In The Loop (15)

A comedy about politics" is how writer-director Armando Iannucci's big screen spin-offfrom his awardwinning TV series The Thick Of It is described.

In the light of recent events, you may think that there's no need for anyone to make fun of politicians as they do a very good job of that themselves.

But Iannucci and his team have produced not only one of the funniest films of the year but also one that has the ring of truth. As you watch, you dearly hope that the incompetence, the arrogance, the stupidity and downright illegal behaviour doesn't really happen. Past political behaviour, though, means that while you're shaking with laughter, you can't banish the thought that it's all too true.

War is in the air - Iraq isn't specifically mentioned but readily springs to mind - and silly ass British government minister Simon Foster (Tom Hollander) accidentally backs military action in a statement on TV by saying it's "unforeseeable".

Downing Street spin doctor Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi as a man who raises swearing to an art form) is in, well, a spin as he tries to limit the damage of this unfortunate remark. He has his work cut out when the Brits decamp to Washington, where Foster is invited by the anti-war lobby to make up numbers but manages to make matters worse by telling reporters that "Britain must be ready to climb the mountain of conflict".

His new political advisor Toby (Chris Addison) is finding his feet and his way into the bed of a government aide Liza (Anna Chlumsky) who's written an anti-war briefing paper.

And so it goes on. It doesn't matter if you don't know the TV series or usually avoid political movies because In The Loop is so very funny with Capaldi's foul-mouthed, angry advisor a fearsome sight (and sound) at full throttle.

For the Americans, James Gandolfini's easy-going military man and Mimi Kennedy's undiplomatic US assistant secretary for diplomacy show that political shenanigans aren't limited to our politicians.