A Touch Of Cloth Iii Too Cloth For Comfort
Right, let's talk about something gloriously silly: A Touch of Cloth. Specifically, A Touch of Cloth III: Too Cloth For Comfort. Because sometimes, you just need a dose of wonderfully absurd police procedural parody in your life.
The Premise (Or Lack Thereof)
Okay, "premise" might be too strong a word. It's more like a collection of loosely connected gags held together by the sheer willpower of Charlie Brooker's genius. Think Airplane!, but with more dead bodies and unnecessary explosions.
We’ve got Jack Cloth, still brooding, still haunted by the ghosts of his dead wife (or wives? It gets complicated). He's paired with Anne Oldman, who is, bless her heart, trying to make sense of it all, and frankly, failing miserably.
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This time around, they’re investigating… well, a bunch of stuff. Murders, conspiracies, maybe even a rogue ice cream van. Details are fuzzy, but the laughs are plentiful.
Why It Works (Even When It Doesn't)
The beauty of A Touch of Cloth is that it's deliberately, hilariously terrible. The puns are awful, the plot holes are enormous, and the acting is wonderfully over-the-top. It’s like a glorious train wreck you can't look away from.
Imagine your grandma trying to write a gritty crime drama. Now, crank up the absurdity to eleven. That’s pretty much A Touch of Cloth in a nutshell.
The show ruthlessly mocks every police procedural trope imaginable. From the "maverick" detective who plays by his own rules (usually involving a lot of shouting) to the CSI team who can somehow identify a suspect from a single stray eyebrow hair, nothing is safe.
Standout Moments (Prepare to Cringe)
Trying to pick specific highlights is like trying to herd cats wearing roller skates. But here are a few that stick out like a sore thumb:
There's a scene where Cloth interrogates a suspect using only the lyrics to 80s power ballads. Because, why not? Think Bon Jovi is the key to solving a murder mystery.
And let's not forget the endless stream of visual gags. Expect strategically placed bananas, inappropriate sound effects, and more slow-motion running than you can shake a stick at.
“But is it actually funny?”
That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? If you enjoy your humor dry, sarcastic, and slightly unhinged, then yes, absolutely. If you prefer your jokes clean and wholesome, steer clear. This show is not for the faint of heart (or those with a low tolerance for puns).
Beyond the Jokes
It’s not just about the jokes, though. Beneath the layers of silliness, there's a clever satire of the genre itself. Brooker is clearly having a blast skewering the clichés and conventions of modern crime dramas.
It's a knowing wink to the audience, a shared understanding that we’re all in on the joke. A Touch of Cloth is a reminder that sometimes, the best way to appreciate something is to mercilessly mock it.
The casting is stellar. John Hannah as Jack Cloth is inspired, perfectly capturing the character's blend of brooding intensity and utter incompetence. Suranne Jones as Anne Oldman plays the straight man (or woman) with admirable restraint, providing a much-needed anchor in the sea of absurdity.
So, should you watch A Touch of Cloth III: Too Cloth For Comfort? If you're looking for a smart, sophisticated, and thought-provoking drama, probably not. If, however, you want to switch your brain off and laugh at some truly terrible jokes, then absolutely give it a try.
Just be prepared to cringe. And maybe hide your bananas.
