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The Rise And Rise Of Michael Rimmer Details

2006 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 240 members

Cult political satire starring Peter Cook as Michael Rimmer, an opinion poll executive who climbs the ladder until he becomes President of Great Britain. Read more

Starring Peter Cook, John Cleese, Harold Pinter, Vanessa Leon
Director Kevin Billington
Genres Comedy

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The Rise And Rise Of Michael Rimmer

Cult political satire starring Peter Cook as Michael Rimmer, an opinion poll executive who climbs the ladder until he becomes President of Great Britain.

Starring Peter Cook, John Cleese, Harold Pinter, Vanessa Leon, Ronald Fraser, Denholm Elliott, Arthur Lowe, Graham Chapman, Ronnie Corbett, Diane Coupland, Valerie Leon
Director Kevin Billington
Studio DIGITAL CLASSICS DVD
Run time DVD: 1 hr 35 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Genres Comedy
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: not available
Production year: 2006
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews of The Rise And Rise Of Michael Rimmer

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  • Billington once described this political satire as a kind of British Z, but after the subtlety of his first feature,... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful member's review of The Rise And Rise Of Michael Rimmer

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  • 12 out of 12 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    A true satirical classic

    Sharp, glib and stunningly prescient, this is a dark comedy about the Establishment and the workings of the British state. When I first saw this film I was about 21 and knew very little about how the world worked - back then it was merely funny. But it's one of those films which is both funnier and more disturbing the more you know about reality. In a very nearly post-Blair world it is more alarming than ever.

    Cook lacks the charisma of John Cleese or the versatility of Peter Sellers, but it is this very mediocrity which makes the central character so compelling. It has the same toe-curling effect as The Office: is it a work of fiction or is it a documentary? It's almost plausible.

    It's difficult to say much about the plot without spoiling it - only that Rimmer is an ambitious young exec intent on climing the political ladder.

    It's not perfect though. My one real complaint is that Rimmer is a bit one-dimensional. He lacks the human side given to Jim Hacker, for instance. There aren't (m)any moments where you feel sorry for him.

    Still, it's definitely worth watching. If you have ever enjoyed Yes Minister or The Thick Of It you should give this a try.

      • Chris Carr from London
  • Most recent members' review of The Rise And Rise Of Michael Rimmer

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  • Rated - 0 stars

    Couldn't watch it

    I actually could not watch this putrid film all the way through. It was dated beyond belief and I wonder why any of the people in the film ever thought it was worth making. I always thought Peter Cook was very entertaining and funny, but he looked absolutely out-of-place in this. The clothes were ghastly. He looked like a nerd and was grimacingly unfunny. Sorry to have witnessed such a terrible thing.

      • Kayonly from London
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Rating breakdown

240 Member ratings
  • 100
30
  • 90
17
  • 80
56
  • 70
36
  • 60
51
  • 50
20
  • 40
14
  • 30
2
  • 20
9
  • 10
5

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    • The Rise And Rise Of Michael Rimmer
      Cult political satire starring Peter Cook as Michael Rimmer, an opinion poll executive who climbs the ladder until he becomes President of Great Britain....