THREE AND OUT

UK, 2008, 106 minutes, Colour.
Mackenzie Crook, Colm Meaney, Imelda Staunton, Gemma Arterton, Annette Badland, Gary Lewis, Antony Sher.
Directed by Jonathan Gershfield.

A problematic British comedy where the central idea for the humour concerns people under the trains in London Underground and a driver who has accidentally hit two people being told that if he hits a third person within a month, then the company have to dismiss him but with ten years’ salary. Since the driver in question, Paul, a weedy looking nerdish type, played by Mackenzie Crook, is a would-be novelist, he decides that this would be the answer to all his problems, so he searches for would-be suicides. So far, so…

When Paul saves Tony (Colm Meaney) from jumping off a bridge, they do a deal. However, Tony wants to travel north first to see his estranged wife (Imelda Staunton) and daughter (Gemma Arterton) for the first time in years. The odd couple travel together, not without some adventures. Then the film changes tone completely with the interlude in the country, Meaney and Staunton bringing their characters alive more strongly than the film itself.

When they get back to London, Tony is ready for the accident. What is Paul doing? Assisting a suicide, participating in an accident, doing research for his book? Thus far, so…

Underground drivers were not too pleased when they heard the plot of the film and commentators were testing their sensibilities when they wondered whether this material was suitable for comedy. In theory, yes, but the practice here is something of a mixed bag.

1.A British comedy? Dark? Light?

2.The London settings, the detail of the Underground? Flats, ordinary situations? The countryside? The differences? The atmosphere?

3.The title, the reference to the policy about drivers hitting passengers? The effect on Paul? The revelation of the prank?

4.Audience reactions to this theme of people under trains, the subject for humour? The end and assisted suicide?

5.Mackenzie Crook as Paul, a writer, living alone, nerdy style, his flat, the two accidents and their effect on him, the meetings and the authorities, his mates and their telling him the principle? The solution for his problems to find a third person to go under the train?

6.The search for potential suicide victims? The dark humour?

7.Tony on the bridge, Paul rescuing him, their discussions, the deal, his wanting to visit his wife, going into Callaghan’s house and stealing the ring, the rivalry with Callaghan? Paul and his control over Callaghan – and the blackmail?

8.On the road, the details of the travel, the roads, their talk, revelation of characters?

9.Rosemary and Tony, their past, the strong performances of the cast, bringing their situation to life, Rosemary and her fussiness, in the home, nice? Tony and his absence? The memories? The divorce?

10.Frankie, her anger at her father, her lifestyle, opportunities, study? The clash with Paul? Going out, the drinking? Their being together for the night? The effect?

11.Callaghan, his presence in Tony’s life? The ring?

12.The return to London, Tony confessing his illness, the deal, the pranksters telling the truth about the principle of three and out?

13.The ending, the point, Tony and his illness, wanting assisted suicide? How did the film handle the issue?

14.Paul writing the book, his success, Frankie coming to London?