Move over Monty Python: Sex Education and Bridgerton stars unite in feisty new medieval comedy
"More violent, more fighting, more blood, more sheep poo?"
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan's summary of her and Sex Education alumnus Aimee Lou Wood's latest movie pretty much sums up SEIZE THEM! for me.
Sitting down with Coughlan and Wood, we debate one word which sums up the women-led comedy set in medieval England. A mixture of Hot Fuzz and Monty Python, we soon settle on completely 'raucous'.
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Yes, Hot Fuzz and Monty Python - SEIZE THEM! really does channel a similar level of fun (with some added poo - even 'accidental [real] animal poo too' according to Wood).
In the comedy adventure which came out earlier this year - and is teased for a US release date very soon - Wood takes on the role of Queen Dagan.
Despite telling UNILAD she didn't intentionally draw inspiration from Helena Bonham Carter's Alice in Wonderland Queen of Hearts, Wood channels a similar energy of intense fast-paced narration in forthright and farcical dialogue, perfectly balancing Dagan's melodrama, sheltered stupidity and incessant obsession with the crown alongside her innocence and need for approval - perhaps this Queen will prove to be an anomaly and not meet quite the same fate as Bonham Carter's?
Coughlan plays Humble Joan - who as you may've guessed, has been very much ironically named.
She's a far cry from Coughlan's Penelope Featherington and Coughlan is an adept force to be reckoned with, striding into the story with such purpose and air - she may've admitted to UNILAD they had to get a hand double in for her axe-spinning scene, but she certainly nailed the Northern accent. Although, it would've been nice to see more of Coughlan on screen.
The expressions drawn on both actors' faces within minutes of the film started to captivate instantly, both performances reinforcing their blossoming statuses as some of the most nuanced comedic actors of our generation.
However both actors' talents undoubtedly go much further and so it feels like they end up being slightly limited by missed moments of opportunity for additional comedic dialogue or action.
The cast also features the likes of OG Hot Fuzz actor Nick Frost who delivers many of the side-splitting lines as s**t-spader Bobbick, Lolly Adefope starring as Queen Dagan's maid Shulmay - portraying the perfect yin to Dagan's yang - alongside a pretty iconic appearance from comedian James Acaster as an iron monger.
Written by Andy Riley with music by Rael Jones, cinematography by Ashley Rowe and edited by Richard Shaw, SEIZE THEM! is bold and boisterous but with an assured and careful curated rhythm. The writing, music and cinematography works in harmony to carry viewers buoyantly along with Coughlan and Wood on a comical classic epic journey which also features some softer and more touching themes of friendship and how to bravely face change.
Granted, as mentioned before, not all of its comedic moments are perfectly navigated - the film could've taken some notes from Phoebe Waller Bridge's iconic series Fleabag - but this doesn't stop there being plenty rib-tickling moments throughout.
It marks a fresh, feral, and feisty female-led comedy which we’ve all been calling out for, firmly finessed by the starring duo.
Raucous, perfectly paced and topped off with plenty of poo - with all the s**t going on in the world, you can't deny it's not fun to have a giggle at faeces every now and again - SEIZE THEM! channels a fresher and female-strong Monty Python or grown-up and elevated Horrible Histories.
And as Coughlan told UNILAD: "It's just fun to see women in those roles that you'd only expect a bunch of dudes to be."
Gasping one second, tittering the next, the film could've been pushed and perfected slightly further, but rather than taking issue with that, I'm simply intrigued to see more. SEIZE THEM TOO! anyone?
★★★ - and a half!
SEIZE THEM! is now showing in UK and Irish cinemas, having opened on April 5. A US date has yet to be publicly announced.
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Poppy Bilderbeck