Eye For Film >> Movies >> Only Fools And Horses: If They Could See Us Now (2001) Film Review
Only Fools And Horses: If They Could See Us Now
Reviewed by: Angus Wolfe Murray
Christmas isn't Christmas without Only Fools And Horses. The TV series ended a few years ago, but, due to public demand, the BBC couldn't keep the Trotters away.
If You Could See Us Now was the most successful comedy over the Christmas holiday, 2001, on British TV. Del Boy (David Jason) and Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) have become a national institution, more popular than The Royale Family.
At the start of this hour long episode, the Trotters are living the high life in South America, after making over £6million on some dodgy artifact a while back. Rodders has Cassandra (Gwyneth Strong) with him and Del Boy his "significant other" (Tessa Peake-Jones). It's champagne and Havanas, stretch limos and shopping to die for. Hardly what you would expect from those chancers in their three-wheeled van, who'd flog stolen goods to thieves if necessary.
When the South American currency drops through the floor, they lose the lot and have to leg it out of the country sharpish. This brings them back to Nelson Mandela Towers, Peckham, where they slip effortlessly into their old way of doing business.
Jason and Lyndhurst are older now, but still remain masters of the veiled insult. John Sullivan's script is inventive and funny, without being inspired. The girls are given more to do and Uncle Albert's not around anymore. Jonathan Ross appears as the compere of a Who Wants To Be A Millionaire style quiz show, in which Del Boy is a contender.
Whatever else, these two are the best double act in comedy today. They're like family; they only come home for Christmas.
Reviewed on: 22 Dec 2002