The Parole Officer - Critical Reception

Critical Reception

The film currently has a 67% rating on the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Most reviews favourably compared the film to Ealing Studios' heist comedies of the 1950s and 60s, although noted aspects of vulgarity.

For example, Philip French, writing in The Observer stated "The film is mildly amusing and more than competently acted contains very little that's original and nothing that throws any light on contemporary life. Indeed, all that distinguishes Coogan's film from British heist pictures of the 1950s and 1960s is the vulgarity and excursions into grossness." Similarly, Neil Smith, writing for BBC Movies online noted "What follows mixes the light-hearted antics of The Lavender Hill Mob with such high brow gags as Simon chundering on a roller-coaster or disposing of a phallus sculpture in a ladies' loo."

This aspect in particular generated criticism from Alexander Walker, writing in the Evening Standard "It's a bog-standard caper comedy with deviations into gross-out interludes to please the American teens and any dumbed-down Brits." However, Matthew Bond of The Mail on Sunday was more complimentary, stating "It's rude, silly and a midsummer gem."

Derek Elley, writing the Variety was also complimentary, noting "Though much of the film revolves round the persona of Coogan...overall it's more of an ensemble piece than a one-man showcase, and better for it."