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I'm Alan Partridge : Complete BBC Series 2 [2003] [1997]

RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £6.98 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

The second series of I'm Alan Partridge finds the Norwich-based former celebrity "bouncing back" from being "clinically fed up" after gorging on medium-sized Toblerone bars and driving to Dundee in his bare feet. He's finally moved out of the soul-destroying Linton Travel Tavern and into a well-appointed static caravan while his luxurious suburban mansion is being constructed. Sales of his new autobiography might charitably be described as slow, but Alan has the third best slot on Radio Norwich, a cable-TV military-based quiz show and a Ukrainian girlfriend called Sonja with whom he has sex at least twice a day. Life is good. And with old pal Michael comfortably installed behind the counter at the local BP garage, Alan can drop in for a chat while buying petrol for his new Lexus, putting the odd Flavia frothy cappuccino, a Ginsters pasty or a bottle of Lucozade on the tab at the same time.

Initially seeming less focussed than the distilled genius of the original I'm Alan Partridge--perhaps because the Travel Tavern location of that series was such an inspired setting--this second instalment of Partridge life is nonetheless a simmering cauldron of repressed and not-so-repressed emotions as the dangerously unstable Alan teeters on the precipice of his own soul: will he regain the B-list celebrity fame for which he yearns so desperately, or fall back into chocolate-fuelled depression? Memorable situations for Alan this year include: trying to present a seminar whilst vomiting from the pain of an impaled foot; being offered a cup of beans on Michael's doorstep (the deluxe version, with a sausage, is "like a savoury 99"); being unnerved by a nymphomaniac's wandering hand coming within 30 mm of his "gland"; having disquieting homoerotic encounters with John, the buff builder from "oop north"; acting out the entire opening sequence of The Spy Who Loved Me; and watching the unsold print run of his autobiography being pulped like "word porridge". Needless to say, Alan has the last laugh.

On the DVD: I'm Alan Partridge, Series 2 two-disc set features commentaries on all the episodes with various members of the writing team and cast (Coogan included intermittently). The second disc's main extra is "Anglian Alan", a 30-minute Anglian Lives interview with the celebrated Norfolk Renaissance man. There are also deleted scenes and outtakes, plus more of Alan's botched Comic Relief segments, as well as a stills gallery and cast biographies. --Mark Walker

Well, it's still Alan Partridge!
Review date: 2008-06-24 Rating: 6 out of 10

OK, let's be honest about this... this is definately not as good as the first series of 'I'm Alan Partridge', which worked on all levels. At the time Steve Coogan claimed that IAP2 was better than 'The Office'! Now, had he said that about the first series I would have agreed with him but I can't bring myself to agree with him for this series.

However, the working title for this series was 'I'm Still Alan Partridge', and indeed he is! There is much for the Partridge fan to savour in this series, especially the radio segments. These are works of genius! If you are not familiar with Alan's previous works you really must watch 'Knowing Me, Knowing You With Alan Partridge' and then 'I'm Alan Partridge' series 1 before moving into this new territory. Get to know Alan well, and his quirks shine through! Another bonus with the DVD release is the Comic Relief extras that are superb works of comedy. In actual fact, I like the extra features more than the main series!

Reviews

NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAD THE LAST LAUGH!!!
Review date: 2008-06-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

What A treat to finaly be able to watch the 2nd series of im alan partridge.
meant to buy it when i was last home in the UK in january 08 but just didnt have the lolly.
I enjoyed the 1st series and have watched it and rewatched it many times and must say that these two series are much better than knowing me knowing you the first series of partridge.
Good to see michael still in the series graduating from the motel to the petrol garage.
Lynn was a major doormat as usual and Alan was again offending most of the population which is what he does LOL and battling with the great dave clifton.
It would have been great to see Alan hosting his military based cable tv show though and would have thought that would have opened the door for more hillarious partridge antics.
Alans book was funny though but like i said it would have been more of a plus to learn and laugh at his cable tv career or is coogan keeping that one in his back pocket for later on ?.
Well all i have to say is ( DAN,,DAN,,DAN,,,,DAN,,,,,,,,,,DANNNN..!)
Anyway great series and great delvery from my mates at Amazon uk for delivering to this gratefull Ex pat.
Ten out of ten as usual Amazon.

Alans back
Review date: 2008-05-15 Rating: 8 out of 10

The 2nd series of I'm Alan Partridge is a half a notch down from the original series. If for no other reason than that it was made second, so we are already familiar with the mans character and his unusual personality traits.

That said its still a marvellously well written and performed comedy show that is sometimes very funny, and will have you cringing at Alan's antics in places. The standout episode for me is BraveAlan, where he meets a character with similar character traits. Remember the scene in the Car Park where he sees Dan and tries to shout at him to catch his attention. Dan, Dan, Dan! DAN! DAN!! Utterly brilliant.

The extras are well worth seeing, but sadly there is no Steve Coogan on the commentaries, which is a real shame. The first series had Coogan and the commentaries were almost as good as the shows themselves. However the spoof TV interview/documentary is very good and some of the outtakes are worth catching.

So all said and done its not quite the classic that series 1 was, but its close, and I seem to be enjoying it more each time I see it.

Bounce Back - he is driving Lexi!
Review date: 2008-04-27 Rating: 10 out of 10

Alan is on the way back. He is building his own house, has another company and now presents the third most listened to program on Radio Norwich. Not only that he presents a show on digital television. He has even written a book telling of his imperious rise - but its not selling very well. He even 'bounced back' from being 'clinically fed up' boo hoo. Michael, the Geordie from the Travel Tavern that Partridge was staying at is now Alan's best friend and works at a BP Garage that Alan frequents. Lynn still works for him despite her £8,000 per annum salary! As ever the writing is exceptional. Its no wonder that the series lasts only 6 episodes. It must be hard maintaining the standard for any longer than that. Alan even has a girlfriend who is Russian and much younger than him - back of the net! Driving his Lexus and still wearing his driving gloves Partridge is full of his own importance, happy to distance himself from the 'general' public. He hates them he just wants them to give him success. There are too many moments to mention. The James Bondathon that goes wrong and the Partridge improvised intro to one of the films. The attack on a stuffed 5ft beefeater bear, Lynn visiting her mothers grave one year on from her death, the foot incident whilst trying to climb an iron fence and of course Cacky Rafael. Pure Genius!

Cash Back ! Alan has "Bounced Back".
Review date: 2008-01-15 Rating: 10 out of 10

Series Two sees the host with the least at a crossroad of his life. He has given up any hope of a glittering media career and instead has retreated to build up his career in Norfolk. The Alan of series one has the arrogance to believe he can walk straight back to his tv career but this Alan is, at least, has a crumb of self-awareness - however bad he may be you feel for him.

This fact actually adds new life to what could have been a tired retread of the first series. Alan may be still be deluded but his painful realisation of his plight makes him a character full of pathos.

He is still a monster though: he treats his partner Sonya and his PA Lynn deplorably; he is inordinately patronising to everyone who earns less than himself and his narcissism means he can be extremely callous.

Some might argue that the first series has a better quality of set-pieces but arguably the gag rate is higher in the second and we learn more about Partridge. We see his repressed personality and desires; through the series so does Alan also. In a bizarre way he is the nightmare reflection of a middle-class, middle-briton:- prudish but with an appetite for sleaze to disaprove of and also be titillated by; right-wing but full of envy of the succesful and cosmopolitan but small minded.

Coogan breathes fresh life into Alan (which is no small achievement as Alan has always been cipher for the liberal media's bete noire - the reactionary conservative.)

In summary, great performances, especially Coogan, and a great script maintains the series' high standards.

Product Details/Specifications

Actor(s):
Peter Baynham
Melanie Hudson
Amelia Bullmore
Simon Greenall
Steve Coogan

Director(s):

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503130220
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Box set, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2003-11-10
Number of discs: 2
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 171 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1997-11-03
Language: English (Original Language)
Brand: Generic

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Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

I'm Alan Partridge : Complete BBC Series 2 [2003] [1997]

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