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The Royle Family - The Complete Series 2 [1998]


RRP: £19.99
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

On paper, The Royle Family doesn't sound that promising: a working-class family from Manchester sit in their cluttered living room, watch the telly and argue over domestic details (the arrival of a telephone bill, for instance, provides the big dramatic event of the first episode, which aired in September 1998). But from such small everyday incidents, Royle Family creators Caroline Aherne and Dave Best (who play young couple Denise and Dave) have crafted one of the most successful shows on British television: a comedy about the joys and frustrations of family life that's warm, honest and very, very funny--Britain's answer to The Simpsons, whose success the show rivalled when it started broadcasting on BBC2 (the programme jumped channels to BBC1 for its second series).

The Royle Family marked an on-screen reunion for Brookside-actors Ricky Tomlinson (who plays bearded, big-hearted, banjo-playing Jim Royle) and Sue Johnston as his wife Barbara, the driving force behind the Royle household. It is smart casting because The Royle Family is as much a soap opera as a situation comedy. Now in its third series, The Royle Family has seen its characters develop like real folk. Denise and Dave got married and now have a little sprog; Barbara starts menopause (how many sitcoms are brave enough to use that for laughs?) and Denise's kid brother Anthony shakes off his surly adolescence when he turned 18 in series two. Unlike Oasis, who provide the shows theme song "Halfway Round the World", this programme just keeps getting better.

But no soap--not even Brookside in its dafter moments--has one-liners as brilliantly crafted as The Royle Family. (The scripts from the series are available to buy.) Slouched in his armchair, Jim's dour running commentary on the TV shows that are on at the time are particularly priceless: Changing Rooms, for instance, boils down to "a Cockney knocking nails into plywood... Is this what its come to?" Not quite: because as long as the Royle Family are around, there is something worthwhile to watch. --Edward Lawrenson


A Royle Treat!
Review date: 2005-10-30 Rating: 10 out of 10

What can i say. The Royle Family leaves you breathless at the end of each and every episode. It is without a doubt a british classic that will go down in history as one of the best sitcoms ever made. Ricky Tomlinson portrays his miserable and lazy character with perfection. Along with Caroline Aherne as the "fussy one" and Craig Cash who just goes with the flow. This Programme is sheer excellence. I recommend it to anyone.

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Reviews


It were Brill!!!
Review date: 2005-06-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

Again not disapointed with our home grown comedy.
The royle family is a typical look inside the homes of most Brit families and i have to say that most people out there know a family just like them.
I laughed and shook my head at some of the comments and knowing looks in the royle house hold and found myself smarting with embarrasment as i found myself transported back to my own experiences on the settie in front of the box with familiy and friends just like the royles LOL.
Nana played by liz smith is tops in her role as the mother inlaw of jim royle and made me laugh constantly specialy when in the Christmas episode she comments on how she likes the big girl that plays the vicar of dibley ironicaly as shes a star in the same series.
Also jim royle played by Ricky tomlinson who in my opinion is fantastic in his role as the loud mouthed lazy negative father and know it all which to my shame is me to a tee LOL.
Anyway well worth buying and i will be buying the 3rd series.
And great to see granada including the christmas episode instead of pulling the old trick of making you buy the christmas episode seperately as many of them do.
Once again fantastic work from my friends at Amazon UK who i give 10 stars out of 5 for their promt and fast service to the USA as usual that just keeps me buying and buying.
Well done Amazon ...

Excellent series but disappointing edit to episode 7.
Review date: 2004-05-01 Rating: 8 out of 10

I love The Royle Family. It's written to perfection and I really looked forward to seeing all the episodes again on the DVD. I couldn't believe the music edit on episode seven when Denise was in labour and Jim switched her tape on. It was supposed to be Charlotte Church's version of the tearjerking 'Pie Jesu' and instead some weird opera crap played throughout Jim's emotional speech. It didn't ruin the moment completely because the dialogue alone is amazing, but it certainly diminished some of the emotion the scene once bestowed. If it wasn't for this I would give the DVD 5 out of 5.

As good or maybe even better than the first series
Review date: 2003-09-07 Rating: 10 out of 10

Nothing has changed since Series 1. The Royle's are still as obnoxious as ever and the one liners keep getting better. The Christmas special is great.

I'll just have to look out for Series 3 !

Excellent
Review date: 2000-12-31 Rating: 10 out of 10

After watching the first series, I couldn't wait for this (The 2nd) series to be released, and I have to say that I was not dissapointed. Every episode had me in tears with laughter.

I can't wait for the third series to be released on DVD.

I have to add, that I am also a little dissapointed with the lack of special features on the DVD, like you find on most other discs.

However, this didn't take the shine of the quality of the program itself at all.

Product Details/Specifications


Creators:
Mike Popley (Cinematographer)

Recording label: Granada Media
Manufacturer: Granada Media
EAN: 5014138502188
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2000-11-06
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
DVD layers: 2
DVD sides: 1
Region code: 2
Running time: 214 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1998-09-14
Language: English (Original Language)

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