The first twenty minutes have great promise as the dying Albert asks his two wartime buddies for a huge favor. Darkly humorous.
Broadcast on 12/12/09 in Australia it's a familiar story of two old men looking after their old friend and finding that getting old is not all that good.Performances are good: Jason does is old lag routine - though quietened from Only Fools...
Albert (deceased) is one of 3 British WWII vets, whose 2 remaining friends honour his wish to be buried at the site of their shared wartime experience, in Germany.It's classification as a comedy is inadequate.
This was just shown on ABC in Australia, and it was an unexpected pleasure.David Warner and David Jason mesh well as two tired, old men, trying to fulfill a deceased friend's dying wish.
Very clearly modelled on 'Last Orders', it embodies the same formula of old men carrying out the deathbed wishes of a wartime comrade, who entrusts them to dispose of his mortal remains according to his particular direction. This sends them on a "heroes' journey" during which long held suspicions and antagonisms get ultimately laid to rest, enabling them to emerge more healthy in mind.
