Old School
ABC TV
Friday, 8.30pm
WHAT do you get when you put two of Australasia’s best-known and well-respected actors together with a very talented director-writer and a pretty impressive support cast?
Well to start with – in the first episode at least – a body count even Shakespeare would be proud of.
Old School comes from the mind of creator/writer Paul Oliver and director/writer Gregor Jordan (Two Hands) and reunites Jordan with his Two Hands star Bryan Brown.
Brown is retired crim Lennie Cahill just released from jail and living with his grand-daughter (played by Bed of Roses’ Hanna Mangan Lawrence) who teams up (through necessity) with retired cop Ted McCabe (Sam Neill).
Of course the last time the two saw each other was 13 years ago at the scene of an unsolved robbery – Ted was shot and Lennie sent to jail so there’s not a lot of love lost.
Episode one spends a lot of time setting the scene for this very Odd Couple crime caper with two old codgers who should be sitting in the pub having a beer and reminiscing rather than running around chasing killers and crimes.
The one liners come thick and fast making it seem a little try-hard at first but with 20 minutes to go it really hits its stride and the odd titter turns into good belly laughs.
By the end you’re enjoying it and by episode two I was hooked. Underbelly this is isn’t – even though it’s set on the shady side of the world.
Think Brit show Minder with a touch of One Foot in the Grave and you’re closer to the mark.
Anyone who saw the 2008 movie Dean Spanley will know that Brown and Neill are a great foil for each other and this plays on their respective senses of humour really well.
Brown is laconic and laidback and Neill is dry and smooth and it works a treat (although the scene stealer for mine is Kiwi actress Sarah Pierse as Ted McCabe’s wife).
This is a clever mix of great acting, smart writing, action, humour and mystery and a nice addition to the ABC’s Friday night crime line up (let’s hope the ABC can continue to produce shows like this!).
– Tania Phillips
