This two-disc package presents all eight episodes from the first series of the British comedy series Little Britain, plus the original pilot episode.
It's bad-taste grottiness gone totally berserk, rather in the mode of League of Gentlemen but more episodic and fast-fire sketch-based. It shares League's morbid humour -- it's not quite so Gothic, but is definitely just as on the edge -- more Gorgonzola than Stilton, a smelly bit of blue-vein indeed.
The two writer/stars, Matt Lucas and David Walliams, present a gallery of grotesque characters, including a juvenile delinquent called Vicky Pollard, who is a fat version of our own dearly beloved Kylie Mole, except Vicky has more attitude and talks so fast as to be, fortunately, almost totally incomprehensible.
Then there's the inspired creation of Daffyd Thomas, who believes he's the only gay in his little Welsh village. Not just believes, but insists on that, all evidence to the contrary. Which is why he's not yet managed to have sex with anybody at all.
And here's little (absolutely minute) Dennis Waterman, post-Minder, who can't get any new acting gigs because he insists on writing and singing the theme music as well for any program he might appear in.
Other characters include Ministerial Aide, Sebastian Love, who is just crazy about his Prime Minister, who is played by a former librarian, Anthony Head. Anthony Head is one of the few notable characters who lends Matt Lucas and David Walliams a hand; another is Molly Sugden, the famous pussy-fancier from Are You Being Served. And listen to the credits voice-overs ... is there a Doctor Who in the room?
There's a rubbish transvestite who keeps insisting, all evidence to the contrary, that he's "a real lady" and there's a wheelchair-bound 'victim' who is cruelly exploiting his helper -- these are some of the characters you'll be appalled by in each and every episode.
This is a first-class two-hander. It might not be quite up to the standard set by other great double-acts such as the Stella Street gang, or Morecombe and Wise or by my favourite duo, French and Saunders, but it's ripe British comedy at very near its best.
This is an anamorphic widescreen production which is a considerable improvement over regular broadcast quality.
Colours and tonal contrasts are excellent for both interior and location exterior shots, and there seems to be no evident artefacts to disturb the image. For television, this is a quality production.
This is a great presentation.
The wealth of extras has been lovingly hand-crafted for your lasting delectation, and the worthwhile extra features far outweigh the duds. If you enjoy this style of humour, you'll want to buy, not rent, this one.