| It Couldn't Happen Here [1988] | ![It Couldn't Happen Here [1988]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/310AENKTY7L._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Actors: Pet Shop Boys, Joss Ackland, Barbara Windsor, Gareth Hunt, Neil Dickson
Studio: 2 Entertain Video
Category: Video
Buy Used: £7.50
Used (5) Collectible (2) from £7.50
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 62
Format: Dolby, Pal, Surround Sound
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Media: VHS Tape
Running Time: 82 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
EAN: 5013037411546
ASIN: B00004CJPM
Theatrical Release Date: 1988
Release Date: May 26, 1997
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Box, sleeve and video all "mint/as new" condition, sent with secure packing.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Occaisonally amusing, always bizarre misfire January 31, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
It's not as bad Cool as Ice or Spice World, but It Couldn't Happen Here will not make it to the history books anytime soon as a great cinematic achievement. The Pet Shop Boys can't act. Neil's passable, but Chris is uneasy on screen, apparent in the diner scene.
It Couldn't Happen Here seems to have a loose narrative involving a murderous priest, an existentialist dummy, and an odd pilot. Some of the plot circles around a fictional childhood of the boys. Most of it features Neil and Chris walking around while they are either performing their songs, or their songs play in the background. In this sense, it plays like a long form music video. Some of the imagery is neat, but most of it grows tiresome.
But something about this movie, besides my favorite musicians, has me revisit it. It's not your typical long form music film. There are scenes that are just bizarre and seem to lack any proper context except in and of themselves. Notable are the conversations with the priest and the boys where he muses about weapons, salvador dali, and being a "bilingual illeterate." Oddly, these are jokes from comedian Stephen Wright. How they ended up here is an oddity...
More fun and strange though is when Neil and Chris are in a diner and Gareth Hunt brings in a dummy that starts providing a strange philosophy of time. It's probably lifted from somewhere, but it sounds at home here, once you accept that bizarre seems to be the apt word for this film.
There's lots of other memorable images: a man on fire, men painted like zebras, and people quoting John Milton. It's a strange film. It's not good or great by any means. The mere fact it has the Pet Shop Boys makes it an interest for fans. If you're in the mood to watch some curious, bizarre cinema, however, you might also find something you like.
 It couldn't happen here, more like it DID happen there! June 22, 2003
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I've seen this film as I owned it years ago and it's hilarious! There are appearances by Barbara Windsor, Joss Ackland, Gareth Hunt and others!The scene where Chris Lowe throws a plateful of fried eggs at Barbara Windsor is priceless as they run down her front and the expression on her face is so funny. Chris and Neil act so laid-back in the film that you'd think they'd fall over and the music is brilliant! Personally, I feel their music was at it's best when it was in the 80's. A cracking film if you are a true and loyal Pet Shop Boys fan and you'll love Neil in his black mac holding his umbrella and speaking with a cool air about him. Joss Acklands scene as a psycho passenger rambling on about all sorts of bizarre poetry while sitting in the back of Neil and Chris's taxi is hilariously funny and one of my favourite scenes. But the best laugh in the film which cracks both Neil and particularly Chris up with laughter is the scene in the cafe' with Gareth Hunt ordering beans, more beans, and a side order of beans. Surreal, but great stuff! The music rocks too! :-)
It couldn't happen here, more like it DID happen there! June 17, 2003
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've seen this film several times and the scene where Barbara Windsor has a huge plate of fried eggs thrown at her by Chris Lowe is one of the funniest things I've ever seen! The look of horror and surprise on her egg-strewn face is hilarious.Joss Ackland (oldish cool actor with diplomatic immunity off the Lethal Weapon film) plays a fantastic part as he sits in the back of a taxi with Neil and Chris in the front and Joss is acting bizzarely, putting on a very strange voice and quoting strange poetry and ramblings, it really is full of various actors/actresses cameo appearances, so much so, it'll keep you entertained from start to finish. If you like the Pet Shop Boys a lot and their music, then you'll love this film. Most of the music in it is from the 80's which I personally feel was their best recording time as artists. There are some very moving, poignant scenes in the film and matched with the music it will have you alternating between tapping your feet, to crying with laughter to feeling sad. Great stuff, and after seeing the PSB's in concert approx 4 times and shaking Neils hand in an after-show party which I gatecrashed at Pinewood Studios in 1991 AND seeing this film too, I've a lot of very fond memories. :) If you're a very big fan of the PSB's then you'll treasure this film and will watch it over and over again, as the previous reviewer wrote, you will see different things each time you watch it!!
It couldn't happen here, more like it DID happen there! June 17, 2003
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I've seen this film several times and the scene where Barbara Windsor has a huge plate of fried eggs thrown at her by Chris Lowe is one of the funniest things I've ever seen! The look of horror and surprise on her egg-strewn face is hilarious.Joss Ackland (oldish cool actor with diplomatic immunity off the Lethal Weapon film) plays a fantastic part as he sits in the back of a taxi with Neil and Chris in the front and Joss is acting bizzarely, putting on a very strange voice and quoting strange poetry and ramblings, it really is full of various actors/actresses cameo appearances, so much so, it'll keep you entertained from start to finish. If you like the Pet Shop Boys a lot and their music, then you'll love this film. Most of the music in it is from the 80's which I personally feel was their best recording time as artists. There are some very moving, poignant scenes in the film and matched with the music it will have you alternating between tapping your feet, to crying with laughter to feeling sad. Great stuff, and after seeing the PSB's in concert approx 4 times and shaking Neils hand in an after-show party which I gatecrashed at Pinewood Studios in 1991 AND seeing this film too, I've a lot of very fond memories. :) If you're a very big fan of the PSB's then you'll treasure this film and will watch it over and over again, as the previous reviewer wrote, you will see different things each time you watch it!!
Probably best for die-hard Pet Shop Boys fans. May 23, 2001
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
A fairly 'out there' movie which only die-hard fans could really appreciate. I wouldn't say it had the greatest of plots or storey lines, but gives you a different perspective of Chris and Neil. They can't act and don't really try too which is one of the best things about It Couldn't Happen Here. They're musicians trying something different and it's funny! You can watch it over and over again and still find something you missed before. Worth a look and a bit of a giggle at!
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