For
their first 3D special, the BBC chose to adapt David Walliams’ mildly gross
children’s book. They should have made
it in Smell-O-Vision. Perhaps more
importantly, it stars Downton Abbey’s Hugh
Bonneville, which is probably why PBS will also broadcast Declan Lowney’s Mr. Stink (promo here) this Sunday on
most affiliates nationwide.
He
is not called Mr. Stink for nothing. The
ill-tempered vagrant is not big on hygiene.
He does not think much of kids either, yet he somehow befriends twelve
year old Chloe Crumb, a social outcast in the John Hughes tradition. Shunned at school, Crumb also feels
increasingly alienated from her mother Caroline, a neophyte candidate in an
important by-election, who serves as a shrill caricature of all things not
properly progressive. Intrigued by his
mysterious origins and duly impressed by his power to control huge plumes of
stench, Chloe offers Mr. Stink temporary shelter in their back shed.
Of
course, Cruella Crumb cannot discover Mr. Stink, which pretty much guarantees
she will, at the most inopportune moment.
In fact, his discovery will have political repercussions reaching all
the way to Downing Street. Yes, Mr. Stink is another show that believes
the world would be a better place if heads of state just took the advice of
tramps sleeping in the park. Granted,
there are millions of people due to lose their health insurance who probably
think we would be better off with any randomly selected derelict, but that’s a
different matter entirely.
Frankly,
the BBC’s Julia Donaldson animated specials (such as the Oscar shortlisted Room on the Broom) are a lot more fun
than Stink. Still, Bonneville (a.k.a. Lord Grantham)
develops some pleasant screen chemistry with the reasonably down-to-earth and
grounded Nell Tiger Free as Crumb.
Younger viewers will probably focus on Stink’s pooch, The Duchess, doggedly
portrayed by the game Pudsey. At least
she is not of those annoying screen pets who constantly mug for the camera, so
yes, you can say the dog gives a performance of mature restraint. The same cannot be said for Sheridan Smith
and the author, who shtick up the joint as Caroline Crumb and the PM,
respectively.
