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''The Parole Officer'' was a 2001 film starring [[I'm Alan Partridge|Steve Coogan]] as Simon Garden, a clumsy, socially-inept parole officer who witnesses a murder. Framed by the murderer, Garden must gather together a mismatched band of ex-criminals in order to recover the security tape that would both clear his name and indict the real killer. |
''[[The Parole Officer]]'' was a 2001 film starring [[I'm Alan Partridge|Steve Coogan]] as Simon Garden, a clumsy, socially-inept parole officer who witnesses a murder. Framed by the murderer, Garden must gather together a mismatched band of ex-criminals in order to recover the security tape that would both clear his name and indict the real killer. |
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Critically accepted as [[So Okay |
Critically accepted as [[So Okay It's Average]], it is a rare example of a modern British [[The Caper|heist film]], involving a convoluted scheme and a deliciously evil bad guy. |
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{{tropelist}} |
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=== Contains examples of: === |
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* [[Actor Allusion]]: The theatrical poster featured glowing and condemnatory quotes from Coogan's other comedic personas. |
* [[Actor Allusion]]: The theatrical poster featured glowing and condemnatory quotes from Coogan's other comedic personas. |
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* [[Acceptable Targets]]: Parole officers and accountants. |
* [[Acceptable Targets]]: Parole officers and accountants. |
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* [[Delayed Reaction]]: A variant, when the crew are on top of the West Clyde Bank, waiting for Colin's virus to set off every bank alarm in the city. Simon counts down to zero hour - and nothing happens. For about ten seconds. |
* [[Delayed Reaction]]: A variant, when the crew are on top of the West Clyde Bank, waiting for Colin's virus to set off every bank alarm in the city. Simon counts down to zero hour - and nothing happens. For about ten seconds. |
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* [[Doubling for London|Doubling For Manchester]]: Set in Manchester, most of the film was shot in Liverpool, forty miles away. Leads to [[Hilarity Ensues|hilarity]]/rage from locals, since (a) the towns look very different, especially their skylines, and (b) there is a centuries-old rivalry between them. |
* [[Doubling for London|Doubling For Manchester]]: Set in Manchester, most of the film was shot in Liverpool, forty miles away. Leads to [[Hilarity Ensues|hilarity]]/rage from locals, since (a) the towns look very different, especially their skylines, and (b) there is a centuries-old rivalry between them. |
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* [[Fun |
* [[Fun with Acronyms]]: The George-Operated TimeLock Equalizing Robot or "GOTLER" |
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* [[Gag Penis]]: On a fetility statue. Apparently, touching the penis grants virility. Of course, it snaps off in Simon's hand. |
* [[Gag Penis]]: On a fetility statue. Apparently, touching the penis grants virility. Of course, it snaps off in Simon's hand. |
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* [[The Great British Copper Capture]]: Played with ''hilariously'', since Garden is a very pacifistic person and has to be constantly prompted by his "prisoner" to maintain the act. |
* [[The Great British Copper Capture]]: Played with ''hilariously'', since Garden is a very pacifistic person and has to be constantly prompted by his "prisoner" to maintain the act. |
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* [[Nice Job Breaking It Hero]]: A deleted scene would reveal that Simon had once campaigned against the 'unjust' firing of a teacher who turned out to be a paedophile. It was excised for taking Simon's character as an amiable loser a bit too far. |
* [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]]: A deleted scene would reveal that Simon had once campaigned against the 'unjust' firing of a teacher who turned out to be a paedophile. It was excised for taking Simon's character as an amiable loser a bit too far. |
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* [[Pass the Popcorn]]: The event that gets Simon caught, he scarfs down a packet of crisps while watching the murder to counteract his hypoglycemia. He chokes, and the plot takes off... |
* [[Pass the Popcorn]]: The event that gets Simon caught, he scarfs down a packet of crisps while watching the murder to counteract his hypoglycemia. He chokes, and the plot takes off... |
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* [[Safecracking]]: ''Kinda-sorta'', in that the gang have to get through the vault door using a code, but there's no stethoscopes or dial-twiddling. |
* [[Safecracking]]: ''Kinda-sorta'', in that the gang have to get through the vault door using a code, but there's no stethoscopes or dial-twiddling. |
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* [[Super Window Jump]]: Hilariously subverted - Simon uses a crossbow to set up a rope-swing, hits the window dead-center - and splats like a bird, falling twenty feet to the floor. |
* [[Super Window Jump]]: Hilariously subverted - Simon uses a crossbow to set up a rope-swing, hits the window dead-center - and splats like a bird, falling twenty feet to the floor. |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Simon Garden:''' ''[sheepish]'' Toughened glass. |
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'''Police Officer:''' It's a ''bank''! }} |
'''Police Officer:''' It's a ''bank''! }} |
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* [[Vomit Indiscretion Shot]] |
* [[Vomit Indiscretion Shot]] |
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* [[Where Do You Think You Are]]: Combined with [[Super Window Jump]]. |
* [[Where Do You Think You Are?]]: Combined with [[Super Window Jump]]. |
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{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:The Parole Officer]] |
[[Category:The Parole Officer]] |
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[[Category:Film]] |
[[Category:Film]] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Parole Officer, The}} |
Latest revision as of 20:40, 5 October 2017
The Parole Officer was a 2001 film starring Steve Coogan as Simon Garden, a clumsy, socially-inept parole officer who witnesses a murder. Framed by the murderer, Garden must gather together a mismatched band of ex-criminals in order to recover the security tape that would both clear his name and indict the real killer.
Critically accepted as So Okay It's Average, it is a rare example of a modern British heist film, involving a convoluted scheme and a deliciously evil bad guy.
Tropes used in The Parole Officer include:
- Actor Allusion: The theatrical poster featured glowing and condemnatory quotes from Coogan's other comedic personas.
- Acceptable Targets: Parole officers and accountants.
- Accidental Pervert: Garden is sitting politely on Emma's bed while she gets dressed in the next room. Then her cat pushes the wardrobe mirror around, giving him an enviable view...
- Bank Robbery: In that they rob a bank, but the caper goes off on a Sunday, avoiding most of the subtropes.
- Beneath the Mask / Stepford Smiler: Colin claims to love his new job at the (now defunct) Time Computers, but in reality hates it with a virulent passion.
- British Coppers: Obviously, being based around the life and false accusation of a British parole officer.
- Caper Crew:
- The Mastermind: Garden
- The Hacker: Colin
- The Gadget Guy: George
- The Muscle: Jeff
- The Driver: Kirsty
- The Legendary Thief: Victor
- Caper Rationalization: Basically the entire plot. Garden's crime is executed entirely to clear his name and gather the evidence to convict the real killer.
- Clear My Name: Garden's primary motivation.
- Computer Virus: A vital aspect of the plan, uploaded via a amateurish-looking porn site.
- Delayed Reaction: A variant, when the crew are on top of the West Clyde Bank, waiting for Colin's virus to set off every bank alarm in the city. Simon counts down to zero hour - and nothing happens. For about ten seconds.
- Doubling For Manchester: Set in Manchester, most of the film was shot in Liverpool, forty miles away. Leads to hilarity/rage from locals, since (a) the towns look very different, especially their skylines, and (b) there is a centuries-old rivalry between them.
- Fun with Acronyms: The George-Operated TimeLock Equalizing Robot or "GOTLER"
- Gag Penis: On a fetility statue. Apparently, touching the penis grants virility. Of course, it snaps off in Simon's hand.
- The Great British Copper Capture: Played with hilariously, since Garden is a very pacifistic person and has to be constantly prompted by his "prisoner" to maintain the act.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: A deleted scene would reveal that Simon had once campaigned against the 'unjust' firing of a teacher who turned out to be a paedophile. It was excised for taking Simon's character as an amiable loser a bit too far.
- Pass the Popcorn: The event that gets Simon caught, he scarfs down a packet of crisps while watching the murder to counteract his hypoglycemia. He chokes, and the plot takes off...
- Safecracking: Kinda-sorta, in that the gang have to get through the vault door using a code, but there's no stethoscopes or dial-twiddling.
- Super Window Jump: Hilariously subverted - Simon uses a crossbow to set up a rope-swing, hits the window dead-center - and splats like a bird, falling twenty feet to the floor.
Simon Garden: [sheepish] Toughened glass. |
- Vomit Indiscretion Shot
- Where Do You Think You Are?: Combined with Super Window Jump.