Review of Purely Belter (2000) by Alison O — 10 Sep 2004

Best in Show: Chris Beattie.

One for the future: Greg McLane.

Stand-out scene: Stuck in the Tyne mud.

Brainer or no-brainer: Brainer.

Stands up to one viewing or repeated?: Repeated.

DVD commentary any good?: n/a.

TV.

Wye-eye man and howay the lads! The success of Billy Elliot made Newcastle a prime location for kitchen sink drama-comedies and this small but perfectly formed effort is warm-hearted if not exactly ground-breaking entertainment. This is not the first time we've seen a poverty-stricken but plucky family unit portrayed on a big (or small) screen and it won't be the last and you do find yourself thinking how much better it would have been if director Mark Herman had taken the bold approach of Channel 4's Shameless. Brassed Off (I cried buckets) is still his best film with Little Voice a close second but this is no Blame it On the Bellboy. 15-year old Gerry (Beattie, actually a die-hard Sunderland supporter) and 17-year old Sewell (McLane) are school-dodging ne'er do wells who resolve to raise the money to buy a pair of season tickets to St. James's Park by fair means or foul. The Geordie patter and a string of cameos from the likes of Roy Hudd, Kevin Whateley, Tim Healy and even Alan 'Mr Charisma' Shearer brings a genuine edge to the story.