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Dom Robinson reviews
The Complete First Series
VCI
- Cert:
- Cat.no: VCD 0204
- Running time: 142 minutes
- Year: 2000
- Pressing: 2002
- Region(s): 2, PAL
- Chapters: 30 plus extras
- Sound: Dolby Stereo
- Languages: English
- Subtitles: English
- Widescreen: 16:9
- 16:9-enhanced: No
- Macrovision: Yes
- Disc Format: DVD 9
- Price: £19.99
- Extras: Trailer, Out-takes, Photo Gallery, Audio Commentary
Director:
- Nick Wood and Graham Linehan
Producers:
- Nira Park and Julian Meers
Screenplay:
- Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan
Music:
- Jonathan Whitehead
Cast:
- Bernard Black: Dylan Moran
Manny: Bill Bailey
Fran: Tamsin Greig
Black Booksis one of those TV comedy series that seems to go round the world winningseveral awards yet appears to be completely laugh-free. I did try sittingthrough the first three episodes, after which I skipped to the last, but Icould not find one redeeming feature, even though co-writer Graham Linehanalso had a hand in both the excellent Father Ted and Big Train.
Bernard Black (Dylan Moran, who co-starred with the late CharlotteColeman in How Do You Want Me? and played a thief early on inNotting Hill)runs his own bookshop, Black Books, but his problem, or rather than onegag for the series is that he hates people and is not averse to churning out allthe customers from his shop because they annoy him.
For the worst idea in the history of bad ideas he needs an assistant and hiresthe bizarre Manny (Bill Bailey), although if you appreciate Bailey’sbrand of humour you’ll probably find him behaving just like himself.Accompanying the main cast members is Tamsin Greig as Bernard’sgirlfriend Fran. I’ve always thought she looked a bit weird ever since sheplayed Paul Whitehouse‘s girlfriend Emma in Happiness last year.
I’ve decided to award this series just half-a-mark though, after seeing KevinEldon‘s performance as the cleaner in the third episode.
Manny, the prostitute robot from the future.
There’s no problem with the picture per se. It’s free of artifacts andpresented in the original 16:9 widescreen as filmed and is anamorphic.However, what I don’t like is the supposedly “filmic” treatment given to theprint. The series, like Hollyoaks, is shot on video but supposedlytreated to look like film when it looks like anything but and just looks abit blurry. It was shown that way on TV so if you don’t mind it then you’lllive with it.
As for the sound, I found no problems. Recorded in Dolby Stereo it will hardlytest your speakers but at the same time doesn’t disappoint.
The extras consist of a 60-second trailer for the series, whichadvertises that it includes guest slots from Johnny Vegas, Rob Brydonand Jessica Stevenson. The Out-takes run for ten minutes andinclude plenty of on-set fluffs. Both of theseextras are in anamorphic 16:9 like the series.
A Photo Gallery is included, as is a series-length Audio Commentaryfrom star Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey and Tamsin Greig. All thecast sound very pissed and if you like the series you’ll enjoy this. If youdidn’t then you won’t listen to it, but then you won’t have bought the DVDeither.
There are 5 chapters per episode, so 30 in all, subtitles in English, butall the menus are static and silent.
PICTURE QUALITY
SOUND QUALITY
EXTRAS
OVERALL
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.