Steve Coogan makes his long-overdue return to our screens with this film, co-written with long-time partner Henry Normal (no, not in that sense).

In The Parole Officer, Coogan plays Simon Garden, a parole officer, strangely enough. He isn't right successful in his job and has only managed to rehabilitate a few of his previous 'clients'. When transferred to Manchester, for being 'annoying', he gets caught in the middle of a crime gang and eventually framed by a couple of corrupt coppers for a murder he didn't commit.

Now, the only way for him to clear his name is to break into a heavily guarded bank vault, and retrieve a crucial piece of evidence (a videotape which recorded the killing). But, as he is unwilling and unable to do this by himself, he assembles his old reformed 'clients' (a modern-day "Ladykillers") and persuades them to help him break in and steal it, with hilarious consequences.

Well, actually yes.

I know that you've heard it, seen it, read it, before - it's a standard heist comedy - but a least using a predictable story-line gives him room to concentrate on the building and fleshing out the new character. Garden is still the bumbling and embarrassing 'hero' that Coogan does best, but while we delight in the failings of his most famous and acclaimed creation, Alan Partridge, we are always on the side of Garden. Basically, he is a much more likeable character than the pompous Partridge.

Coogan is consistently good, as usual and the cast are also excellent, adding depth and pure talent to the events. The film even includes cameos from 70s wet dream, Jenny Agutter and the old dog himself, Omar Sharif. Add to this the humour, which is very British - intelligent-yet-silly jokes that make you laugh and cringe at the same time, and you've got a corker.

The Parole Officer possesses some priceless visual gags, some great scenes - Simon being sick on a roller-coaster, or breaking the rather large penis off a sculpture - and is always watchable, with only a tiny bit of the obligatory romance (he gets the girl).