It’s always tough deciding how to cut your time up to make sure you don’t waste it, which is why every now and again you miss a gem or two when it comes to new releases. However, with The Mimic, Channel 4’s latest home grown comedy, luckily we found the time to check it out. Funny and feeling like a brand new take on the well trodden sit-com path it’s a banker for time well spent.
The storyline picks up with Martin (played by Terry Mynott) a pharmaceutical company site maintenance dude and general dogs body who’s talent for doing impressions is wasted on his dead end job. However, the appearance of a potential long lost son (pending DNA test) and the annoyance of his prat of a boss makes him start to re-evaluate his lot in life.
The majority of Mynott’s impersonation sketches are pretty accurate, but what makes The Mimic feel solid is that some of them aren’t as spot on as they could be. However, it’s the surreal way that the voices are used that makes the jokes come to life. The opening sequence sees Martin sat in traffic with a broken radio player, filling in for the absence of Terry Wogan with his own voice and the genius line, “it’s on mornings like this that I wish I was back in Phuket at a full moon party, bouncing a lady boy on each knee!”.
The character interaction is faultless with great situational comedy between Martin and his son, James (played by Jacob Anderson), as well as the addition of twisted, sweet lines from Martin’s best friend, Jean (Jo Hartley). When Jean accidentally on purpose meets Martin early to get an introduction to Steven after the already embarrassing trip to the DNA clinic, her opening chat of, “did you fill the pot?” is hilarious with great timing and delivery.
Episode 1 aired on Channel 4 in mid March, but all of the first 4 episodes that have been shown up until now are still available on 4OD at the time of writing. More new episodes are on the way too, so there’s plenty of opportunities to get into the storyline of Martin’s post-modern, impressionist life.
There aren’t many, if any parallels with The Mimic, which is one of the reasons it feels so new. It surprises you with subtle lines out of nowhere, which will make the best of you break out in pig-like snorts akin to the fat tusked Jabba the Hut henchmen when they got stuck in the cave with that ugly plasticine monster thing. There are Star Wars impressions from Martin in the series, so hopefully that random simile will make a bit more sense when you’ve seen it, but we’re not 100%, so judge away.
There’s a bitter sweet edge to the comedy, so if you struggle with the tragic then you might find it hard to warm to, but if you like the kind of pathos filled situational humour that was a big part of Roger and Val Have Just Got In, The Office, Derek and Extras then you’ll love The Mimic.
The Mimic review: 4.2/5
