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Benidorm - Series 1


RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £8.02 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

The Solana resort, at the heart of Benidorm, sounds like quite a place to spend a holiday. It attracts a broad selection of characters, all sorts of antics, and fortunately for anyone picking this DVD up, a good few laughs too.

A comedy programme that slipped under many people’s radar, Benidorm puts an all-inclusive holiday destination at the heart of its setup, and then sets about filling it with a collection of fascinating characters. So you have the quiz kings for starters, along with a pair of mature swingers. There’s a standard-ish stereotypical family, a gay couple on holiday to celebrate, and a squabbling married pair too. It’s a broad ensemble, and this proves to be one of the many qualities of the programme.

However, also in Benidorm’s favour are some witty scripts, plenty of not-for-the-kids dialogue and a lot of belly laughs. All six episodes from the first series are collected here, and while the laughs don’t always constantly flow throughout, the hit count is certainly high. And given the lack of quality fresh British sitcoms of late, Benidorm proves to be quite a collectors item. It might not, on the basis of this first series, be on the way to being a flat-out comedy classic, but there’s so much enjoyment in the episodes here that a second series is hard to resist. --Jon Foster

Editorial
DVD Description

Set in the all-inclusive Solana resort with a tremendous ensemble cast the first series of Benidorm proved a big hit for ITV – the critics said: "Benidorm rocks"; "unmissable TV"; "the ideal mix of sea, sun and silliness"; "beautifully written and performed"; "a gem of wry observation in withering bad taste".

Benidorm regulars for twenty years, Jacqueline and Donald are enthusiastic middle-aged swingers who rarely leave their hotel. Known as ‘The Oracle’ because of his computer-like knowledge of trivial facts and figures, Geoff Maltby is on holiday with his mother, or PA as he calls her, but keen to hide the fact. Gavin and Troy are on their first break away together after setting up a successful hair salon. Kate and Martin’s marriage is at braking point after only one night in the resort. Then there are the Garveys; a Lancashire family who are on their first holiday abroad. Janice and Mick plus Janice’s mother – the sun-worshipping, chain-smoking Madge who can always be guaranteed to have a bad word for everyone. It's sun and fun all the way in Benidorm...

Editorial
Synopsis

Benidorm regulars for twenty years Jacqueline and Donald are enthusiastic middle-ages swingers who rarely leave the hotel. Known as ‘The Oracle’ because of his computer-like knowledge of trivial facts and figures, Geoff Maltby is on holiday with his mother, or PA as he calls her, but keen to hide the fact. Gavin and Troy are on their first break away together after setting up a successful hair salon. Kate and Martin’s marriage is at braking point after only one night in the resort. Then there are The Garveys; a Lancashire family who are on their first holiday abroad. Janice and Mick plus Janice’s mother – the sun-worshipping, chain-smoking Madge who can always be guaranteed to have a bad word for everyone.

I've struck Gold
Review date: 2008-08-31 Rating: 10 out of 10

Quite simply, thank the lord for this superbly hilarious series. Ages since I've laughed out loud and been left with such a feel good factor. The best (and they're not that good), sit com's now are American. We had lost the true british comedy farce.
Hope lots more comedy writers take note, this is what we want!


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Reviews


Poor begining to second series
Review date: 2008-07-31 Rating: 4 out of 10

I started watching the second series and found it far superior to this first series which i bought on dvd and watched for the first time. some scenes were very crude and not at all funny, unlike the secoond series which we could watch as a family without ambarassment.

the characters are better developed and rounded and I am waiting for the second series, as it beats theis first series hands down for me.

Hilarious
Review date: 2008-07-11 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is a fairly standard sitcom. Take a group of people, put them in a situation where they are all thrown together and can't get out and see what happens to them. As far as sitcoms go, that's a basic premise. So what makes this one funnier than, for instance "My family"?

Apart from the fact that "My family" is rubbish (IMHO), it tries to take itself too seriously. Benidorm doesn't fall into that trap and sees itself for what it is - a truly British romp around a fairly stereotypical group of holidaymakers in the tacky Solana resort hotel in Benidorm. It has no airs and graces and just sets out to make the viewer laugh.......and it succeeds. The jokes are just plain funny and while some are slightly near the knuckle, they're delivered with deadpan straightness rather than the nudge-nudge comedy of some comedians who like to flag a joke coming some time in advance. My favourite line has to be the one where Kate is talking to Janice about her rather nasty and particularly leathery old mother who sits out in the sun all hours and asks her "Isn't she worried about the 'c' word?" to which Janice replies, "Oh no, she's been called worse than that"

Priceless!!

funny funny funny
Review date: 2008-06-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

Well I have to say,6 episodes are just not enough.
How I laughed from start to finish.
Having worked as a holiday rep many moons ago I have met every single one of these charactors ten fold[yes including swingers and a knocked up daugher only this one was 14 not 16].
My husband is foreign and he was crying laughing thinking all brits abroad behave this way.Of course I told him that wasn't the case but to be honest there are more people like that on holiday from the UK then we would all care to admit.

The episode of swingers and Madge in the buggy,well,it just finished me off.I have never laughed so much at anything in my life.
I bow down to the writers of this,I cannot wait for series two to come out on DVD as I have yet to see it.
Please please keep this series going and make each episode an hour long.



ITVs best kept secret.
Review date: 2008-06-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

Benidorm is enjoyable for a three simple reasons.

Firstly, whilst rarely laugh-out-loud funny, there are numerous times in every episode that raise a smile.

Secondly, most of us have been on the cheap package holidays so we can relate to everything that happens at the hotel, from the sitting round the pool all day, to the karaoke bar at night.

Lastly, we all know, or have met someone who is like the characters in the show and we all decide who we would "have a drink with" and who we would "definitely avoid".

All the characters are extremely likeable, and although the humour is smutty at times, it never descends into gross out comedy which is there to shock rather than raise a smile. If you missed it on TV this DVD is definitely worth buying as it is one of those rare comedies which is as funny on a repeat viewing, as it was the first time.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Johnny Vegas

Creators:
Johnny Vegas (Primary Contributor)
Derren Litten (Writer)

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014138601768
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Colour, PAL,
Release date: 2008-04-28
Audience rating: To Be Announced
Region code: 2
Running time: 134 minutes
Language: English (Original Language)

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