3 Star

The Near Death of an Engineer.

From Severin Films and Aim Publicity comes a British forgotten gem, The Odd Job, a small film from the late 1970s that failed to make a ripple in the cinema pond. But non-the-less, this is still a cracking little farce comedy, that now on Blu-ray it will hopefully find a new wider audience, especially for fans of the Monty Python and Sir David Jason around the World. Written by Bernard McKenna (Robin’s Nest (TV Series), Doctor on the Go (TV Series)) based on his original play. Graham Chapman (Monty Python’s Flying Circus) admired the play and commissioned McKenna to turn it into a feature film script. With David Jason (Sir) (Only Fools and Horses (TV Series), The Darling Buds of May (TV Series)) reprising his role from the ‘Six Dates with Barker’ in 1971 as the Odd Job Man.

Arthur Harris (Graham Chapman) is in a great mood as he leaves the Institute of Mechanical Engineers with a Bonsai tree in his arm, his wife Fiona’s (Diana Quick, The Duellists, The Death of Stalin) favourite plant. The Bonsai is for her to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. He gets a taxi and heads across London. To NW1 and the Prince Albert luxury apartments. He throws open the door to apartment number thirty, all full of the joys of spring. A quick chat with the racist caretaker (George Innes, The Italian Job, Stardust) and heads off with a spring in his step

But what he finds is Fiona packing and saying that she is leaving him for good. Arthur mistakes the taxi driver for her lover and Fiona leaves with Arthur professing his love for her, but she gets in the taxi and heads off. She finally arrives at Tony Sloane’s (Simon Williams, Jabberwocky, Goodbye Christopher Robin) the very randy best friend of Arthur’s, who has designs on Fiona’s body.

Back with Arthur, who is over halfway to inebriation, and drunken phone calls, but when he gets back to the apartment block he runs into the randy and titular Angie (Carolyn Seymour, The Ruling Class, Mr. Mum) from number five.

When Arthur wakes, his demeanour has changed to depression and his thought move to sharp things, and other implements of demise. He shifts to the balcony and a drop to the floor, but the Odd Job Man (David Jason) on the lawn below tells him a tale of woe about the window cleaner who broke both legs and other injuries from a fall. Put off he tries to come up with other ways to end his misery. During one of these attempts, there is a knock at the door, it is the Odd Job Man asking for work. Initially he says no, but then there is a light bulb moment, and he invites him in, and at the end there is a pact that the Odd Job Man would end Arthur’s melancholy.

Let the hilarity begin, as the bungling but effective Odd Job Man goes about his contract, but much to Arthur’s surprise Fiona returns, confessing her love for him. His thoughts of ending it all suddenly fly out of the window.

This little gem deserves a spot on your Blu-ray shelf, comedy, farce only the British can do. Go ahead, and put a smile on your face.

The Odd Job is available on the 25th of August

 

Pre-order from Severin Films

BLU-RAY: Special Features.

Introduction By Director Peter Medak
Audio Interview With Peter Medak
The Odd Job Men – Zoom Reunion Between Star Sir David Jason And Peter Medak
The Unusual Work – Interview With Writer Bernard McKenna
Producer, An Odd Job – Interview With Co-Producer Mark Forstater
The Odd Batch – Interview With Actor Richard O’Brien
The Naughty Neighbor – Interview With Actress Carolyn Seymour
Most Peculiar Craft – Interview With Actor Simon Williams
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English Mono
Closed Captions: English SDH
The worldwide Blu-ray premiere of this unique comedy, starring several UK comedy legends.
Scanned in 2K from a 35mm print
Originally made as an episode of the Ronnie Barker series ‘Six Dates with Barker’ (1971) with Barker as Arthur Harris and David Jason as The Odd Job Man.
Director Peter Medak is also known for The Ruling Class (1972), The Changeling (1980), The Krays (1990) and Romeo is Bleeding (1993)