"...my life's as good as an Abba song..."

So, I just finished writing an epic blog post about torrenting TV shows, and re-read it and thought... oh, what's the point? Luckily there's something else very exciting to talk about, and it is this; the Prince Charles Cinema in London is having a couple of singalong screenings to one of the most under-rated movies of all time; 

Spiceworld; the Movie.

(The ad actually notes that it's "screening monthly", so fingers crossed there's more to come than just the two screenings, Jan 10th & Feb 28th, thus far advertised.)

Now, yes. You did read that first paragraph correctly, Spiceworld is one of the most under-rated movies of all time. It is one of those movies that is just so much fun that every time I watch it, and I have seen it many times, it just makes me smile throughout.

The important thing to remember about Spiceworld is to judge it for what it is. It's essentially a series of set pieces, structured around a wafer thin plot, in order to showcase the Spice Girls' songs. It's not intending to make a serious point, it's not going to change the world, it's not looking for a new England (oops, went a bit Billy Bragg there), it's just out to entertain and amuse.

And it does it so very well indeed. It's got a host of great set pieces, with a wodge of killer lines; I think Jools Holland probably gets the best line when, commenting on a performance notes "That was absolutely perfect... without actually being any good at all." And the whole of the supporting cast is great as well, with Richard E Grant hamming it up like a good 'un, Roger Moore's almost channeling Ambassador Kosh at times with the ambiguity of some of the things he says... but I think the best actual performance in the film is Bill Paterson, who's the owner of a cafe the girls used to go to. But then he's great in anything. 

The plot, for what it's worth, really does just link the set pieces, as the girls go from TOTP to a fashion show, to dance camp, to meeting aliens to (almost) meeting Gary Glitter... and I say almost, as in between when the film was completed and when it was released, Mr Glitter was arrested for having paedo pics on his computer, so his appearance in the film was cut. But the main bulk of this sequence, where the girls sing Leader of the Gang remained. 

And talking of cuts, for some reason when Elton John has a cameo near the start of the film they went and cut his best line. Look, see;

And the spectacular sequence in which a double decker buss leaps the gap on Tower Bridge as its sides raise just has to be seen to be believed...

There was a DVD of the film released some time ago, but it's a fairly disappointing release containing diddly squat in the way of extras. I would love it if a Blu Ray could be released with a decent pile of extras. Deleted scenes; Elton as above, I doubt Glitter's would be included. It's on YouTube if you're interested! A behind the scenes documentary would be good, even if it's just modern day talking heads reminiscing. And a commentary on the movie by all five girls... I mean, come on... that'd be brilliant. I'd buy it in a shot!

I just love the film to bits. In fact, I'd probably go so far to say that as I'm sat here typing I think it's probably the second best film of the 90s....