Not Going Out Series 1-8 (2006-2017) - Review

Starring: Lee Mack, Sally Bretton, Katy Wix & Tim Vine

Written By: Lee Mack & Daniel Peak (Head Writers)

Directed By: Nick Wood (Head Director)

Certificate: 15

 

If you're from outside the UK, but enjoy or are interested in UK comedy, then depending on who you ask some people will tell you that the British have lost their edge for humour. I could name people who will tell you that we haven't been able to produce a funny, iconic comedy since the 20th Century, and that comedy shows today can't hope to live up to the likes of Fawlty Towers, 'Allo' Allo or Only Fools & Horses (incidentally, the third one of those is my all-time favourite comedy). But could it be that we're just not looking hard enough anymore? If you ask me, when shows like Not Going Out exist, that would certainly seem to be the case.

 

Not Going Out primarily focuses on flatmates Lee and Lucy. Lee is a lodger in Lucy's flat, and has a great deal of unspoken affection for Lucy, much to the annoyance of her brother Tim. The series depicts their day-to-day lives and antics, as well as that of Tim and his rather dim-witted girlfriend Daisy, Tim and Lucy's parents, and Lee's troublesome relationship with his father, Frank. Over the course of the series, the characters get into situations that range from having to do business with a drug dealer, starting a band, going on a TV quiz show, discovering a long lost daughter and much more.

 

Looking at just its premise alone, Not Going Out is hardly treading on any new territory. It's your standard flat-share comedy, one that stretches out the Will they or Won't they? romance for several series, topped with a lead character with romantic affections for someone seemingly out of his league. However, what makes Not Going Out feel like such a fresh and innovative comedy, is that it reinvigorates this tried and tested formula with genuinely funny scripts and convincing performances from its cast. This isn't to say it gets there straight away, and while not bad, Series 1 is nowhere near as strong as those that follow it. I think the reason why the first series never really clicked is because while neither Lee Mack or Megan Dodds were bad, we never quite got the same chemistry we get between him and Sally Bretton. By Series 2, we get the Lee and Lucy dynamic, and it's such a fantastic on-screen relationship. Lee makes for a funny and great everyman, while Lucy is able to bounce off his sarcasm and droll humour effortlessly. It's from Series 2 onwards that the show really starts hitting hard and heavy with the jokes, and rarely stops.

 

I've generally got quite a broad taste in comedy, and enjoy things that may fall under the title of dark comedy, light comedy, improv, mockumentary etc. However, I've always had a soft spot for quick wit, one-liners and droll gags, meaning Not Going Out plays to all my favourite comedy tastes. The humour in the show can range from lighthearted gags, to innuendo, and even to black and blue laughs (including one very racy episode where Lee ends up having to record a porn film in the flat), and nearly all of the time it manages to make me laugh. Not Going Out proves that two of my favourite comedians, Lee Mack and Tim Vine, are the kings of quips and one-liners, and some of the best comedic talents working today. Like I mentioned earlier, a lot of the humour comes from characters and their lines bouncing off each other, particularly with Lee, Tim and Lucy.

 

While Lee and Lucy provide the backbone of the show, it still wouldn't be anywhere near as hilarious if it weren't for a great range of supporting characters. These characters tend to come and go, and appear semi-regularly, but this helps to add variety and shake things up a bit. In earlier series, one of the show's most memorable characters is the clumsy, dim-witted but friendly cleaner Barbara, as played by Miranda Hart. Barbara serves to fill the show's quota of slapstick and physical comedy, as well as some occasional lines that come so hilariously out of nowhere. That being said, Barbara only appears in a couple of series, but Tim's girlfriend Daisy fills a very similar role and is even better at it.

 

Lucy's parents appear from time to time, and it never fails to make me laugh at Lee's constant inappropriate remarks towards her mother, Wendy. Lucy's dad Geoffrey is played with great pomp and dry wit from Geoffrey Whitehead, and whenever he goes toe to toe with Lee's dad Frank, hilarity is guaranteed. Frank is another semi-regular character that deserves mentioning for just how much he makes me laugh when he's with Lee, and Bobby Ball makes what could have easily been an unlikeable character, into a loveable rogue. In later series, when a fair amount of characters have left the show, neighbours Toby and Anna are introduced, and prove that even after the same writers have relied on the same characters for so long, they can still add in new ones and keep the same humour. Abigail Cruttenden is well cast as the stuffy and oppressive Anna, while Hugh Dennis (another underrated comedic talent) is pretty much flawless as trampled-on husband Toby.

 

Despite the show's title, don't assume all the action takes place in just a handful of locations. As the show goes on, the writers get more ambitious and begin to take trips to new locations, and a lot of the episodes that take place away from the flat are some of the best. I always find it impressive when a writer or writing team can create an episode of a comedy series that only takes place in one location, and with limited characters, and it still turns out funny. Some can pull it off, others can't, and while I love Family Guy, the writers on that show simply haven't been able to get that kind of episode right. However, Not Going Out is an absolute master class in how to write a hilarious half-hour of entertainment in this way. The episode Camping sees Lee, Lucy, Tim and Daisy take a trip away but get stuck in a haunted forest for the night, while the episode Pointless does something similar, but sees Lee and Daisy participate in the popular game show of the same name. If you happen to be interested in getting involved with comedy writing, the episodes Skiing (which sees Lee having to deliver a stranger's baby in a stuck cable car), and Plane (which sees Lee's attempt to expose a potential terrorist on a flight), are some absolutely essential viewing.

 

(Skip ahead now to the next paragraph to avoid spoilers!) My only serious criticism of Not Going Out would be that while the writing for individual episodes is pure gold, there is some very inconsistent character progression. The show gets an impressive six series' out of the Will they or Won't they romance? between Lee and Lucy, but once we get our answer, the subsequent change in direction comes about very quickly. Picture it like this: after forty-seven episodes of Lee trying to win Lucy's affection, he finally confesses his love to her in the penultimate episode of Series 7. Literally less than five minutes later, they agree to get married. In the next episode, we're at the wedding (admittedly another otherwise brilliant episode). Then in the next instalment, a Christmas Special (another otherwise fantastic episode), Lucy is heavily pregnant and gives birth to their first child. In the next episode, the start of Series 8, the two have been married for eight years and have three children. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? It's all a bit quick isn't it? I was glad of the change in direction for the show, and the time was right for it to happen, but that change is still very abrupt. Thankfully once we get this out the way, the show continues to be funny. Series 8 becomes more of a dysfunctional family comedy set in the suburbs, and while its not quite as strong as the series' that come before it, it can still knock out hilarious episodes, particularly episodes like Babysitting and Car.

 

Overall, Not Going Out ticks all of the right boxes for me. It's nothing deep, nor is it anything that's going to be analysed for years to come for hidden meanings and themes. But it isn't trying to be. It's pure fun and laughs all the way, and I've never known a comedy hit you with so many gags and jokes, and at such a fast pace as Not Going Out. At the time of writing, we have another Christmas special to look forward to, as well as plans for a ninth and tenth series, and I'm really looking forward to what the future has in store for the show. So if anyone tells you that UK comedy isn't as funny as it used to be, introduce them to Not Going Out and bring their hopes up a bit.

Not Going Out



9/10