Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- witty
- irreverent
- vulgar
- lazy sunday
- british comedy night
What critics said
Critics found the film competently acted and mildly amusing, praising its ensemble resemblance to classic Ealing heist comedies while faulting its lack of originality and vulgar gross-out humor.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Simon relies on four inept ex-criminals to steal surveillance evidence from a bank vault.
The film uses gross-out gags including Simon vomiting on a roller-coaster and disposing of a phallus sculpture.
Critics repeatedly compared its bank-heist ensemble and light-hearted antics to 1950s and 1960s Ealing comedies.
Framed parole officer Simon Garden must break into a bank to prove his innocence and expose a corrupt police officer.
Films like The Parole Officer, and why
The Lavender Hill Mob
shared british heist comedy, inept criminals, ensemble farce, and vulgar humor
A Fish Called Wanda
shared british crime caper structure, eccentric ensemble, and light-hearted criminal mishaps
Funny Money
shared comic bank robbery, bungling criminals, and warm ensemble energy
Movie Details
- Director
- John Duigan
- Release Date
- 2001-08-10
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (127)
Cast
- Steve Coogan
- Lena Headey
- Ben Miller
- Om Puri
- Steven Waddington
- Stephen Dillane
- Emma Williams
- John Henshaw
- Bernard Wrigley
- Omar Sharif
Common questions
- What is The Parole Officer about?
- A disgraced Manchester parole officer assembles a hapless gang of ex-criminals for an audacious bank break-in to recover the evidence that can clear his name.
- What is The Parole Officer like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Parole Officer as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Parole Officer violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Parole Officer as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Parole Officer?
- Critics found the film competently acted and mildly amusing, praising its ensemble resemblance to classic Ealing heist comedies while faulting its lack of originality and vulgar gross-out humor.
- Which films are like The Parole Officer?
- Films with a similar feel include The Lavender Hill Mob, A Fish Called Wanda, and Funny Money.
- How long is The Parole Officer?
- The Parole Officer runs 93 minutes.
