With The Inbetweeners Movie (2011) storming to box-office and critical success, it was never going to be the last time we saw Will (Simon Bird), Jay (James Buckley), Neil (Blake Harrison) and Simon (Joe Thomas) on the big screen. You would expect the sequel to make things bigger and better, but while number 2 certainly feels more 'film-y' than its predecessor, things are kept relatively low-key here. While it thankfully resists any urge to throw in a wild plot and favours something more grounded (the boys are so lovable because they're relatable), it basically repeats the same story as their disastrous holiday to Crete. The destination this time around is Australia.With Will experiencing unhappiness at University (his house-mates demonstrate their attitudes towards him with a brilliantly worked gag), Simon struggling to deal with his bunny-boiling girlfriend Lucy (Tamla Kari), and Neil doing very little at all, the three decide to join Jay back-packing in Australia. Jay claims to be a top nightclub DJ, living in a mansion with supermodels who wake him every morning with a blow job. He is actually working as a toilet attendant, and is staying in a tent outside his uncle's house. Simon is convinced by old school friend Katie (Emily Berrington) to join her and her backpacking mates to see the 'real side of Australia', naturally with a detour to a water park, and the four tag along where embarrassment and uncomfortable sexual adventures await them.While Australia is vast and beautiful, we see very little of it here, favouring youth hostels and tourist hotspots that, if anything, makes it look like were watching a feature-length episode on E4. The cast is made up is mainly Britons, and the only main Australian character we meet is Jay's 'shrimp on the barbie' stereotype uncle. The female characters also are resigned to roles of tease and psychopathic harpy, as opposed to the well-rounded female foursome we met in the first movie. Although there's a couple of hilarious set-pieces - s**t in the face is always a winner - this just isn't as funny as it should be, with more focus on pushing the boundaries of gross-out humour rather than developing the odd relationship between these best friends who have very little in common. Series creators Damon Beesley and Iain Morris and the main cast have all said that this is it for The Inbeweeners, but I'm sure, despite the mediocrity this time around, they'll be back on our screens at some point in the future.

This really is absolutely dire. Having been a fan of the TV series, and having enjoyed parts of the first film, I was hoping this would be a return to the humour of the TV series. Not even close. This was the worst film I have seen in years. In fact it was reprehensibly bad. I cannot remember laughing once, just cringing at the one dimensional characters, the obvious - or even worse, offensive (are jokes about paedophilia ever funny?) - jokes and the really poorly contrived plot. The jokes are simply tired, recycled and clichéd. It is a shame that they seem to have nothing new to say or do and unfortunately it only ends up tarnishing the TV series. Avoid, avoid, avoid. And pray they don't make a third.

I am a huge fan of the Inbetweeners. I have watched every television episode, and thoroughly enjoyed the first feature film. This sequel had all the previous ingredients, a big budget, and a big canvas on which to paint. Yet I found it painfully unfunny.I watched it on DVD, and it took me around four goes to complete it, so uncompelling was the storyline, so laborious the script. Maybe it is an intrinsic problem with gross out humour? You can only take it so far- then you have done it.The fake promo video at the start where Jay is eulogising about his imaginary life is good, and amuses, but that should have been about it. A premise of the "inbetween" existence from sixth form to adulthood had been previously brilliantly realised to date by both script writers and cast. As that premise is exhausted, so the joke is exhausted.Devotees will find the film entertains in the context of well -worn jokes, stereotypes and scenarios, but Inbetweeners 2 is definitely the coda on this project. In cash terms, it has been enormously successful, creatively it has run out of fuel.

There seem to be two camps of people: those who loved the 'Inbetweeners' TV series and hate their filmic outings and those who loved the TV series and also enjoyed the films. Basically, I have yet to meet anyone who didn't enjoy the three series (so track them down if you haven't already) and yet the films do tend to divide people.Perhaps both films rely too much on the boys meeting (and therefore interacting) with other characters, instead of concentrating on the banter between the quartet. Plus the story – obviously – has to be stretched out to the full hour and a half length, rather than the 'snappier' twenty-two minute episode length. And, in my opinion, the second film actually surpasses the first in terms of sheer laughs. Yes, it's still not as 'punchy' as the shorter-length episodes, but I found it generally funnier overall than its predecessor.Basically, if you already know what sort of humour you'll be subjected to in 'The Inbetweeners' movies then you should like this. If you don't, you really better check out a TV episode or two before you chance one of their films. The film, like the series, charts the seemingly never-ending exploits of four hormonally-charged teenage boys and their experiences in wooing the opposite gender. And it's filled with crudeness, lewdness and generally scenes that will make you want to be sick in a swimming pool (you'll have to actually watch the film to get that one).Don't expect a great plot. Don't expect anything other than a fun film, packed with adult humour which guys will probably be able to relate to, based on their own experiences as hormonally-charged teenagers where nothing/no one seems to go their way. Yes, it's not quite as sharp as the TV series, but it's still a fun way to send the boys off in style.