moilligh Reviews

Max & Paddy's Road to Nowhere (2004)

Not as great as Phoenix Nights... But its not supposed to be.

[3 December 2004]

I was rather disappointed with the first episode of Max & Paddy's Road To Nowhere; a spin off series chronicling the adventures of the hapless bouncers from Bolton.

It didn't have the same spark, the same ability to make you laugh.

But, as the series is progressing, I am beginning to like it.

The same jokes which only Northerners will get are there, and really a clash of cultures take place. A little ott at times, some great scenarios are created.

Some special appearances will please the Phoenix fans, and newcomers will become engrossed in a story which actually makes you care about the characters.

Foreign Exchange (2004)

A teleporting adventure of vast proportions...

[1 November 2004]

...Foreign Exchange is a mediocre programme for a pretty good show, a joint collaboration between Irish and Australian TV and Film companies to produce a show, a light on the mind adventure with comedic aspects, which is set in both countries.

Brett Delaney is a 15 year old Australian boy whose mother has gotten married once more, and thus; Brett now has dreaded Stepbrother and Sister to contend with. While fond of his new Stepfather, and his new sister, Meredith, is nice to him, but his new Brother, Wayne, is large, strong, angry and mean. He basically takes over Bretts bedroom, proclaiming that he got there first (despite the fact that Brett had lived there all his life). Brett is angry, and helps Meredith to move stuff into the basement.

They notice a discolouration in the wall, which Meredith thinks is full of bacteria, but as she leaves the room, Brett examines it. He finds a spherical stone in a crevasse, and finds is fits into a part of the wall like a key.

A simple turn, and some cheesy TV-standard effects reveal a portal.

After his Football goes through as a test, Brett locks the door and enters himself. He finds himself in another basement, but unbeknownst to him, it is at the other side of the world.

Exploring the portal's destination, he stumbles across a girls shower, and runs away amidst screams. He discovers he is in a school, an old looking school in a rural area.

With half the school chasing him, he hides in a shed, where he first meets Hannah. She is an Irish girl the same age as him. He finds out that somehow, he is now in Ireland, and although Wary and confused at first, Hannah helps him back to the portal, having gone through herself to see if Brett was delusional.

So ends Episode I, and the two become friends, often visiting each others countries, and getting into adventures (usually mishaps) along the way.

(and Brett is no longer angry, taking the basement as his own bedroom and leaving Wayne to have his own. Hey, who else has a portal to the other side of the world in their room?)

Although Original and fun to watch, I don't think this will last very long, but while it does, it is a Highly recommended show, suitable for kids and teens alike.