Go To Blazes Review

• 9th Jan 2012

Go To Blazes is an easy-going comic caper with a strong streak of Ealing studio-esque Englishness about it. Three thieves hit upon the idea of using a fire engine as the perfect getaway vehicle. But they’re plans are thwarted when they’re called to various emergencies along the way. Enjoyable, in a whimsical sort of way, but essentially utterly silly.

The English sensibilities run all the way through, from the Cliff Richard soundtrack, the silly humour and the overuse of the cockney accent. Maggie Smith gives a brief appearance as Chantal, the cockney girl posing as a French model. She’s not on screen long enough and her role is essentially that to bring a little femininity to a film that’s all about the boys. There are some notable faces, including Dave King of Corrie and Heartbeat fame and Norman Rossington from the Carry On films.

I won’t talk about the characters, plot and motivation, it’s far too light-hearted to have anything like that running through it. It’s not got the same impact as something like The Lady Killers and there isn’t enough drama in this farce to keep you focussed on the storyline. It’s meant to be utterly unbelievable and fluffy; there are no hard life lessons learnt here. As the characters get caught, they spend their time inside plotting the next big caper. It would have benefited from them using their fireman training to do some good, but I suppose that would be too clichéd in itself.

Thoroughly indulgent and enjoyable, great Sunday afternoon stuff when you don’t want to be challenged. Interestingly, the DVD release ties in with it also being shown at the BFI this January, unmissable nostalgia.

Maliha Basak