There is no titillation involved. We are not encouraged to see them as some kind of super-studs that young lads would want to emulate.

    We are not laughing about sex or bodily functions, we are laughing about the ridiculous image that sex has in the media, where everyone is young, fit and beautiful, they all have orgasms every time and everyone is 'at it' day and night with no ill effects.

    I find it amusing that the reviewers that work for the media which promote the fake views of sex, have failed to see the point here.

    I must add here that it is a credit to the film-makers that they never stooped to nudity in the film. All too often we are presented with naked women in films for no apparent reason. Here it would have been more justified, but the film-makers have realised that the audience has an imagination-we don't need to watch the group sex to know that it is there etc.

    Overall I found this film to be extremely funny. There was no embarrassment in the audience with people feeling free to guffaw at any joke they found amusing, even if they were the only one that got it.

    If I were to suggest any problems with the film, I would say that some of the Tolly storyline went a bit far-I was most concerned when he brought the octopus home, for example.

    However it will be a long time before the image of Tolly enjoying his sandwich, whilst Johnny Vegas is trying to eat his cereal will leave my head.

    Final verdict Crude, but not gratuitous. Hilariously funny. Misunderstood. Not for granny.
    9Robin Kelly

    Funny

    All I expect from a comedy is that it's funny and that's what this film is. Funny.

    OK, so ideally in addition there would have been some emotional resonance to counter and complement the comedy and the character arcs wouldn't just, sort of, limp to a hasty conclusion but I laughed throughout and so maybe that's being too picky.

    People have compared this to the Carry On films and I hope Humphries is suitably horrified rather than flattered. The Carry On films severely lacked the depth, honesty and courage that Sex Lives of the Potato Men displays. I'd go as far to say Sex Lives of the Potato Men is a spot-on satire on recreational sex and the mores of the new millennium; where the seeking of new experiences is deemed more important than true intimacy and relationships.

    It is bizarre that by simply holding a mirror up and reflecting our society as it exists, Humphries has been villified in the media.

    I would strongly advise not to let middle-class metropolitan reviewers or the sexphobic moral minority or jealous bitter would-be film-makers put you off, see it for yourself and make your own mind up.
    8poachedeyes

    It's actually quite good

    I saw this at the cinema when it came out and had no idea it had been mauled by the critics. I laughed as much as I ever have done at a film and plenty others there seemed to find it just as funny. There are some great lines in the script and excellent performances from Mark Gatiss, Mackenzie Crook and (in some ways) Johnny Vegas.

    The attacks on the film have been ridiculous. It is not smutty. It is not a revival of Carry on or the Confessions series. It has nothing in it for teenage onanists. Every other movie coming out of Hollywood these days spends half its time ogling its stars in lingering close up. Potato Men does not contain a single scene like that, nor was anyone cast as eye candy. Quite the opposite...

    It shows a coarse, poor, bleak life in a coarse, bleak, but humorous way and does not try and convince anyone that we are watching the Salt of the Earth. It was probably that element that shocked the reviewers. Well received British movies like The Full Monty and Billy Elliot seem self- conscious about this issue. It is as though we have to be packaged for an imaginary American audience, who might otherwise have us down for horse riding snobs.

    I am not claiming it to be a masterpiece. It has some weak elements that can be attributed mainly to the episodic plot and a low budget. There is a review here from trinitybay9 that sums it up very well. There are four sections and the one concerning Tolly is quite poor. There are some excellent comedy performances in the film but Dominic Coleman's is not one of them.

    The real shame though is that the director is never likely to make another film. With the honourable exception of Johnny Vegas, even the cast responded gutlessly to the bad press. It is easily the best thing Mackenzie Crook has done since The Office, but he seems to consider it to be, artistically, a black mark on a CV that contains the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
    6nellakram

    Completely disgustingly alright actually

    Oh my, such pretension, such pontificating, such bollox forwarded by other IMDb users. This film "does exactly what it says on the tin" (sorry American readers). It's called SEX LIFE OF THE POTATO MEN - did you expect English PATIENT perchance ??

    Admittedly - I, like another member thought it would be akin to "Bottom" (sorry American readers) but after 5 minutes had that notion blown out of the water.My word, it certainly was crude - but who cares - give me crude anytime ahead of American graphic slaughter.

    I thought is beautifully disgusting, wonderfully crass, amazingly childish and above all exactly what I expected !!

    Now how's that for pretension

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the opening scene, Johnny Vegas drives a van and taunts the driving instructor. In real life, Vegas did not have a driver's license at the time.
    • Quotes

      Jeremy: [Reading the letter he has just written Ruth in his head] Like a leaf falling from a tree, I fell for you. Gradual. Then suddenly. My insides melt. Your eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth. Everything leading to now. In the lake, my shattered reflection. The million pieces of heartbreak. Be still, then, passion. She has turned away, like the winter. My hibernating love. As it warms, the clear shafts of sunlight penetrate your moist fanny with my stiff, meaty love-rocket.

      Jeremy: [gasps] Fucking bitch!

    • Connections
      Referenced in Comedy Connections: Shooting Stars (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Ace of Spades
      Written by Lemmy (as Ian Kilmister), Fast Eddie Clarke (as Edward Clarke) and Phil 'Philthy Animal' Taylor (as Philip Taylor)

      Performed by Motörhead

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    FAQ15

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 20, 2004 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Сексуальная жизнь картофельных парней
    • Filming locations
      • Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Devotion Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • £1,800,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,249,135
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 22m(82 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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