THE INBETWEENERS
JONATHAN GOLD 19, EASTERHOUSE, GLASGOW
I only really watch one stereotypically ‘teen’ show, and that’s The Big Bang Theory. I’m not interested in sillier stuff like Skins or Hollyoaks. I’d rather do something more useful with my time than watch those kinds of programmes. I’m a student at college just now. In my free time, I’m usually helping out with this youth group [held at Platform in John Wheatley College] for people who are into music. I help organise events and fundraising so we can do better things every year. Some of us went up to Go Ape at the weekend, which was a laugh. I didn’t watch The Inbetweeners regularly when it was on TV but I’ve been meaning to get into it properly for quite a while. I think you need to watch a television series from the start, otherwise you might miss bits. I’m not a huge cinema fan, so a trailer has to really amaze me for me to want to go see it these days. It’s OK for certain kinds of big films which are a real cinema experience, but I prefer just to wait for things to come out on DVD and not have to worry about going to a mobbed multiplex. Even though they are English teenagers, I can see the similarity between the guys in The Inbetweeners and people I know, in good ways and bad. I don’t think the words used would be the same but it’s quite realistic. Maybe guys I know wouldn’t say exactly the same things or use the same words as the characters in the show, but they would definitely think similar things, which would probably make it worth a watch. I do have a girlfriend just now so I might take her to see it, but it’s probably safer to go see with a couple of pals in case it’s a bit too cringe-worthy . . .
LAUREN MCQUEER 19, GATHAMLOCK, GLASGOW
I watched some of the series when The Inbetweeners was on TV but I have a few friends who want to meet up and see the film version on a weekend. I think it’s the humour that people can relate to and being at that time in your life. I finished school a while ago and am working at Aviva just now. Young people are making those jokes and having those issues with sex and relationships, so it’s pretty important to have a laugh about it. If you don’t, then it might not get spoken about. The characters in the show are making light of things that are relevant to us. I know plenty of guys like that in real life. I don’t think it’s that much of an exaggeration. Turning TV shows into films can go two ways: really great, or really awful. Things really have to grab me for me to go to the cinema, rather than waiting for it to come out on DVD but hopefully we can go see this and use it as a chance to catch up with some friends. I like anime and action stuff, so the last thing I saw at the cinema was Sucker Punch. Things like The Simpsons maybe didn’t translate so well on the big screen but I guess it’s all personal opinion. I think people our age who hadn’t watched The Inbetweeners before could still go see the film and get into it, as it’s all about relatable topics. My mum and dad even have that same sense of humour, so I could even go see it with them, or a group of friends or on a date – even if some of the jokes are a bit rude.
18–25 Aug 2011 THE LIST 91