The Guardian reviews Sam Campbell’s new Channel 4 sitcom Make That Movie, describing it as an absurd, high-concept mockumentary that may be one of the most original comedy series of the year.

Known for his unconventional performances on Taskmaster and Last One Laughing, Campbell is portrayed as an almost alien comedic presence whose work consistently defies traditional expectations of narrative or emotional realism.

In Make That Movie, Campbell plays a fictionalised version of himself: a once-successful film director who now travels around in a van topped with a giant model camera, creating strange low-budget films based on people’s eccentric ideas.

Each episode compresses a full production cycle into roughly 23 minutes, including the pitch, casting, filming and final screening of bizarre projects.

Examples include a thriller where characters intermittently transform into snakes, and a cyber-themed story in which pensioners enter computers by singing and inserting USB cables into their mouths.Other segments feature surreal additions such as animated feet and artificial intelligence chatbots used for comedic effect.

The review highlights the show’s relentless pace and dense structure, noting that while it can feel rushed due to the number of ideas packed into each episode, this frantic energy may be part of its intended style.The comedy is described as deliberately nonsensical, leaning heavily into absurdism and parodying both low-budget filmmaking and cultural clichés.

Campbell’s perspective as an Australian working within British culture also plays a role, with the series exploring his outsider view of UK quirks such as children’s literary icons and fascination with football hooligan films.

The reviewer praises the show as a celebration of comedy for its own sake, contrasting it with recent trends in television that often over-explain humour through emotional backstory.Ultimately, Make That Movie is presented as a uniquely strange and energetic series that showcases Campbell’s distinctive comedic voice.