DVD Review: Freebird
Any film that has the balls to cast the usually well-versed and impeccably attired Peter Bowles as a lumbering, foul-mouthed, pot-smoking, cockneyfied old timer deserves some credit.
Unfortunately he’s only in it for the first five or so minutes (he passes out amid a mist of intoxicating weed), and it’s therefore left for the younger likes of Phil Daniels, (ace in Quadrophenia) Gary Stretch (Dead Man’s Shoes) and co to carry the film to its mortal doom.
Freebird is a road movie of sorts that wants to be the British comedy answer to Dennis Hopper’s Easy Rider but doesn’t have the inspiration, charm or guts to carry any fleeting comparison to that vintage biker film.
The film stars the aforementioned trio (including The Business‘ Geoff Bell) as middle-aged spaced-out biker types who journey to the Welsh mountains in search of an infamous hippy and his prosperous cannabis farm, and also to satisfy some personal missions of their own.
They set off on their road all kitted out with aspirations to fulfil their hopes of world and relationship conquests but end up all talk and no proverbial trousers, spending most of their time drunk or high or both and thus entering into a surreal fantasy world of adventures where they witness a seven-foot leather-clad masked wrestler and (following an excessive trip on magic mushrooms) end up convinced that the local pub landlord is a slurping frog!
This is undoubtedly an easy DVD to watch and one which requires very little concentration, or indeed thought, and is the perfect remedy for the Sunday morning hangover – because it sure as hell feels like a hangover. It’s tired, boring and oh so very predictable (hell, The Sun said it was ‘hilarious’ – nuff said), but if this sounds like your sort of thing, then it probably is. But the fact that film did dismally at the box office should set off some warning lights.
At least you get a little something for your buck besides the feature – a guided tour commentary track from debut director Jon Ivay, a routine ‘making of feature’ and passable interviews with the motley cast and crew, plus the usual deleted scenes, photo gallery and trailer. Freebird is about as exciting as it sounds: a wasted, sheepish (pun intended) road trip to Wales – lacking a heady ride.
Out to own on DVD June 2nd.
[story by Oliver Pfeiffer]
Don’t agree with the above review AT ALL, sorry!
It’s a hilarious film, better and more touching than Easy Rider. The characters are much more human in this film than in Easy Rider.
All Brits will warm to this movie and recognise sites around the UK. The reason you say it didn’t do well at the Box Office is that it wasn’t shown in major cinemas! It was mostly shown in art centres, many of which were a complete sell out. This is an independant British Film funded by private money. We should support our own talent and film industry, not slag it off!
I thoroughly recommend this movie. Many of my mates have seen this film 3 times at least. I’ve seen it twice and have ordered the DVD.
Come on Freebird!
I must say the thought of a stoned Peter Bowles does pique my curiosity to no small degree.