Stylish but barely mediocre overall

Better Late Then Never

I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.

CARRY ON AT YOUR CONVENIENCE is a perfectly serviceable (pun intended) entry in the long-running franchise and one that marks a distinct improvement over its sordid predecessor, CARRY ON HENRY. This one sees the welcome return of contemporary locations in the antics set within a toilet factory plagued by love, lust, and striking workers.In some ways, CARRY ON AT YOUR CONVENIENCE is a breath of fresh air for those involved. Sid James doesn't play a lech for once, and has some great old-fashioned humour in the scenes where his pet budgerigar predicts the outcome of certain horse races for him. More importantly, Kenneth Williams isn't the antagonist after what seemed like an age of him working against the rest of the cast members. He's just an ordinary guy whose relationship with Patsy Rowlands is repeated from CARRY ON LOVING.This film was a well publicised flop, and many reviewers have argued that it was due to the storyline's anti-union stance. It's a shame when an audience can't take a joke aimed at themselves (the Carry Ons were popular with the working class, many of whom were union members themselves) because the storyline is as good as ever. There are nice roles for a deeply flamboyant Charles Hawtrey and a permanently befuddled Bernard Bresslaw, although I would have preferred to see series regulars Peter Butterworth or Kenneth Connor instead of the weak likes of Kenneth Cope and Richard O'Callaghan we get here. Still, there are memorable turns for the female talent: Jacki Piper, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, and Margaret Nolan. The climactic trip to Brighton is the real highlight here and a neat precursor to the delights of CARRY ON ABROAD.

This is far from the best Carry on film, Screaming, Cleo and Up the Khyber are much better offerings, but it is a million times better than Carry on England and Emmanuelle. I do agree that Carry on At Your Convenience is not perfect, the plot doesn't always flow as well as it should due to some padding, the pacing could have been much more secure and I wish Hattie Jaques had more to do. Conversely, it looks pretty good, as the photography is decent and the costumes and sets are at least nice to look at. Also the score is quirky enough, and while occasionally smutty a vast majority of the dialogue is funny. In general, the acting isn't too bad either; Sid James and Kenneth Williams especially are a lot of fun, and Joan Sims makes the most of an intentionally bitchy sort of character. So overall, decent if slightly disappointing entry. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Set in a toilet making factory, hence the title, this is a fun romp. Given the setting, you just know there will be in jokes, double entendres and the like. Sid James, Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtry, amongst others, are at their madcap best here. The story never flags, even though the cast is pretty large. You even have richness from the peripheral characters here, they add to the fun. One of the film's main assets is the fresh faced beauty Jacki Piper, who plays Myrtle Plummer (I know, the last name is obvious, but that's okay). Of the Carry On films I've watched (about 8), this is my favorite thus far. It holds your interest and you can't help but laugh. It is definitely worth your time, in a time honored British comedy vein.

Considered by many the best ever "Carry On" film, I think I still prefer CARRY ON...UP THE KHYBER (1968) to it, but it's certainly one of the more tolerable entries in the series. Essentially an update of I'M ALL RIGHT, JACK! (1959) in its concern over working conditions in a factory and the frequent strikes ordered by the union's representative (usually over a trifle, or even a technicality in the regulations!), the fact that the manufacture involved is toiletware, the lavatorial humor associated with this team is quite appropriate here - though it never descends to the grossness which seems to be the norm for today's would-be comedies.Most of the regulars of the series can be seen strutting their stuff (though perhaps the most notable contribution is given by newcomer Kenneth Cope as the shop steward) and there's no shortage of lewd remarks but, as I said, it's all done in fun (while these films may have been restricted to adult audiences back in the day, they're quite PG stuff today!). There's still a bit of padding involved - such as Sid James' winnings at the races (following the predictions of his wife's pet bird!), the love triangle involving Cope, Jacki Piper (as James' daughter) and Richard O'Callaghan (as the son of factory boss Kenneth Williams) and especially the lengthy outing in Brighton; all things considered, however, an enjoyable vintage comedy which is ideal viewing for the festive season.