Michael Carroll: King of Chavs

Great stuff. Whether you pity, mock or empathise with Carrol's attitude towards life, it can't be denied that it provides great entertainment, whatever your own take on life might be. This is a well made documentary which veers away from the often stuffy delivery that many documentaries provide, and offers up plenty of debate for your next trip to the pub. It works because we have all imagined what we would do with that 'big win', so to see someone else's take on it is an interesting premise, Carrol's take being one that (for me at least) inspired frustration, as well as a degree of pity. This film can't help but mock its subject (for the most part... Keith Allen does his best to be respectful and professional) but does succeed in portraying Carrol as both victim of his win, and abuser of it, also highlighting the 'hangers on' whom have helped Carrol waste his money. I missed the celebrity boxing match when first shown, so was delighted to find that they repeated it in this film, along with some behind-the-scenes footage before and after the fight. Seeing a drunken, unfit bum take on a 20 stone body builder in a boxing match, is the stuff of slapstick Hollywood comedies - never mind a British charity event...