The Booze Cruise

It's five blokes on their dream escape to France to really stock-up and save a substantial wodge of cash in the process. It's pre-Brexit and at a time when it was very easy to bring back copious amounts of booze for personal consumption only back from the continent.

Of course that's now much more difficult. It's got a lot of slapstick British humour with plenty of quips and mockering. It's classic English humour.

It's not the best-of-scripts but it is done very well and I would not change too much. It's got some pedigree English TV actors lead by the illustrious Martin Clunes.

Literally five blokes on a mission to get their quality booze. Except it doesn't go as planned. There's an affair. There's several disasters. There's plenty of slapstick. It's getting the lads together and an adventure. It's quality British TV and pre-Brexit when life was a lot easier. Great stuff.

I watched this on TV tonight, remembering with vague fondness its original outing in 2003. It was a delight, with an excellent script supported by a first rate cast. Not subtle, but warm, clean and really rather innocent fun. All Whilst the strongest elements were the combative relationship between Brian Murphy and Neil Pearson the sub stories with Ben Wishaw and Martin Clunes was also strong. Meanwhile back at home the wives (Claire Skinner and Anne Reid) were also enjoying themselves. Some predictable turns but all done with such charm that the 2 hours flew by. A real treat.

Really enjoyed 'the booze cruise' - it was well written, well directed, well cast and the music really worked. I loved the fact that we got the split between the guys on their quest and their family and loved ones back home. There was humor, pathos, fun and some wonderful characters - well done all involved!

5 blokes nip to Calais for cheap plonk in the days when it was allegedly cheaper, to buy the stuff in France than in the local supermarket.

This first episode of the trilogy introduces us to a number of family situations and we. Glimpse further edges to the relationships.

There is the happy family man Dave Bolton with his ever loving spouse, the lovely Cath the perfect couple.

There's Dave's best mate and fellow Booze Cruiser Rob along his significant other Leone, and his male proclivities.

Another ingredient is the Rainer family husband Clive his spouse Ruth, and their thoroughly spoilt daughter Chloe.

Any more for the skylark?

Rather there are the pensioners Grace and Maurice, who live somewhat adjacent to Rob and Dave.

Indeed they all reside almost cheek by jowl with one another, though they are separated by more than distance.

These are the main or principal ingredients but its how they stir together, that makes this a great and enjoyable jaunt.

When i first saw this, i wasn't sure if i would like it. just two minutes in, i was hooked. 5 neighbours go on a booze cruise to Calais. Sounds simple enough, and i think from the geography they live near Dover so its plain sailing.

With these five gentlemen on board. Snobbish Clive, Moaning Maurice, Naive Daniel, Happy go lucky Dave and School Boy Rob things can only go wrong.

Im not going to say much about the storyline as im not going to spoil it, its too good to watch and enjoy rather than be spoilt. Only bits i personally didn't like was when the bride to be was found being "naughty" with the wedding photographer, but at least the groom got a better deal. the other being, i thought Martin Clunes character was a bit too snobbish and straight, then again, i had just watched him in Men Behaving Badly just before this came on.

Buy this DVD set. Its fantastic