Like most modern media celebrities, Alan Partridge has been a great multi-tasker. Sports broadcaster, chat show host, presenter of budget entertainment (Who could forget his seminal look at autobahn accidents Crash Bang Wallop – What a Video?) and for many years the king of the radio phone-in. Similarly he’s been a star of TV, radio and internet, but never before has his magic been captured on what he would undoubtedly call the silver screen. Thankfully that omission has now been rectified with Alpha Papa, a film that lifts the lid off the seamy world that is East Anglian local radio.
The plot, as you would imagine, is borderline plausible. Alan, as obsessed with bland AOR music, unthinkingly insulting everyone he comes into contact with and filling every second with a stream of irrelevant information as ever, is working for online radio station North Norfolk Digital. When the station is the subject of a takeover late-night presenter Pat Farrell (Colm Meaney) is sacked, at the secret behest of Partridge. Farrell retaliates by staging a siege during an office party, taking hostages and refusing to negotiate with anyone except his former colleague Alan. For Alan, being back in the limelight after all these years is a golden opportunity to resurrect his career and the man who once held an audience spellbound with his description of how best to take out a terrorist with a Magnum revolver is, of course, in his element.
Director Declan Lowney does a fine job, treading the line between expanded TV sitcom and cinema that some (Inbetweeners to name the best) get right and Sasha Baron Cohen enjoys a patchy record with. The makers have also avoided the temptation to pad the action out with cameos from Partridge contemporaries, although there is a welcome return for PA Lyn (Felicity Montagu) and garage worker turned security guard Michael (Simon Greenall).
Alpha Papa made me and the rest of the audience laugh, which makes it a good film regardless of anything else. There’s still plenty of mileage in Partridge, for which Steve Coogan and Armando Iannucci must be congratulated. Their character is now into his third decade and he’s as fresh as ever.
The film is also a triumph for Alan, who becomes a hero. But unlike Alpha Papa you get the feeling that outside Norwich, nobody has really paid much attention.
