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The Mighty Boosh : Complete BBC Series 1 & 2 [2004]


RRP: £29.99
Our Price: £14.87 (subject to change)

Genuine Genius - forget the haters!
Review date: 2008-10-17 Rating: 10 out of 10

Boosh is definitely one of those polarising comedy shows - the sort of thing your parents would briefly ponder with confused bewilderment, before declaring it "queer" and switching over to watch "Only Fools & Horses" series 159 on UKGoldSilverBronze+3 (oh Delboy! You're such a cheeky rogue, with your falling-through-an-open-bar antics!). On the other hand, because of the near-ridiculous level of devotion layered onto it by the horde of fanatical adherents, there is a danger that it could be over-hyped beyond any level of expectation that it could ever hope to fulfil. The best approach is to try to view the series with an open mind and forget anything you may have heard about it already.

My girlfriend and I came across the series on a BBC3 repeat a couple of years ago (well after it had originally aired and become a cult hit). I didn't know a great deal about it, other than the fact that the two leads had also featured in the under-rated "Nathan Barley". Subsequently, we went through a phase of watching the series compulsively, to the point where we could recite whole scenes to each other verbatim (yes, in deeply irritating student-like fashion, I'm afraid). Despite its undoubtedly large cult following, we felt as if it was "our" personal show, "our" little mischievous secret. Such is the magic of their writing and the indelible nature of the world they create.

The series wears its influences on it is (brightly sequined) sleeve - obvious surreal touchstones such as the Goodies and Monty Python loom large, but there are also hints of the more recent British SF sitcom Red Dwarf and even American animated series South Park. At the same time, they are able to bring a cross-media (cross-reality!) angle to the show, which I haven't seen being executed so successfully on television before. Of course, anyone looking for a cohesive plot to each episode will be found wanting - having seen the live shows and clips of their pre-Boosh stand-up comedy, I would infer that they simply improvise a lot of their dialogue before writing it down and form a narrative of sorts around that. The writers amply demonstrate a gift for surreal imagery and masterful comic timing rarely found in contemporary UK sitcom. In addition, they have created possibly one of the most disturbing characters in comic history in the form of "Old Greg" - I will never look at Baileys or watercolours the same way again.

A lot is made of the apparent disparity between the two leads, Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding (a.k.a. Howard Moon and Vince Noir) - the fact that one appears to have a higher public profile than the other. Frankly, this is celebrity obsession-related tosh and misses the point entirely. On the contrary, not since the heyday of "Steptoe and Son", have a comedic duo been so wholly reliant on each other and their talents so finely balanced. Their relationship is the key dynamic to the entire show - Noir is INTENDED to come across as vain and shallow, Moon is INTENDED to be neurotic and square - there is no disparity if you focus on the show itself. It IS indulgent. It IS silly, it IS barely coherent but that doesn't prevent it from reducing you to fits of laughter.

In terms of this product, the boxed set brings together series 1 and 2 together in one value for money package - I bought this in a sale for £15. Well worth the investment, given the entertainment it has provided us over the last few years. Finally, a word of warning: for those of you who like their comedy to be safe and of the "oops, my trousers have fallen down and, goodness me, here comes the vicar!"-variety, steer clear of this collection - this is NOT for you. For those with more of nose (or any appropriate appendage) for the absurd, and you haven't yet been initiated into the fold yet, wonders await!


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Reviews


Dear Points of View,
Review date: 2008-09-26 Rating: 2 out of 10

Why do I pay my licence fee to the BBC so that they can make this utter dross and drivel?? Can someone actually tell me why this is apparently funny? What is there to get??

They try to be surreal, but it's all been done before (Vic and Bob anyone?? The Goodies, Monty Python etc etc) and far better.

Noel Fielding is just about to disappear up his own backside, yep, there he goes, I spotted his hand waving as he went. As for the other bloke, I don't even know why he's in it. Does he??!

Nope, this is about as funny as having an ingrowing toenail taken off with no anasthaetic. Mind you, watching this mind-numbingly boring tosh might just negate the need for it!!

Rubbish indeed from a Russell Brand-alike. Oh, and he ain't funny either!!!!

Chinese cheese in a cockrels boot
Review date: 2008-07-26 Rating: 2 out of 10

The more i watch this the less i like it , vince/fielding is a tosser and the other one is worse , naboo/fielding m. is just awful. Leave it for the 13 yr old girls and the (puke) students.

Not bad
Review date: 2008-07-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

Be Honest well directed, and not bad my best bad guy was Jack Frost. Excellent set, nice monkey.
I laughed it bit it was good ps i liked the newer one but have only seen 2 episodes.
Good actors but i prefer the one with the chin fluff not the mod eek.
Nabu was spot on very funny, The zoo was convincing like buckfastleigh if the girls ran out of razor blades and could not shave for a year yep wild and hairy and sometimes quite scary.
Not bad at all.

Can't compare it to anything else out there...
Review date: 2008-07-20 Rating: 10 out of 10

...because it is unique.
Hypnotic and dreamy, the episodes are more like a trance than tightly-structured compositions.

Well done to the guys, they have created a new genre!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Michael Fielding
Rich Fulcher
Noel Fielding
Dave Brown
Julian Barratt

Creators:
Julian Barratt (Primary Contributor)
Noel Fielding (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503198022
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 4
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2006-02-13
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 408 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2004
Language: English (Original Language)

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