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Big Fat Gypsy Gangster
Live Review

A belated, comedic addition to the enduring British gangster genre – though suddenly topical given today’s events at Dale Farm – this strange vehicle for Ricky Grover’s psychotic Bulla alter-ego has some outrageously silly moments, but set in such a tangled, bizarre story that it certainly takes some perseverance to get at them.

It is no small achievement for the comic to have got this made at all – how many other stand-ups of similar status could have got the financing, cast and crew together? – and he not only stars, but directed and co-wrote it with Maria Grover (a relation, we assume) as well.

But perhaps another pair of eyes could have avoided some of the obvious pitfalls the messy script tumbles into to bring out the best elements of the comedy-adventure that only fleetingly appear, and only really gel relatively late in the film.

Bulla, if you don’t know, is a sociopathic East End gangster, fiercely loyal to his family but prone to the old claret-spilling ultra-violence, whether as part of a planned bank raid or an unhinged moment of madness. We first meet him as he’s released from 16 years’ jail, mostly in solitary.

Or rather we don’t meat him, as most of the first ten minutes of the film is full of talking heads explaining what a fearsome ‘human timebomb’ this character is, breaking the cardinal ‘show don’t tell’ rule of filmmaking. Every character is introduced, as is now the cliché, with a freeze-frame made into a poster caption, often containing information we already know, but we are missing the most important figure. If this aims to build up his mythical villainous status, like the shark in Jaws, it doesn’t come off, and is just frustrating

When we do finally do get properly introduced to Bulla, most of the action takes place in the back of a Transit van as the newly ex-con signs a deal with an American documentary-maker (one eye on a US distribution deal maybe) to make this very film, as his accountant Jik Jickles (a scene-stealing Omid Djalili) advises.

Then, as if suddenly struck by how static everything has been so far, Grover throws absolutely everything at the screen, without much care for whether it really makes sense. In an explosion of random sketch ideas, a tour bus is hijacked (why?), we meet a girl band obsessed with him (why?) and we are introduced to two of the three mystical ‘spiritual advisers’ he has (why?).

These gurus are played by the most unlikely trio of Rufus Hound, Steven Berkoff and Derek Acorah, while the girl band features N-Dubz singer and X-Factor judge Tulisa Contosatavlos so you can’t help but think he’s using every celeb who replied to the email. Yet only one cameo, really works – Peter Capaldi (who directs Grover in the Jo Brand NHS comedy Getting On) in a memorable scene as Bulla’s prison psychiatrist.

This section’s largely a burst of noise, as unpredictable and baffling as Bulla’s violent outbursts – a disconcerting feeling that’s underlined by the snatches of him dancing or philosophising in a white room, possibly representing his inner monologue.

There are some nice moments amid all this, though. Bulla’s ‘we were so poor…’ speech is quietly surreal, and while the gay ex-cop who is our anti-hero’s nemesis is every much as cartoonish as the other characters, the cheap sight gags his too-short kimono offers are charmingly immature.

When, after all this, we get to the nub of the story, the film really starts to work. Seems Bulla needs to raise some cash to save his beloved, aggressively batty Aunt Queenie’s boozer – and the only way to do that in the gypsy world from which he hails is by stealing or fighting. And the solution he comes up with is hilarious, if hardly politically correct.

There’s a sub-plot involving a matter of honour with Djalili’s character, that doesn’t bear much logical scrutiny, but gives the Iranian some reason to be on screen, which is always welcome even if you might want to obliterate the memory of his hirsute torso from your memory. Watch out, too, for a number of comedians in cameos, from Ninia Benjamin to Michael Smiley.

The film’s personality is as random as Bulla’s; well-intentioned but misguided, never quite sure what it is, or what it wants to do next. One such mood swing comes in the closing scenes which show a more tender side to our psycho, an unexpected and out-of-character moment that allows Grover to demonstrate his formidable acting chops.

In all, a bit of mess, redeemed by some great moments. But would you really expect more… after all, how many great films are named after faddish TV shows?

• Big Fat Gypsy Gangster is released on DVD today. Click here to buy from Amazon for £8.99

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Omid's back on tour, hoorah! He's in a class of his own, been making me laugh and think for years now. Lovely bloke and lovely material.

Michael Monkhouse, March 2013

I have seen his stuff on the tv and thought that he is definitely one of the greatest comedians of our time, though i have not seen him live, it is my hope that i may do so in the near future.

Matthew Sharp, August 2010

My last comment I was still on a rush from his Montreal appearance! Since then my passion's dwindled somewhat. Omid has some superb lines, it's just a shame he repeats them in a way that'd make Jack Dee blush. And his telly stuff's quite up to standard, but as Jo Brand demonstrated sketches ain't always the forté of the stand-up, even though they fill up the show... Still a class act though.

Michael Monkhouse, July 2008

Adore this guy. Fast, funny, witty... One minute he's prancing around, the next he's making intelligent comments on important political issues. Brilliant stuff.

Michael Monkhouse, January 2008

Recently attended a recording of Omid's new show and was left rather unimpressed. I fail to see why Mister Djalili was so keen for his own BBC show when he appears to be using it solely as a platform for stand-up material which he's already aired several times on the same channel. The sketches were often self-indulgent and repetitive, and almost all the material was stuff he's been using for years now. You could tell he didn't enjoy the recording, and he told us, straight facedly, we'd been a crap audience - which left a bad taste. Saw Omid live last year and loved him, but can't say as I'm looking forward to the series.

Charles Thomson, August 2007

Don't knock what you can't beat. Omid is not only a lovely guy, but an ever-growing and recognised talent. His live comedy is awesome. Watch him when he improvises. Truly a master. Next year's plans are exciting. He is always drawn back to his first love, stand-up, but his talent means that now everyone wants a piece of him. And why box in a genius?

A Friend, August 2006

Was at Omid's TV recording at the BBC the other night and though the sketch and stand up genre is beneath him he breathed new life into it in a way that the likes of Ben Elton and Lenny Henry killed it. Let's hope the BBC give him a series so we can be saved from the useless fare they have at the moment.

James Douglas, June 2006

Exceptionally funny and moving. This show is an attitude changer - wow.

Caron, March 2006

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