Given its scale Miami Twice deserves to be watched on DVD in movie form (preferably late at night) unbroken with The American Dream serving as the prologue. On Gold you have the ads diminishing its effect and giving it a more televised episodic feel, and on BBC and other streaming services they've trimmed out the laugh track as well as a few funny scenes of dialogue which add context and pace.
Suffice to say Miami Twice is the "crème de la menthe" of Only Fools and Horses, and more than anything showcases John Sullivan's genius as a writer, for stepping outside the boundaries of Peckham and delivering an hilarious comedy which works as its own standalone film.
The American Dream is your more typical Only Fools... fare and is quite a quaint set-up for probably one of the best 'fish out of water'/gangster parody movies I've seen (no that's not a hyperbole). Del Boy and Rodney go on holiday to Miami, where Del makes no attempt whatsoever at immersing himself and sticks out like a sore thumb; he's then (unknowingly) drawn into a plot to have him killed by the son of a mob boss who's Del's exact double, with the intention to fool the authorities and take the heat off said mob boss who's about to go to jail for various crimes.
The mob are given their moments of comic relief but by and large are quite threatening, so despite their comedically-staged failed attempts at bumping off Del you do get a feeling the Trotters are in danger which adds a (albeit slight) sense of urgency. This really elevated the movie for me, as well as my allegiance to Del and Rodney, the latter of whom returns back to his affable self after the previous series where he acts like an immature brat during his rocky road with Cassandra.
Sullivan's sharp script and well realised Mafioso world is complimented by superior production values, some very witty direction, and a great soundtrack, which might sound odd giving this is meant to be a throwaway Christmas special, but the crew seem to have really invested, and have complete confidence, in the movie which pays off. In lesser hands all of this could've come across as pure farce, but it's pitched perfectly, without any crass slapstick and with Del and Rodney's relationship forming the heart of the film.
A shout out should also go to David Jason who's commendable in the dual role of Del and mob boss Don Occhetti; once you get past the initial novelty he actually really convinces in both roles, all with just a subtle change in demeanour and facial expression, so much so you feel he's equally suited to both The Nag's Head and the Miami drug scene!
Despite what a couple of detractors have said about the movie I think it boasts some of the best gags, and comedy in general, that I've seen from Only Fools..., and its quirky quality makes it impossible to resist. It's an absolute riot from start to finish and solidifies Only Fools' place as one the greatest British comedy series!
