I'm Alan Partridge - Series 2 (DVD)

I'm Alan Partridge Series 2 Review.

Alan Partridge is a name that will go down in history as the funniest man to ever come out of Norfolk. No doubt you will have heard of the infamously awful radio DJ and ex-TV star Alan Partridge, who has been on our screens for over ten years now, and no doubt you will know a little about the man himself. Played by the very talented comedian, Steve Coogan, Alan Partridge is a piece of comedy genius. ...
...next level, and in 1997 I'm Alan Partridge Series 1 came out, showing the ex- TV star Alan to be living in a travel hotel and basically hitting rock bottom. The show was deemed one of the best sitcoms ever made, and certified that Partridge was a comic legend.

After a lengthy break, and much speculation from fans, Partridge made a return to our screens, in I'm Alan Partridge Series 2, on BBC 2. The series which was a follow up to the ... more

I'm Alan Partridge Series 2 Review.

Alan Partridge is a name that will go down in history as the funniest man to ever come out of Norfolk. No doubt you will have heard of the infamously awful radio DJ and ex-TV star Alan Partridge, who has been on our screens for over ten years now, and no doubt you will know a little about the man himself. Played by the very talented comedian, Steve Coogan, Alan Partridge is a piece of comedy genius. In his patterned jumpers and his Lexus car, Partridge defines satirical middle agedness, and is without a doubt one of the most cringeworthy men to ever grace the screen.

Partridge started out as a BBC4 radio show, along with a short weekly segment in the hugely popular satirical news spoof The Day Today written and performed by Chris Morris. With a big fan base developing BBC took the plunge and in 1994 gave Coogan permission for a 6 part bi weekly spoof chat show, Knowing me, Knowing you with Alan Partridge , which also proved to be very popular and exploded Partridge into the limelight. After a great Christmas special and a few comic relief appearances, Coogan decided to take Partridge to the next level, and in 1997 I'm Alan Partridge Series 1 came out, showing the ex- TV star Alan to be living in a travel hotel and basically hitting rock bottom. The show was deemed one of the best sitcoms ever made, and certified that Partridge was a comic legend.

After a lengthy break, and much speculation from fans, Partridge made a return to our screens, in I'm Alan Partridge Series 2, on BBC 2. The series which was a follow up to the original series was again very popular and lived up to the high standards which it had been set by the fans of the shows. It was thus inevitable that the series would released on DVD, and within six months of the original broadcast, the BBC released the series on a nice double DVD box set.

The DVD itself comes with 2 Discs, presented in your average click shut DVD case, is attractive but plain. An image of Alan in a signature pose against a red back drop, is nice in it's simplistic manner, but the BBC could have been a little more creative. The DVD menus are hilarious and I mean that. A moving image of Alan air guitaring to U2 in the background is very very funny, however on the second disc a conveyer belt of Alan's books being sent to be pulped just doesn't have the same effect. The menus are easy to navigate through, and all keep to the similar Partridge theme.

Characters (Apart from Alan who needs no introduction):

Michael:
Having moved up from Hotel Porter (his role in the first series), Michael now resides in a BP Petrol station. His relationship with Partridge is mostly consistent and Michael looks up to him like a father at times. Michael isn't very bright, proof shown when he tries to make toast by putting bread in the microwave. He is a vital character in the series, and has some of the best chemistry with Partridge (probably only second best to Lyn).

Lyn:
Lyn is Alan's PA, that's personal assistant, not public announcement. She is very mild mannered, and doesn't stick up for herself. Alan seems to take joy in bullying her, that is until her new boyfriend from the Baptist church, Gordon, steps in and puts an end to that. She is very funny, and her relationship with Alan is second to none if laughter is being judged. She is without a doubt, a pillar of the Partridge programme, and is very valuable to both the first and second series.

Sonia:
Sonia is the foreign girl friend of Alan's, that he picked up after the period of depression he suffered (he drove to Dundee barefooted, and survived on toblerone). Unfortunately her character is not explored in much depth, is obvious that she is quite quirky, and has not quite got used to British customs. Her various obsessions, such as London or getting photos put on cushions, wear thin quite quickly. She is funny at times, but in my opinion was an unnecessary member of the second series' cast (she was not in the first series).

The DVD, with the image of Alan against a red backdrop, didn't set the DVD world on fire, like other DVDs such as The Office or Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights, but proved very popular with fans of the show. Pumped with some very respectable extras the DVD was set to become a success, and after the episode analysis I shall look at why it became so infamous. There are 6 episodes in this series, and are reviewed in categorical order:

Episode 1 - The Talented Mr. Partridge
In this episode Alan encounters an old teacher from his secondary school and forces himself into giving the kids a lecture on well… namely, himself! Things have changed since season 1, which are instantly recognisable. Michael now works in a petrol station, Alan lives in a static caravan (has he gone up or down in the world from a motel room?), and Alan now has a young foreign girl friend. His meeting with producer of seedy video tapes, which he hopes to host is stuff of genius, with the set of Choristers country club being introduced to the audience for the first time. This episode reintroduced the old TV personality to the noughties, and was a welcome come back from the king of cringe.
The episode is a great come back for Alan, and although not the best episode, it is laden with funny moments and hilarious one liners, such as when Alan tells a class of kid why he wouldn't send his own kids to the school he's in ("you don't mess around when it comes to your own"). Alan is revealed to be alive and kicking, and back from the grave, in one of the best come backs imaginable.

Episode 2 - The Colour Of Alan
Alan is all set to present a conference for "Dante's of Reading" at Choristers, and is meant to meet the business manager before hand to just go over ground. The trouble is his house is not built yet, and he has no where to take him home too, after a few pranks to many at Choristers means the police are all over the place. Alan has a plan, setting Michael and Lyn to improvise in the building site, Alan brings the manager back to his house consisting of torches for lights, and a wooden toilet door as a table.
The real trouble however, begins when Alan impales his foot on the Choristers spiked fence, as he tries to climb into the club to present the conference.
This episode is Alan at his best, especially during the scenes with the South African manager, who Alan being Alan makes him witness some of the most horrendous fake South African accents ever. The improvisation in the house with all the physical comedy I personally found a bit tedious, especially compared to the laughs that occurred because of the tension between the two main character. This episode is much like the first; very funny, but still a long way off being the highlight of the series.

Episode 3 - Brave Alan
Possibly my favourite episode of the second series, Alan meets someone almost identical in mannerism's to himself, and falls in love. Enter Dan, owner of Planet Kitchen, a 1000 square feet of Kitchen just off junction 11 on the a3. He like Alan uses Lynx (Dan - Afria, Alan - Voodoo), drinks Director's bitter and drives a Lexus (the plural of which is Lexi, another Partridge fact). Alan instantly becomes enthralled with his new best friend, and is over the moon when Dan invites him to a "Brave People in Norwich" award ceremony. However, when Alan gets there is presented with people in wheelchairs and with other minor disabilities he has no idea how to behave. Later that night on the way back to Dan's house Alan discovers that Dan and his wife are "sex people", and is temporarily shocked into not knowing what to do. However, like Partridge always does when he is confronted with something he does not like, he runs, never to see Dan again.
This episode is full of one liner's from Dan's introduction, to Alan's "Don't rub your fanny on me" to Dan's seductive wife. However the highlight of the episode has to be Alan's call of Dan in the car park, literally calling his name for 2 or 3 minutes, until he gives up hope of making him hear. This is literally one of the most visually funny scenes ever shot in a British sitcom.
This episode is gold. Brillant character development of Alan (although 3 series in, plus The Day Today he doesn't really need it) is brilliant, and the plot is some of Coogan's best work. This is prime Partridge material.

Episode 4 - Never Say Alan Again
It's a "Bond-a-thon" Partridge style. Bank holiday weekends, you either love 'em or hate 'em. However, if you are a huge Bond fan then Bank holidays are like to Christmas (especially considering the amount of re-plays ITV plagues us with), and Alan is possibly Norwich's biggest Bond fanatic. His weekend plan is perfect, watch all the Bond films back to back, whilst scheduling in toilet breaks and food into his plan. However, things become more complicated when he falls out with Michael when Alan discovers Michael has other friends, including a wannabe American and when Lyn's boyfriend turns up to Alan's house demanding that he treat Lyn better.
Although the plot is quite weak in this episode, the one liners and situations are so good you hardly notice. The perfect example is when Alan gives Lyn a raise through the medium of sing song, or when Alan meets Michael's other friend the "American" and condemns him for the way he pretends to pull on his truck horn.
The episode is very good in it's laugh, and although the gags are written well, the plot reeks laziness on Coogan's behalf. Maybe he was getting bored of the character by this point in the writing, or maybe he was struggling for inspiration, either way if it wasn't for Partridge being on top form in this episode, no doubt the programme would haven't been half as effective.

Episode 5 - I Know What Alan Did Last Summer
Alan's got visitors, and they want to know his most intimate spending details… of course they are the Inland Revenue. Alan is worried, he has claimed tax back on a dressing gown Bill Oddie gave him for Christmas, and as if to make things worse his relationship with Sonia is on the rocks. Sonia's worrying obsession with everything London has put tension on the couple's relationship, and at the prospect of finding a British girlfriend Alan realises he is doomed.
This episode, a lot like the last, is weak on plot. The Inland Revenue idea is a nice touch, and leads to some brilliant Alan under pressure moments, but should not have been the focal point of the first half of the episode. Alan's one liners make sure the events do not become stale, and it is after all a mirror of what a dull life someone like Partridge would have (i.e. he's not going to be racing up the M1 in his Lexus trying to save someone's life, it just wouldn't be Alan's thing).
The idea of exploring the relationship between Alan and Sonia is a good thing, as Coogan looks deeply into how the two connect, and why they are in the relationship. It is obvious she is a mantelpiece girlfriend for Alan, but it is a little less clear why Sonia is with Partridge (maybe a British passport?).
This is another very solid episode, with great jokes and brilliant situations, but again a little weak on the plot, and thus does not feel fulfilling as you sit through the episode. However, that said I'm not sure that in any other plot or storyline Partridge could have come across any less pedantic or perverse in his methods.

Episode 6 - Alan Wide Shut
This is the final episode of Alan Partridge ever made (at the moment, I long await a mythical third series), and although very funny, is quite sentimental. The episode unravels the entire series, with Alan moving into his new house, Sonya moving into Alan's mobile home, Lynn inviting Alan to her baptism, and Alan appearing on the radio show "God Talk".
"God Talk" is very funny, as Alan goes head to head with an ex-druggie (played by Julia across the table from him, in a very funny segment. When Alan gets to the actual baptism itself, the laughs continue. Seeing Alan make a speech, in which he ignores Lyn, and indulges in talking about how successful he is, is just superb. Plus the addition of Rob Brydon as a member of the congregation is a piece of perfect casting, especially the look on his face when Alan tells him to "f**k off!".
This episode however, has more sentimentality than any other episode ever made, as in the closing moments Alan is shown to be visiting the pulpier who are pulping his book. The ironic comparisons between Alan's career and his book are blatant, as for the final time the theme tune indicates the end of the episode, you can't help but feel a sadness.

The second disc in the two disc compilation is packed full of goodies that Partridge fans will be dying to sink their teeth into. It's just a shame then that the menu system on the second disc is awful. It takes about a minute to build up to it (and you can't skip it), and is drearily slow when you try to change screen. However, having said that the material on offer more than makes up for that little piece of bother.

Anglian Alan
Anglian Alan is a spoof 30 minute show, not unlike Brasseye in it's set up and presentation. The show is mostly a sit down interview with Alan, and his interviewer Ray Woollard (who does a great job of being the mild mannered clueless guy), intertwined with footage from The News Today, Knowing Me Knowing You and brand new footage of Alan's radio show on Radio Norwich. The show is very funny, and written very well, it serves as a healthy reminder of Coogan and Annuci's writing skills during the brand new footage, and with deleted scenes thrown in as well, you couldn't ask for more of this special Partridge show.
Deleted Scenes
There are a nice amount of deleted scenes, shown in a good ten minute mix. The mix means none of the slightly over long scenes become long or stale, and some of the scenes are so funny you have to wonder why they were left out. A valuable bonus to the disc set.

Improvised Scenes
You are also given about 6 extended improvised scenes, such as Lyn and Alan's drive through a built up area (strangely titled The School Run). The best scene however has to be the Beefeater scene with Alan and Sonia, and a 6 ft Beefeater bear, Alan's improv reaction is class (showing the genius of Coogan). These scenes deepen the characters tremendously, but seem a bit of waste as they didn't make it to the final cut.

Red Nose Day Specials
You are treated to the 2001 and 1999 Red Nose Day Specials as well. Brian Blessed's interview with Partridge in the Radio Norwich studio is a classic gem, but the best without a shadow of a doubt is the 2001 special in which Alan visits a boxing centre for young juveniles (ran by no other than Peter Kay), and ends up in the ring with Kay in one of the funniest segments ever broadcast on Red Nose Day. These little niche bonuses are very nice.

These are not all the bonus material on offer. Also on the disc are a huge amount of biographies of everyone involved in the production and performance of the second series, a funny photo gallery, and an entertaining sound bin. BBC, unusually, have not been tight with the bonus disc at all, and if you've got an evening in, this bonus disc really will take up an entire evening of viewing.

Without being compared to the first series of I'm Alan Partridge, which was very different indeed, this series alone is brilliant. Although plot is sometimes weak, it reflects the dull and uneventful life Mr. Partridge leads, which is refreshing. The dialogue and situational comedy is brilliantly written, and the evolution of the character of Partridge has meant he has changed not only physically (check out those wrinkles), but also characteristically. He now knows, most of the time, how to be manipulative although his sense of appropriateness is still very poor.

This series is a refreshing break from the current slew of comedy in the last few years. Not based on crazy or short lived catchphrases (such as Little Britain, although not to take anything away from that show) or is set in deep realism with often disappointing results (Coupling). This show in it's own right deserves it's own category, many have tried to take parts of Alan and develop them (Nathan Barley is a prime example), but haven't had the same results. For that reason I must digress Partridge, including the second series, is essential comedy for the post Only Fools and Horses generation.

The DVD is avliable from Amazon.co.uk currently for just £9.97, which is a true bargain.
DVD specs:

Number of Discs: 2
Running Time: 171 Minutes
Year Of Release: 2003
Stars:
Steve Coogan
.... Alan Partridge

Amelia Bullmore
.... Sonja

Simon Greenall
.... Michael

Felicity Montagu
.... Lynn Benfield
Phil Cornwell
.... Dave Clifton

 

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