AIBU to think that Rita, Sue and Bob Too isn’t a laugh riot of a film?

255 replies

StanfordPines · 28/03/2021 09:08

There was a Facebook post a little while ago about the film Rita, Sue and Bob Too. Lots of people were commenting about what a funny film is was.
I commented that while it is a fantastic film and certainly has a humorous side to it I wouldn’t say it was a funny film. I was told that I was without a sense of humour. I said that I didn’t find a grown man having sex with underage girls to be super funny and was told that that is just how it was then and it was fine.
I deleted my comments and walked away.
I’m the same age as Rita and Sue. It wasn’t how things were then and it wasn’t fine.

AIBU to think that while it is a great film comments like ‘such a funny film’ and ‘you wouldn’t be allowed to make that today’ are just missing the point?

(I know it’s Facebook and I haven’t taken it to heart but was I wrong?)

OP posts:

Thecazelets · 29/03/2021 19:54

Agree about The Snapper too. Saw it again recently and was horrified.

Bluebells32 · 29/03/2021 19:55

I was a teenager when i first saw this film. I took it at face value. The girls, the 80's, a crap secondary modern, The worn down stiletto heels, the flirty, seedy older man were all familiar to me. Sure some of it was funny.
When i saw it again i was much older and saw how Thatcherite politics was woven into the screenplay. The comedic moments were there to stop the film from becoming unpalatable. The scenes where Sue was walking to her parent's place was desolate. The dad sat in his armchair swearing at his daughter was miserable. The 80s education system spat them out into oblivion. It was their friendship that was the shining light in the middle of 1980's misery.

Respectmyauthoritah · 29/03/2021 23:22

@longwayoff

How do people feel about the TV series Shameless? I've only seen bits and pieces of it, not a full programme or series, but what I saw I wasn't keen on. It reminded me of people I've met, or they've lived nearby, or whatever, I know of people who do have such chaotic lives and I couldn't find it funny. But it was very popular so am I just being prissy? I haven't seen enough of it to judge it fairly.

I think it's important to for all levels of society to be represented. I can relate to scenarios in Shameless or Brassic and find them funny. I'll laugh at Bridget Jones Diary but honestly it all seems like another world to the one I live in.

Dailyhandtowelwash · 30/03/2021 14:58

@Bluebells32

I was a teenager when i first saw this film. I took it at face value. The girls, the 80's, a crap secondary modern, The worn down stiletto heels, the flirty, seedy older man were all familiar to me. Sure some of it was funny. When i saw it again i was much older and saw how Thatcherite politics was woven into the screenplay. The comedic moments were there to stop the film from becoming unpalatable. The scenes where Sue was walking to her parent's place was desolate. The dad sat in his armchair swearing at his daughter was miserable. The 80s education system spat them out into oblivion. It was their friendship that was the shining light in the middle of 1980's misery.

Very much this re RSABT. And I am so sad to read about Andrea Dunbar. I had her confused with someone else. She was clearly an incredibly powerful talent. I'm not surprised she was angry with the film.

I didn't grow up in a particularly deprived area but am also really puzzled by posters saying that teenage girls having sex with older men wasn't a thing in the 80s. It's only been reading this thread that I've actually realised how many of my teenage memories are of things that just aren't right. The girls at school who had boyfriends in their 20s were cool. Some older teachers were sleazy and some younger teachers visibly uncomfortable around some of the older girls - as if they were predatory. One of my teachers married a girl in the year above me shortly after she left school. Schoolgirls were totally sexualised in the media. My father taught me that words for young (ie teenage) girls included 'crumpet' and 'tottie'. Page 3 girls were 16. Even into the 90s, the School Disco thing saw women dressing in 'sexy' school uniform. TV sitcoms broadcast for families would include sexy teenagers being leered at by adult men.

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 31/03/2021 06:01

@longwayoff

I struggled with British Shameless but have watched every episode of American Shameless. It’s funny and dark. I was surprised about people in one episode living in a car but I’ve seen news reports about this happening in the USA. The way they portray bi polar is very accurate.

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