While not technically a Comic Strip Presents movie,this was written by Peter Richardson and Pete Richens(who wrote the majority of the episodes) and "guest stars" The Comic Strip. While these guys are well known for their left leaning comedy,this movie pushes it to extremes,while still managing to poke fun at themselves.A brilliant balance. Although most of the satire is rooted in 80's British politics,you will laugh even if you don't get that. I'd say this is second to Churchill: The Hollywood Years but ahead of The Supergrass.If you are even a small fan of these guys you need to see this.Another Richardson and Richens comedy classic.
17 Reviews
Definitely not for everyone...
sdribble19 August 2009
OK, real quick, a correction of someone else's review:
1. Brian Johnson of AC/DC is NOT in this movie.
2. The song in the employment office scene is 'Nothing Up My Sleeves', not 'Ace of Spades.' Having said that...
The film is definitely not for everyone, but for being a small film with a small budget and mostly television actors, its really not bad. The humor is often subtle and easy to miss if you don't pay attention. There's a lot of cameos ranging from 3 of the 4 'Young Ones' stars to Sir Paul McCartney, which just makes the movie weirder, like 'What the %%%% is HE doing in THIS??' Overall its not a bad movie, just don't rent it expecting 'Gone With the Wind.'
1. Brian Johnson of AC/DC is NOT in this movie.
2. The song in the employment office scene is 'Nothing Up My Sleeves', not 'Ace of Spades.' Having said that...
The film is definitely not for everyone, but for being a small film with a small budget and mostly television actors, its really not bad. The humor is often subtle and easy to miss if you don't pay attention. There's a lot of cameos ranging from 3 of the 4 'Young Ones' stars to Sir Paul McCartney, which just makes the movie weirder, like 'What the %%%% is HE doing in THIS??' Overall its not a bad movie, just don't rent it expecting 'Gone With the Wind.'
"You're all eating the prime mister".
lost-in-limbo25 May 2013
"The Comic Strip Presents..." a lively, rowdy and bawdy cult black comedy gourmet with a novel one-joke premise like something John Watter's would churn out. Even that of Alex Cox's chaotic "Straight to Hell" shot to mind. This amusing oddball independent British feature kicks you in the guts with its heavy-handed approach from its acting to its dialogues and prominent surrealistic visual styling. No one is safe from the insults. It's sick and twisted with real ugly streak, but quite enjoyable as its anarchic messages are just so knee-jerk, the clever humour can be sneaky in its jabs and its episodically loose writing is just so random with its comic shocks. Interesting to see some familiar faces (Angie Bowie, Bill Wyman, Miranda Richardson and Paul McCartney) popping up with the likes of "The Comic Strip" being involved along with Motorhead contributing to the frenetic rock soundtrack. Even the bassist / singer Lemmy gets a part in the film. Al Pillay and Nosher Powell (looking great in green business suits) are the two who steal the limelight with their electric performances, one deadpan while the other maniac in delivery. Bombastic fun!
"Here have a toffee".
"Here have a toffee".
Underrated, Well worth many viewings
rmurfin23 August 2001
Dark, dark stuff from the British 'Comic Strip' school of movie/TV comedy making. Robin Hood meets Motorhead. And, yes indeed, 80's Yuppies are served meals of dead 80's Yuppies in a vile 80's Yuppie restaurant.
This is a love/hate movie. Most people will be offended.
Oh, by the way, great sound track
Overall - 7.5/10
This is a love/hate movie. Most people will be offended.
Oh, by the way, great sound track
Overall - 7.5/10
Disappointing and far beneath the talents of all involved
fishermensmell16 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I've waited over ten years since hearing about this film to get around to finally watching it. I grew up as a fan of Bottom and The Young Ones and the occasional Comic Strip Presents, then dived headlong into The Dangerous Brothers, Kevin Turvey and then the complete Comic Strip box set, so I had high hopes despite the tepid reviews for Eat the Rich. It was God-awful. What was presumably devised as a satire of Thatcherite Britiain could almost have been a satire of 80s alternative comedy, it was that reliant on lazy tropes and shots at easy targets. It was as if written by schoolboys. None of the characters are fleshed out enough to be anything more than stereotypes of the sorts of characters that litter the Comic Strip - which isn't such a bad thing for the generic yuppies, but the lead protagonists had nothing going for them. The plot was flimsy and fumbled with very strange pacing and the whole thing felt like it was going nowhere. For reasons unknown most of the Comic Strip regulars only appear in fleeting cameos, and whilst fun to see, make little impact having no real material to work with. None of the leads are well known for being comic actors, and handled their roles pretty poorly, unable to wring any laughs from the weak script.
It felt like the writers came up with the idea of yuppies eating themselves (again, not a particularly innovative allegory for the 80s, since we saw it in 'The Cook, the Thief...' and the cannibalism angle also in 'Consuming Passions') and then put the absolute minimum effort into crafting a plot around that conceit. To cap it off the whole thing looked dirt cheap.
It gets 2 stars for the enjoyable array of cameos and the Motorhead soundtrack.
Do yourself a favour and watch some of Peter Richardson's better Comic Strip films. There's a reason this has languished in obscurity for so long...
It felt like the writers came up with the idea of yuppies eating themselves (again, not a particularly innovative allegory for the 80s, since we saw it in 'The Cook, the Thief...' and the cannibalism angle also in 'Consuming Passions') and then put the absolute minimum effort into crafting a plot around that conceit. To cap it off the whole thing looked dirt cheap.
It gets 2 stars for the enjoyable array of cameos and the Motorhead soundtrack.
Do yourself a favour and watch some of Peter Richardson's better Comic Strip films. There's a reason this has languished in obscurity for so long...
Not literally ... right?
kosmasp13 January 2022
Maybe it's me, but this does not seem to have aged that well on many levels. On the other hand including a legend like Lemmy in the movie is always a smart move. Even if I wouldn't even dare call myself a fan (considering so many others who are in love with him and know way more things about him - like the fact that he is in this movie, I only discovered it while watching).
And then there is the really good and cool soundtrack. I reckon if you cut this some slack, pacing wise and again the age things, you might find it more attractive than others. Also if you're a big fan of Lemmy. Do you and be sure you're aware what you let yourself into.
And then there is the really good and cool soundtrack. I reckon if you cut this some slack, pacing wise and again the age things, you might find it more attractive than others. Also if you're a big fan of Lemmy. Do you and be sure you're aware what you let yourself into.
Seriously warped, sick & fun
Mort & Spunky the awesome cat20 June 2000
You'll need to be in the right mood (something like "the entire world is on my last nerve") to fully appreciate this one. Better than most John Waters' films; same genre, if it is a genre. Capitalists may not get it, but for the rest of us it's a rare treat.
Spot the celebrity
augustian15 April 2019
Set in London, this is an anarchic satire on the consumerist yuppiedom of the Thatcherite 1980s. Written by and featuring the cast of The Comic Strip series, the film could be a Who's Who of the 1980s UK show business. All credit to them for getting people such as Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman and Koo Stark and Motorhead who contribute much of the soundtrack.
Director Peter Richardson creates the restaurant (the IMDb does not permit me to mention its name) in which much of the action takes place and the feasting of the patrons and their behaviour as they stuff their faces is a metaphor for the excesses of the 1980s but the film does show the ugliness of all levels of society.
The film is a bit uneven in its pacing but maybe this was intentional as the frenetic pace of the city is offset by a rather pedestrian pace when the location changes to the countryside. Overall though, the film is of its time and with the screen filled with celebrities of those days, some forgotten, some who made it big, this film deserves repeated viewing, even if it is only to play spot the celebrity.
Director Peter Richardson creates the restaurant (the IMDb does not permit me to mention its name) in which much of the action takes place and the feasting of the patrons and their behaviour as they stuff their faces is a metaphor for the excesses of the 1980s but the film does show the ugliness of all levels of society.
The film is a bit uneven in its pacing but maybe this was intentional as the frenetic pace of the city is offset by a rather pedestrian pace when the location changes to the countryside. Overall though, the film is of its time and with the screen filled with celebrities of those days, some forgotten, some who made it big, this film deserves repeated viewing, even if it is only to play spot the celebrity.
New meaning to Dinner and a Movie....
scott_harrison25 May 2001
Set in fascist London, a group of non-relative, broken yet hopeful vagabonds find each other and attempt to restructure society into a single humane unit. When that fails they shoot people full of arrows and cause a smart and accurate assault on the posh structures of politics and upper class snobbery.
There are many parallels to Robin Hood and layers of Political strife that almost get buried under snide John Waters-esque humor and fantastic visual imagery not unlike Sid and Nancy or The Young Ones. The characters are well developed and provide a full range of personalities to keep the film moving and entertaining. It could use a minor editing job to remove some excess footage that slows down the first 1/2hour, other than that this should be an 80's cult classic for alternative humor. For those that liked "the Cook/thief/wife/lover"---this is better and doesn't seep in frivolity.
There are many parallels to Robin Hood and layers of Political strife that almost get buried under snide John Waters-esque humor and fantastic visual imagery not unlike Sid and Nancy or The Young Ones. The characters are well developed and provide a full range of personalities to keep the film moving and entertaining. It could use a minor editing job to remove some excess footage that slows down the first 1/2hour, other than that this should be an 80's cult classic for alternative humor. For those that liked "the Cook/thief/wife/lover"---this is better and doesn't seep in frivolity.
I originally thought Lanah Pellay was a woman...
mentalcritic15 June 2001
Warning: Spoilers
...after all, who wouldn't with that high, squeaky voice and that plump, rounded body? If you think the confusion about this movie stops there, then you're going to be in for a nasty surprise. Everything from unemployment and terrorism to the callousness of the English upper class is satarised here with as much subtlety as a sledgehammer. Numerous cameos are made by members of the hard rock community (Brian Johnson of AC/DC fame being my personal favourite), while one of the hardest rockers of them all, Motörhead bassist/vocalist Lemmy Kilmister, has a starring role.
My favourite moments in the film? (Some plot spoilers ahead.) Well, the robbery of the DHSS office to the beat of Ace Of Spades is a great one, as is the sequence where Spider and his boss cycle through the countryside while Orgasmatron plays in the background. I find it so amusing that radio stations here claim to know what driving music is when Motörhead has never made it into their playlists. Then again, you sort of expect this kind of stupidity from radio stations these days. Another favourite of mine is the dinner party, where we get to see all of Motörhead as they play Doctor Rock. Check out Rik Mayall dancing in the crowd, it's a riot.
Main star Lanah Pellay takes ham-fisted acting to a whole new level when he/she/it and friends take over the restaurant, subtly known as B***ards before the gang change the name to Eat The Rich. "B***ards, can I help you?" is now my favourite way to answer a phone. There has never been a funnier way to answer the phone, in fact. If you ever go to a restaurant where one of the main menu items is Manager With Chips, whatever you do, don't order that one. All in all, I give Eat The Rich six out of ten. It is crude, it is crass, it is exceptionally vulgar, but it's the funniest thing I've seen about fine dining.
My favourite moments in the film? (Some plot spoilers ahead.) Well, the robbery of the DHSS office to the beat of Ace Of Spades is a great one, as is the sequence where Spider and his boss cycle through the countryside while Orgasmatron plays in the background. I find it so amusing that radio stations here claim to know what driving music is when Motörhead has never made it into their playlists. Then again, you sort of expect this kind of stupidity from radio stations these days. Another favourite of mine is the dinner party, where we get to see all of Motörhead as they play Doctor Rock. Check out Rik Mayall dancing in the crowd, it's a riot.
Main star Lanah Pellay takes ham-fisted acting to a whole new level when he/she/it and friends take over the restaurant, subtly known as B***ards before the gang change the name to Eat The Rich. "B***ards, can I help you?" is now my favourite way to answer a phone. There has never been a funnier way to answer the phone, in fact. If you ever go to a restaurant where one of the main menu items is Manager With Chips, whatever you do, don't order that one. All in all, I give Eat The Rich six out of ten. It is crude, it is crass, it is exceptionally vulgar, but it's the funniest thing I've seen about fine dining.
A Blast and a Half
daniel-mooney4 October 2007
I remember seeing a trailer for this film back up in Buffalo, NY, and then never seeing it come to a theater. At the time my first two thoughts were, "What the Hell is this?" and then, "This looks like something to watch!"
Three years later, I stumbled across a VHS copy of it in a bargain bin of Record Theater, and snapped it up for $2. Being cheap, it's one of those rare occasions where I figured that I got more than my money's worth.
This film is truly different. It constantly flips between well constructed and paced scenes, to a variety of cheap countryside scenes that connected a lot of the main characters. It feels like they ran short of money and spent a day filming a lot of quick scenes to try and make the movie fit together.
Now don't let that stop you from watching it, and many of the scenes are unforgettable, but the film does slow down every time the action shifts out of London. If you can get through that, and Jimmy's annoying jokes, then you'll see a film that really is unlike any other I've come across.
Three years later, I stumbled across a VHS copy of it in a bargain bin of Record Theater, and snapped it up for $2. Being cheap, it's one of those rare occasions where I figured that I got more than my money's worth.
This film is truly different. It constantly flips between well constructed and paced scenes, to a variety of cheap countryside scenes that connected a lot of the main characters. It feels like they ran short of money and spent a day filming a lot of quick scenes to try and make the movie fit together.
Now don't let that stop you from watching it, and many of the scenes are unforgettable, but the film does slow down every time the action shifts out of London. If you can get through that, and Jimmy's annoying jokes, then you'll see a film that really is unlike any other I've come across.
I am the one,Orgasmatron
warrentaylor-29 April 2002
This is one of the most wittiest films made that covers everything ,eg: Religion ,Politics ,Social Classes etc, and the best part ITS A COMEDY. With just about every decent British comedian present,Too many to mention and the soundtrack is by MOTORHEAD. This film takes the p*** out of almost everything, so if your offended by unpolitically correct comments, don't watch this.If you not offended by the words (Poof,Black B**tard or F***king then you will love it.
Has to been to be believed
Karl Self6 October 2008
This is not a good movie in the strictest sense of that term, but ... I don't know what it is. The only thing that I can safely say, it certainly isn't bad; it's very strange and has a lot of things going for it. A very waifish Lemmy (from Motörhead), for example, and everyone who was going to amount to anything in acting in the next years, and their mums. And the Beatles. The only thing I'd like to know is how they got this drug-addled phantasmagoria of a movie financed. The movie doesn't really follow a plot but plays along the lines of "I wonder what comes next". And especially along the lines of "I wonder where my next square meal will come from". Like they had shot the scenes during the day and written the script for the next day at night.
Don't get me wrong. This movie was meant to have a better script, and they obviously fubbed it up. Don't tell me that they were well capable of telling an intriguing and coherent story but opted for cinematic surrealism instead. I've made movies myself, and I know fully well how they got to be so intriguingly offbeat and charmingly eccentric. But fortunately this movie here has many other things going for it.
I'd like to big one up for the little people now: Kevin Allen (I think that's him) as "revolutionary gay waiter #1" and Nosher Powell as "Nosher" both give excellent dramatic performances.
If you're after an evening of mutually assured distraction, then stay well clear. If you harbour an interest for the bizarre, then buy the golden bleeding collector's box.
Don't get me wrong. This movie was meant to have a better script, and they obviously fubbed it up. Don't tell me that they were well capable of telling an intriguing and coherent story but opted for cinematic surrealism instead. I've made movies myself, and I know fully well how they got to be so intriguingly offbeat and charmingly eccentric. But fortunately this movie here has many other things going for it.
I'd like to big one up for the little people now: Kevin Allen (I think that's him) as "revolutionary gay waiter #1" and Nosher Powell as "Nosher" both give excellent dramatic performances.
If you're after an evening of mutually assured distraction, then stay well clear. If you harbour an interest for the bizarre, then buy the golden bleeding collector's box.
Oh man, This has to be seen to be (almost) believed!
Dotman18 September 1998
An indictment on everything wrong with the thatcherite thinking of the day, this film explores the deepest recesses of the mind - probing into areas previously thought taboo by mainstream cinema.
Hilarious & sad - Ugly & Bad.
You have go to see this!
(even if just for the Motorhead soundtrack)
Hilarious & sad - Ugly & Bad.
You have go to see this!
(even if just for the Motorhead soundtrack)
Hilarious! Loved every minute of it!
trevorandrewmillar-7076920 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Brilliant satire of 1980s Thatcherite Britain.the whole premise (yuppies being tricked into leterally, instead of figuratively, consuming each other and PAYING TOP DOLLAR FOR THE PRIVILEGE) totally captures the spirit of the time. Okay, so Norman Stone (in The Times) sniffily dismissed it as "Riddled With Left-Wing Bias"; of COURSE it is! That's the whole POINT! Also riddled with cameo blink-and-you'll-miss-them appearances; anyone spot Sandie Shaw as a diner? Best one of all: Paul McCartney as a guest being thrown out of the Buckingham Palace banquet, protesting "I'm with the group!"...be honest, haven't we all wanted to do that? When is it going to be released on DVD?
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