Whoops Apocalypse (1986) DVD Reviews

Starring	Loretta Swit, Peter Cook, Michael Richards, Rik Mayall
Director	Tom Bussmann
Genres	Comedy

Critics' reviews (3) of Whoops Apocalypse
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The four-year gap between the often hilarious TV original and this inconsistent feature seems to have sapped the inspiration from writers Andrew Marshall and David Renwick. The need to introduce a degree of narrative logic precludes much of the wackiness that made the series so biting and fresh. Even though it dissects sombre subjects like the Cold War and a Falklands-style invasion, the satire has mostly been toned down, with only the swipes at the Royals, Peter Cook's performance as a doltish prime minister and a wonderful clown funeral hitting the mark.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Charting the course of international misunderstanding, writers Andrew Marshall and David Renwick - of the original TV... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Frenetic but pathetic attempt at Dr Strangelove for the 80s.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Whoops Apocalypse
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Painfully Hilarious

I rented this in error, thinking it was one of Frankie Howerd's funny-perculiar little things. But no, it was hugely better. It was great fun - an utterly scathing attack on the Falklands War, Thatcher and the lunacies of that era. If only Peter Cook were still around to do the comparable job on the present mess.
- - aidanANDoksana from Aberdeen
  - Posted 16 Sep 2005 21:41
give it a chance

i really enjoy the black humour in this film - the best bit has to be rik mayall as the SAS nutter going mad and killing all the waxworks in madame tussauds - youve gotta see it to understand it!
- - Adam Brown from sunny isle of wight
  - Posted 15 Jan 2006 13:35
schlock

As a big fan of British comedy I thought Whoops is a rare bird of a film with many interesting facets to it.Satire ain`t always a joke and this film is deeply satirical in places.
- - A customer from up there
  - Posted 11 Jun 2006 13:19
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Whoops Apocalypse
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0 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Whoops absolute rubbish

This film is not very funny unless you like childish jokes that you can see coming from miles off.

Despite Peter Cook's attempts at injecting some original humour in, it all falls very flat and I was left wondering how so many talented people could come up with something so poor.

Don't bother.
- - mgee from glamorgan
  - Posted 10 Nov 2004 09:26
DEFINITELY WORTH A LOOK

I hadn't seen this film since it came out on video in the 1980s and I didn't remember much about it. Although the tone pace of the film are uneven, it's very interesting to see Peter Cook in one of his rare film appearances (frighteningly convincing as a deranged British PM), and also Michael Richards (later in Seinfeld) in a variety of disguises as an assassin. Rik Mayall takes fourth billing here, but only turns up on the 70-minute mark as an uber-aggressive SAS leader for what amounts to a cameo appearance - but very funny nonetheless.
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 05 Dec 2008 10:11

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Painfully Hilarious

I rented this in error, thinking it was one of Frankie Howerd's funny-perculiar little things. But no, it was hugely better. It was great fun - an utterly scathing attack on the Falklands War, Thatcher and the lunacies of that era. If only Peter Cook were still around to do the comparable job on the present mess.
- - aidanANDoksana from Aberdeen
  - Posted 16 Sep 2005 21:41
give it a chance

i really enjoy the black humour in this film - the best bit has to be rik mayall as the SAS nutter going mad and killing all the waxworks in madame tussauds - youve gotta see it to understand it!
- - Adam Brown from sunny isle of wight
  - Posted 15 Jan 2006 13:35
schlock

As a big fan of British comedy I thought Whoops is a rare bird of a film with many interesting facets to it.Satire ain`t always a joke and this film is deeply satirical in places.
- - A customer from up there
  - Posted 11 Jun 2006 13:19
Whoops Apocalypse

I have to completely disagree with the last review of Whoops Apocalypse. It's a very clever, witty and poignant view of politics and the people running the UK and the USA. Very funny version of the SAS in action and to quote from the film of the late president, "To rise from a humble circus clown to president of the United States speaks volume for this Great Nation!". Very funny.
- - levegnoir from Derbyshire
  - Posted 23 May 2005 12:34
Customer Review

i remember the tv series.the film is ok but the tv version is remembered as more funny.swing wing ding-a-ling?
- - A customer from UK
  - Posted 23 Jun 2008 15:22
DEFINITELY WORTH A LOOK

I hadn't seen this film since it came out on video in the 1980s and I didn't remember much about it. Although the tone pace of the film are uneven, it's very interesting to see Peter Cook in one of his rare film appearances (frighteningly convincing as a deranged British PM), and also Michael Richards (later in Seinfeld) in a variety of disguises as an assassin. Rik Mayall takes fourth billing here, but only turns up on the 70-minute mark as an uber-aggressive SAS leader for what amounts to a cameo appearance - but very funny nonetheless.
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 05 Dec 2008 10:11
blame the pixies!

Worth watching just for the scene when Rik mayall leads his 'crack' squad of SAS soldiers on a raid of madam tussauds.!

And I love the prime ministers (peter cook) way of dealing with unemployment!

The film is a bit dated but then again so are the carry on films!
- - symondo from Yeovil
  - Posted 13 Aug 2009 22:37
0 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Don't bother.

Had to turn this off after 20 minutes (and that was being generous to it). It's dated very badly, and most of the 'jokes' fall completely flat. I quite liked one scene with Peter Cook as PM getting rounds of applause and cheers everytime he walked past a window - made me think of Blair in his early years!
- - A customer from Birmingham, England.
  - Posted 27 Oct 2005 16:39
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Whoops absolute rubbish

This film is not very funny unless you like childish jokes that you can see coming from miles off.

Despite Peter Cook's attempts at injecting some original humour in, it all falls very flat and I was left wondering how so many talented people could come up with something so poor.

Don't bother.
- - mgee from glamorgan
  - Posted 10 Nov 2004 09:26
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Don't bother.

Had to turn this off after 20 minutes (and that was being generous to it). It's dated very badly, and most of the 'jokes' fall completely flat. I quite liked one scene with Peter Cook as PM getting rounds of applause and cheers everytime he walked past a window - made me think of Blair in his early years!
- - A customer from Birmingham, England.
  - Posted 27 Oct 2005 16:39

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Critics' reviews (3)
The four-year gap between the often hilarious TV original and this inconsistent feature seems to have sapped the inspiration from writers Andrew Marshall and David Renwick. The need to introduce a degree of narrative logic precludes much of the wackiness that made the series so biting and fresh. Even though it dissects sombre subjects like the Cold War and a Falklands-style invasion, the satire has mostly been toned down, with only the swipes at the Royals, Peter Cook's performance as a doltish prime minister and a wonderful clown funeral hitting the mark.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Charting the course of international misunderstanding, writers Andrew Marshall and David Renwick - of the original TV... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Frenetic but pathetic attempt at Dr Strangelove for the 80s.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006