David Walliams Movies
Best known as one-half of a popular British comedy team that also included Matt Lucas, comedic writer and actor David Walliams soared to fame on the back of the hit program that he and Lucas created during the early 2000s, Little Britain. A sketch comedy revue that coupled the irreverence of Saturday Night Live with a quintessentially English sensibility, this program quickly evolved into a British institution, and garnered legions of American fans, as well, when it ran on BBC America; its popularity prompted HBO to pick up the international rights for an American remake, christened Little Britain USA.Born David Williams in Surrey, England, in August 1971, Walliams grew up as the son of a lab technician mother and a father employed by London Transport. He studied at Reigate Grammar School and Bristol University, then enrolled in the National Youth Theater, where he and Lucas met and developed a fast friendship. The duo teamed up to create a music-themed spoof series, Rock Profile, in 1999. Though it evaded hit status, it did become something of a cult phenomenon, and inspired Walliams and Lucas to try again; the result, of course, was Little Britain (2003).
On the side, Walliams also essayed on-camera comedic roles from time to time, in films including Clancy's Kitchen (1998), Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story (2005), Capturing Mary (2007), and Run, Fat Boy, Run (2007). In 2008, Walliams provided the voice of Bulgy Bear in Andrew Adamson and Walden Media's big-budget fantasy The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 2008
- PG
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The adventure continues as producer/director Andrew Adamson teams with screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely to tell the tale of the dashing Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) -- who sets out to defeat a tyrannical king who has overtaken Narnia and secure his rightful place on the throne. One year has passed since the events of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and now the kings and queens of that land have returned to make a shocking discovery. Though by their calendars it has been only 12 months since their last voyage into Narnia, the four children are aghast to realize that 1,300 years have passed in the wondrous alternate universe. The Golden Age of Narnia has come to an end, and now the malevolent King Miraz rules over the land without mercy or compassion. Miraz is determined to ensure that the power stays in his bloodline, even if that means killing his nephew Prince Caspian so that Miraz's own son will be next in line for the throne. Fortunately Prince Caspian has the Narnians on his side, and with a little help from the kings, the queens, and some loyal old friends, he may be able to ensure that peace and prosperity are restored on the once-beautiful realm of Narnia. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, (more)
This HBO produced American spin-off of the successful British sketch comedy series features vignettes based around wild, irreverent, and sometimes offensive humor, as well as regularly appearing characters each known for cheeky catchphrases. Building in part on the irony and post-modernism of Kids in the Hall, and in part on the pure silliness of Benny Hill, the series fully utilizes the freedoms offered by HBO with regard to naughty language and content. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
Little Britain: Abroad contains the Christmas special of the British comedy series. The various storylines involve Lou and Andy taking a trip to Disneyworld, Vicky Pollard's mom getting her daughter out of a jam in Thailand, and various adventures featuring the Fat Fighters. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matt Lucas, David Walliams, (more)
In 2005 Little Britain creators Matt Lucas and David Walliams took their unique British satire series on the road for an eight month tour that found them performing all across the their native Britain. This performance, captured live in Blackpool, finds the stars of the popular series bringing their uniquely British characters to the stage for the delight of audiences who can't get enough of such characters as the gratingly chirpy Vicky Pollard, whose "yeah, but no, but yeah!" became a national catchphrase. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2005
- R
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A group of actors and filmmakers set out to adapt an "unfilmable" classic novel -- but find that their own petty concerns get in the way -- in this satirical comedy. Laurence Sterne's 18th century novel The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman told the story of its priggish title character from the moment of conception onward, with a bevy of digressions, distractions, and unfinished anecdotes. In adapting the work for the screen, director Michael Winterbottom chose to stay true to its anarchic spirit: the film begins as a mostly straightforward adaptation of events in Sterne's writings, and then veers into a tale about the making of the film itself. Steve Coogan plays Tristram Shandy, who narrates his own life story, beginning with his slightly botched birth, overseen by an addled doctor (Dylan Moran) and his reticent father, Walter (also played by Coogan). Constantly quarreling with his battle-scarred brother, Toby (Rob Brydon), Walter Shandy has an epiphany when he holds his newborn son; however, before that moment can occur, the film switches into the present day, where Coogan and Brydon, playing themselves, bicker over costuming and the size of their roles in the film. The rest of the film's crew has their own concerns. Director Mark (Jeremy Northam) is trying to figure out how to secure a big Hollywood star for a supporting role and shoot a battle scene on a budget. The film's brainy production assistant Jennie (Naomie Harris) worries that their adaptation is leaving out the best parts of the book, as she nurses a crush on one of the cast members. All the while, Coogan tries to deflect a tabloid reporter's inquiry into his strip-club escapades, and attempts to pacify the concerns of his wife, Jenny (Kelly MacDonald). Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story had its North American premiere at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, (more)
- 2003
By the time it cleaned up at the 2004 British Comedy Awards, beating out such formidable competition as The Office and Nighty Night, this sketch-comedy showcase had already been through several incarnations. Originally produced as an audio series for the BBC's Radio Four, Little Britain won fans across the U.K. for its subversive send-up of 21st century British archetypes: a laddish lothario with a thing for his mate's elderly gran; a bossy small-town gay boy desperate to hold onto his uniqueness; the world's most unconvincing cross-dresser; and a sour, surly diet guru with a weight problem of her own. The brainchild of Matt Lucas and David Walliams, who portray many of their own creations, Little Britain progressed to a successful television incarnation on the new digital channel BBC3 in early 2003. With Tom Baker on board as the program's sardonic narrator and Buffy the Vampire Slayer vet Anthony Stewart Head portraying a put-upon prime minister, the show quickly earned a cult following. By the time a second series appeared in 2004, Little Britain had been promoted to the more mainstream BBC1. Multiple wins at the aforementioned British Comedy Awards established the program's status as a marquee attraction. But its geographically specific humor did not immediately attain international popularity the way previous Britcoms such as Absolutely Fabulous had. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Duncan Roy wrote and directed this British horror-comedy about popular celeb TV cook Clancy (Mark Aiken), a bisexual caught between his girlfriend and his boyfriend. As his fame grows, so does his paranoia that leaks about his homosexual life could ruin his career, prompting a plan to ditch the boyfriend and marry the girlfriend. But everything goes askew after he accidentally kills a pet dog owned by a homophobic psycho. Shown at the 1998 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Aiken, Rocky Marshal, (more)
