One of the wittiest and most sophisticated movie satires of recent vintage, "In the Loop" provides us with a hilarious behind-the-scenes glimpse into the ugly, messy world of international diplomacy. The mad run-up to the Iraq war serves as the obvious blueprint for the fictional - yet far from make-believe - tale the writers have come up with here. We begin in London where news has just leaked out that the British and Americans are planning a military invasion of an unspecified country in the Middle East. When the bumbling Minister for International Development, Simon Foster, accidentally goes off script by stating in an interview that such a war is "unforeseeable," the Prime Minister's staff goes into immediate damage control mode, hustling Foster off to Washington D.C. to see if they can get him in on the pre-war planning and negotiations. From that point on, Foster becomes a bone-of-contention between the pro-war and anti-war factions battling it out for preeminence.

The source for "In the Loop" is a popular British TV series entitled "The Thick of It," with many of the actors from that program appearing in the movie (though we're told that most of the performers play different roles in the film from the ones they play on the show). As if that weren't confusing enough, the script by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche spends virtually no time on introductions or back story of any kind, leaving those of us who are unfamiliar with the context feeling just a wee bit lost and disoriented at the beginning. Indeed, we are plunged so immediately into the swirl of activity surrounding the minister's diplomatic faux pas that we learn early on that we had better start paying some serious attention to what's happening on screen or risk going under in pretty short order. I say this not as a criticism of the writing because, frankly, this is one of the few comic scripts I've come across in quite some time that actually treats its audience like thinking adults, that doesn't find it necessary to talk down to us in order to appeal to the lowest-common-denominator viewer. The one-liners come fast and furious in this film and woe to anyone not willing to make the effort to keep up with them. The good news is that the writing is so sharp and acerbic that we really don't mind putting that extra added effort into our viewing. One simply cannot be a passive onlooker while watching "In the Loop" and still reap the rewards of the experience.

With the kind of understated irony that distinguishes the best of British humor, the densely-plotted, character-rich screenplay aims its comedic sights at all the would-be power players, petty backbiters, toadying assistants, long-suffering aides, incompetent bureaucrats, draconian bosses, mealy-mouthed office-holders and enraged constituents that make up the world of high-level diplomacy and politics. The movie also has some fun with England's perceived role as ugly stepsister (or lapdog, if you prefer) to the bully-boy United States in matters of world affairs.

Director Iannucci gets nothing less than a sterling performance from each and every member of his large and gifted cast, be they American (with James Gandolfini the most recognizable face in that crowd) or British. However, extra special note should be taken of Tom Hollander, Chris Addison, Mimi Kennedy and, above all, Peter Capaldi, who tears up the screen as the deliciously ill-tempered and foul-mouthed enforcer for the British Prime Minister.

The truths this allegorical fable reveals about how easy it is to cherry pick evidence to lead a country into war and how hard it is for individuals of goodwill to stand up for what they know is right are so dead-on in their accuracy and so universal in their scope that they leave the mind reeling from the impact - and the ribcage aching from all the laughter.

Channel surfing late one night,I came across a new Comedy show on the BBC by Alan Partridge creator Armando Iannucci.Knowing nothing about the series,I was left breathless by the lightning fast one liners being joined by a satirical edge which gave the comedy a dramatic bite.

After the series, (which is now my third all time favourite TV show) got me interested in political and satirical Comedy,I was delighted to find a companion film which allowed Iannucci's creation to fire on all cylinders. Realising that I have just written my 999th IMDb review,I decided that I would mark my 29th birthday by writing my 1000th review for my 10th favourite film of all time.

The plot:

During a radio interview MP Simon Foster is asked if he believes that the government are planning a war in the Middle East.Going against his own party line,Foster says that he sees no chance of a war taking place.Arriving at party hq,Foster is surrounded by "Director of Communications"/spin Malcolm Tucker,who tells Foster to not go off track,and to walk the government line.

Hearing Foster's comments,visiting US Assistant Secretary of State Karen Clark invites Foster to a meeting about fears of a secret committee in the US setting out plans for a war in the Middle East.Trying to stick to the government line,Foster soon finds his beliefs being invaded by Malcolm Tucker.

View on the film:

Toning down the rough edge,moc-doc style of the series,co- writer/(along with Jesse Armstrong/ Simon Blackwell/ Tony Roche & Ian Martin)director Armando Iannucci and cinematographer Jamie Cairney give the film a wonderful reserved gloss,with smoothly delivered whip- pans injecting a documentary intimacy within the movie,and also allowing the viewer to catch every crisp one liner.Going to the US, Iannucci and Cairney peel away any US landmarks with obscured side shots which match Foster's deflated response to his first US visit.

Giving the film a timelessness by smartly not naming the parties or the Middle East country that "The West" is on a path to war with,the writers cover the title wall to wall with acid-tongue punchlines,as each of Malcolm Tucker's merciless verbal attacks destroy his opponent/ministers limb by limb.Hanging a cloud of war over the title,the writers hit the title with ruthless satirical fangs,as every side from the left,right & centre gets struck,as every cracking exchange exposes the characters being more concerned about keeping their spot safe than doing what is best for diplomacy.

Entering the movie like a fire breathing dragon, Peter Capaldi gives a ferocious performance as Malcolm Tucker,whose every blood spilling line of dialogue Capaldi chews with a delicious relish. Joined by a stern James Gandolfini and a sweet Anna Chlumsky,Tom Holland (who played the PM in MI5!) gives a hilarious performance as Simon Foster,by making every frozen with fear stare that Foster makes over sharing the "wrong" opinion reveal how out of the loop Foster is.

The UK and America are slowly moving towards war in the middle east. Simon Foster (Tom Hollander) is the bumbling Minister for International Development who frustrates the PM's Director of Communications Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi). Toby Wright (Chris Addison) is Simon's young aide. US Assistant Secretary of State Karen Clarke (Mimi Kennedy) and her assistant Liza Weld (Anna Chlumsky) are trying to prevent war. Meanwhile Linton Barwick (David Rasche) from State is trying to push for war with his War Committee. US General George Miller (James Gandolfini) also opposes the war. Meanwhile, Simon is hounded back home by Paul Michaelson (Steve Coogan) angry at his wall.

I love that VEEP flavor delivered by Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche. I liked this movie before VEEP because of this style of political humor. It's subversive. It's light-hearted but with a vicious jab at the incompetence of it all. Honestly, I didn't pay attention to the connection until I watched this movie again. The flavor is undeniable and so delicious.