- Oh, honey. That is something else.
You need to take a nap and then try and try again.
♪ (rock intro) ♪
- Megan, can you tell us where you're from?
- I am from England. - I'm from Coventry, England,
United Kingdom. - Hi, I'm from the UK.
I'm in England. And specifically,
I'm in Manchester right now. - I'm from London in England,
the notoriously sunniest place in the world.
- Well, we took advantage of the fact that we can shoot
with some of you overseas while we're all in quarantine.
So, we've gathered a few British folks to judge British accents
and pop culture and let us know if you think they're accurate
or not accurate. - Ooh, okay.
People usually get it wrong, but we'll see.
- Oh, this is going to be fun. Okay. Yeah, I'm here for it.
- (Bert) Oh, it's you. Hello. - Oh, Mary Poppins.
- Oh, I love Dick Van Dyke. - Oh, goodness gracious.
- No. American. No way. - Trying to do that proper
Cockney accent. - Oh my goodness.
This is so notoriously famous over here.
- (Bert) What he's famous for is... - I can't say I've actually heard
that many Cockney accents to be fair, but it's what I would imagine
a Cockney accent to be. (laughs) - Dick Van Dyke, who played Bert,
has received a lot of criticism for his portrayal of a Cockney accent
and has even acknowledged it himself when he apologized for it
after winning a British Academy Britannia award, calling it,
and I quote, "the most atrocious Cockney accent in the history
of cinema." But we wanna know what you think.
Was his accent accurate or not accurate?
- It was not accurate, but at least he owned up to it.
- Obviously, I have a very overactive imagination then
if that's case, if he got a lot of criticism for it,
but yeah, I thought it was good. (laughs)
- That was really, really bad. I think he was going
for a Cockney accent, but he wasn't doing it correctly.
- It's definitely up there with one of the worst Cockney accents
I've ever heard, because there's different sections
in London especially, where loads of different accents
are kind of from. And Cockney is famously
from the east of London.
And that is nowhere near a Cockney accent.
- (Pip) It's quite all right. Lord, bless me!
- I know the show. - This is South Park.
I love South Park. - (Pocket) Boy,
what a smashing coincidence! - (Pip) Perhaps, but perhaps not.
- It's very stereotypical. - Even just the top hat
and the little bow tie. (laughs) - (Pip) Pocket, may I ask you a favor?
I am desperately trying to become a gentleman
for the love of a certain girl, so will you please tell me
if I do something wrong at the table?
- (laughs) - So, that was a clip
from the American cartoon South Park and features the voice acting
of Trey Parker as Herbert Pocket as well as the show's creator,
Matt Stone, who voiced Pip Pirrup and many other characters
in the show. The show is known for its
sometimes offensive and controversial portrayal of many characters.
But what did you think? - I think it wasn't accurate.
But for comedic reasons, you exaggerate.
- It's not just a normal British accent.
It's over the top posh,
but South Park is like that. - I personally am not a big fan
of South Park, but the accents in South Park are phenomenal.
- I think you could tell what they were trying to do,
but you also know that they were taking the piss basically as well.
So, I think from that aspect, it was pretty decent.
- (Basher) We're in deep... - Oh.
- (Basher) That poxy demo crew have use a coaxial lynch
to back the main line, have they? - (slow claps)
- (Basher) They've only nozzed up the mainframe couplet,
nozzed it right up! - Oh. Yeah, already,
I'm shaking my head. I can feel my head
just being like, "No." - (Basher) ...gone and blown
the backup grid one by one like dominoes!
- It's in between. It's like he's overexaggerating it
a little bit too much. - (Basher) They're sorting it out.
- I love this film so much. - (Basher) So, unless we intend
to do this job in Reno, we're in Barney.
- No! - (Basher) Barney Rubble. Trouble!
- I've never heard anyone say that in my life.
- Yeah, that's bad. (laughs) That's definitely not accurate,
I would say. - So, that scene came
from Ocean's 11 and features American actor Don Cheadle
playing Basher Tarr. The accent is commonly
referred to as one of the worst Cockney accents in film,
but what'd you think? Was it accurate or not accurate?
- I have to give him credit, though, Mr. Don.
You've done a hell of a lot of research.
But oh, honey, that is something else.
You need to take a nap and then try and try again.
- Yeah, it is not accurate. He was saying stuff
that we've never said in our lives.
- You could tell that it was just so exaggerated.
There was just certain syllables and everything in there
that was just, like, no. - That was really uncomfortable.
Yeah, but I'm glad he went for it. That's all I can say.
- (Harker) Yes, of course, sir. - (chuckles)
- (Harker) If I may inquire, what in fact happened to Mr. Renfield
in Transylvania? - "Hwat." (laughs)
Hwat, hwat is the thing-- what are you trying to say, Keanu?!
- (Harker) I have offended you with my ignorance.
- Ooh. - (Harker) I have seen many
strange things already. - It's very over the top.
- (laughs) I thought the last one was bad.
This is... - (Harker) I know where
the bastard sleeps. Bloody wolves chasing me
through some blue inferno! I know where the bastard sleeps.
I brought him there... to Carfax Abbey!
- What?! (laughs) What did he say?
- So, that was Keanu Reaves as Johnathan Harker
in the 1992 film Dracula. This is another one
that is listed by many sources online as one of the worst attempts
at a British accent in film, but what did you think?
- Yeah. - Was it accurate or not accurate?
- Not accurate. I completely agree with everyone else's vote
on this one. (laughs) - You can see in his head movement
and stuff like, kind of to over the top.
It's like ooh. - It was very American.
He was trying to be posh, and then he was "ahright."
Like, how does that make sense? - Keanu Reeves is up there
with one of my favorite of all time, but I've never seen that film,
and I intend never to do so now, because that was just awful.
- (Annie) I don't have a father actually.
I mean, I had one once... - Aw, Parent Trap.
It was my favorite growing up. - (Annie) But my parents divorced
years ago. Let me see.
I know how to fence and you don't.
- Oh, she has so much attitude even when she's a kid.
I love it. - (Annie) Take your pick.
Actually, we're all... - It's very over the top,
but I feel harsh judging a little kid.
- I love this movie, and I've watched it--
when I was younger, a lot of times.
Now that I see it, she sounds like an old woman.
- So, Lindsay Lohan portrayed twins Annie and Hallie in 1998's
The Parent Trap. And she switches accents
throughout the film. So, some regard her British accent
as being pretty good. But others, not so much.
So, what did you think. Was it accurate or not accurate?
- Yeah, I don't think it was too bad to be fair.
I think the fact that, as you pointed out,
she had to switch between American and English
while doing all those scenes. It's pretty impressive to be able
to do that to be fair. - Since she was a child, eh...
No, I'll go-- I can't. It's not accurate. Sorry.
- When I was younger, I thought it was perfect.
Now...
it's still pretty good. But she sounds way above her age.
- Given the fact that she is the youngest person/actress
I've seen so far, I'd have to give props to her.
She's done her homework. - (Robin) You wish to end this?
You wish to go home? - (men murmur in agreement)
- Am I looking for a British accent here?
- Wait.
Wait, wait. Is he actually trying to do a British accent?
- (Robin) The Sheriff calls us outlaws.
- It's not too bad. - (Robin) But I say we are free.
- Out of all of them, I'm pretty impressed
by this one so far. - (Robin) ...is more powerful
than 10 hired soldiers. - Eh, it's not too bad.
- (Robin) I will make you no promises, save one.
- Come on. Give it a little bit at least.
- (Robin) That if you truly believe in your hearts that you are free...
- Mm... - You can already tell
Morgan is just thinking, "What the damn hell is he thinking?"
- (Robin) Then I say we can win! - (chuckles) My god.
- So, that was a famous scene of Kevin Costner in 1991 film
Robin Hood. Even though the film is loved
by many, Costner's attempt, if you can even call it that,
at an accent is criticized by many sources online.
So, what did you think? Was it accurate or not accurate?
- Yeah, there was too much American in there,
so it's not accurate. - Even you know
that wasn't a British accent. He didn't even try.
- I thought it was all right. It was that last bit at the end.
I was a bit like, mm, no. - There was no accent whatsoever.
There was just no attempt. And... shame. Shame!
- Actually, my name is Austin Powers.
- (chuckles) Austin Power. - Mmm. Classic.
- (Austin) No, no, Danger's my middle name.
- (man) ...Okay. - (Austin) Let me ask you a question.
- Pretty good. - (Austin) And be honest.
Do I make you horny, baby? - (laughs)
- (Austin and Fred) Do I make you're RANDY?!
- (laughs) So good! - (Austin) You speak Japanese?
- (Foxxy) A little. - (Austin) Well, you might be
a cunning linguist, but I'm a master debater. (laughs)
- Yeah, it's like a very over-the-top movie for accents.
- I forgot Beyoncé was in that film. Holy hell.
I need to watch it again. - So finally, that was Canadian actor
Mike Meyers as one of his iconic characters,
Austin Powers. Meyers is known for his accents,
and we actually featured his Scottish accents
in another one of our episodes. But Meyers' parents are
actually both English. So, how do you think he did
with the accent? Was it accurate or not accurate?
- I think out of everyone, he did the best.
He wasn't trying to be, you know, the "normal" posh.
- Yo, I did not know his parents were English.
That's pretty surprising. And I can see why the accent
is so accurate now, because that makes a lot of sense.
- I'm saying accurate just because it's Mike Meyers
and Austin Powers. I just-- I love those films.
I couldn't say not accurate. I couldn't offend it. (chuckles)
- He's accurate-ish, but he's over the top a bit.
So, uh... I might have to say not accurate.
- All right. So, before we go, overall, what are your thoughts
around the way British people have been portrayed
across pop culture over the years?
- I think they've been portrayed okay.
I don't think we should be offended by anything to be fair.
- It's usually people just trying to use our accent but never actually
using our British actors. And it would've been better
if they used British actors. - They really need a lot of practice.
But then, you see these YouTube videos
of accent coaches breaking it down nowadays,
so a lot of these actors don't have an excuse
not to practice and not to get it good.
- In England and the UK as a whole, there are so many different regions
and so many different accents, so half of the time,
southerners are just asking northerners in particular
just to repeat themselves and just like,
"I didn't understand you at all." And they'll just say,
"What do you mean? I can speak so clearly. It's fine."
- Thanks for watching this international episode
here on FBE. - Don't forget to subscribe
and hit the bell for more episodes. - Hey, it's Sierra,
producer here at FBE. Thank you so much
to our international reactors who joined us from across the pond
for this episode today. Do you want a chance
to be on the show? Check out those links
down in the description to learn more. Bye, guys.