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Fun At The Funeral Parlour


RRP: £19.99
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Genius!
Review date: 2007-05-24 Rating: 10 out of 10

I think i may have been one of the only people that saw this on BBC Choice, im certainly the only person i know who did. I cant believe the BBC didn't give this comedy the recognition it deserved. Having recently bought the dvd and watched both series,I am truely aghast at how funny it is and the genius idea of making a comedy out of 4 goons running a family funeral parlour in Wales. When i look and see all the rubbish comedy on BBC 3 now and endless mind numbing repeats, i just believe they should be re-showing this. Its hilarious, true comic heavyweights playing characters that you can see they absolutely revelled in. I do not have enough adjectives in my vocabulary to describe how well written and funny Fun at the Funeral Parlour is; so I will just say its Genius and you must see it yourself.

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Reviews


dead funny!
Review date: 2006-12-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

This was a terrifically silly show, regrettably overlooked by the terrestrial BBC channels and left to become a minor cult favourite on the cable/satellite netherworld. The episodes were a weird and often wonderful concoction of insane ideas and bizarre interaction - difficult to summarise beyond stating that anything that could and usually did happen in this weird world of dead bodies and very curious people. There were also many guest performers, including Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Brian Blessed, Bill Oddie, Tom Baker, Christopher Cazenove, Art Malik, Phil Cornwell and Dudley Sutton. Three stars from The Fast Show - Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson and Mark Williams - also lent a hand, with Higson doubling as script editor. Fun At The Funeral Parlour writer (and co-star) Rhys Thomas had latterly begun contributing to The Fast Show, first as a production runner and then as a writer and participant, playing Paul, assistant to Swiss Toni. Thomas created this new show when just 20 (a fact that may have dissuaded BBC2 from taking it) but neither this youth nor the tight budgetary restrictions blunted what was, in many respects, a delightful first effort.

Better than the title
Review date: 2006-09-26 Rating: 8 out of 10

Much in the vein of 'Father Ted' and 'Nightingales', this offbeat comedy series is much better than the rather bald title would suggest. I didn't see it on TV, and you probably didn't either, because it was a flagship show for the Beeb's digital channel BBC Choice at a time when barely anyone in the UK had digital TV. But look at the comedy talent on that! I picked up this DVD on the basis of the performers' names, and I consider it a decision well made.

The show centres around Thomas, Thomas, Thomas and Thomas Funeral Directors - dad Ivor (big-hearted, unfortunately corpse phobic, played by the fantastic William Thomas) and his three sons, Arwell (straight-laced, a bit wet, played by Alex Lowe), Gwynne (porky, simple-minded, played by Tony Way) and eldest son Percy (a bit evil, jailed for five years for dressing the stiffs as Roy Orbison and taking them on tour, played by Rhys Thomas who also wrote the series). Paul Whitehouse features prominently - a filthy newsagent in the first series, a flouncy camp vicar in the second - and the guest stars include Jo Scanlan, Steve Furst, Matt Lucas, Tom Baker, Bill Oddie, Charlie Higson (also the series script editor), Brian Blessed, Mark Williams, David Walliams, Christopher Cazenove, Phil Cornwell, Nerys Hughes, Michael Jayston, Simon Day, Art Malik, etc, etc.

There are actually two discs in this box, to wit Series 1 (6 episodes) plus extras and Series 2 (7 episodes). For reasons we may never know, Series 1 is on disc 2 and Series 2 is on disc 1. Series 1 is variable - there are a couple of episodes in which the guest stars appear as themselves, which basically devolve into wheeling out the catchphrases and inviting the viewers to notice the big name guest. The rest of it is good stuff, though. The show really hits its stride in Series 2, with proper studio sets, what looks like more of a budget, and a hard rock funeral march theme by none other than Brian May. Many of the episodes on this disc are British comedy classics, scuppered only by the tiny audiences they played to.

There are three commentary tracks on each disc, featuring Rhys Thomas, Tony Way, and whichever guest performers were handy. Disc 2 also has some outtakes, extended scenes, and a brief look behind the scenes of Series 2. All in all this is no shoddy package. In the name of Rabbi Gaby Roslin, give it a chance.

Nice!
Review date: 2006-09-19 Rating: 10 out of 10

I've been waiting for such a long time for this series to be released, that I've actually forgotten why I was waiting for it. Now then...
This sitcom appeared on the ill fated BBC Choice and asides from a short run on UK Gold disappeared into relative obscurity. Shame! It really is a tidy little ensemble and never took itself at all seriously. Some of the best cameo performances ever; who needs 'Extra's' when you can watch Tom Baker and Brian Blessed at their best with some of the most inane babble you've ever heard.
You get both series 1 & 2 (a complete boxset for all the diehard fanatics!) and the extra content is fairly competent.
But the gem is to watch these episodes with some knowledge that only you and nine other people will ever watch the most underated overlooked and very well hidden comedy series never to be shown.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Paul Whitehouse
Rhys Thomas

Creators:
Rhys Thomas (Primary Contributor)
Paul Whitehouse (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503198725
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2006-09-18
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 390 minutes
Language: English (Original Language)

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