Big Train - Series 1 And 2 (DVD)

...(the creators of Father Ted), Big Train features a variety of now well-known comedians such as Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Spaced), Mark Heap and Catherine Tate (who went on to gain her own BBC show), as they waltz their way through the most bizarre situations, from the down-righ impossible, to the absolute banal. Following on from the first airing, the show received the Bronze Rose award at Montreux in recognition of it's comedy genius!
...
...including hedges and erm...fire hazards...), Big Train is almost unique in its style. Influenced only perhaps by the wit and ridicule enacted by the Monty Python crew.

One technique employed by the crew which is particularly hilarious is that of a running sketch (ie. one which crops up continuously throughout the series), such as the famous Big Train "Staring Contest" in which two animations stare each other out with commentary ... more

When my best friend and then room mate, enthused to me about this "weird" but "well funny" tv series where "there was this one sketch..." and proceeded to quote the sketch word for word to me, i wasn't that impressed. I thought "sounds terrible" whilst my mouth seemed to be saying "sounds great" - funny how that kind of thing happens. And yet, when he continued haranguing me about it, i thought i might as well give it a go. So i did. And it was great.

First shown on the BBC in 1998, and directed by funny men, Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan (the creators of Father Ted), Big Train features a variety of now well-known comedians such as Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Spaced), Mark Heap and Catherine Tate (who went on to gain her own BBC show), as they waltz their way through the most bizarre situations, from the down-righ impossible, to the absolute banal. Following on from the first airing, the show received the Bronze Rose award at Montreux in recognition of it's comedy genius!

TRIVIA: The title of the film, Big Train was curiously derived not from any of the shows content (it's not for middle aged train spotters), but in fact from the song "Big Train," by Max Greger and his Orchestra, of which the directors were particularly fond!

With satirical twists on the most unfunny scenarios such as Alfred Hitchcock's "The Working Class", and the most random, such as the never ending complications of teaching a child to ride a bike (a particularly amusing sketch in which a child on a bike runs into repeated difficulties including hedges and erm...fire hazards...), Big Train is almost unique in its style. Influenced only perhaps by the wit and ridicule enacted by the Monty Python crew.

One technique employed by the crew which is particularly hilarious is that of a running sketch (ie. one which crops up continuously throughout the series), such as the famous Big Train "Staring Contest" in which two animations stare each other out with commentary the football commentator: Barry Davies and Phil Cornwell. The commentary script is what makes this so enjoyable, as the animations do very little. It is essentially a parody of all commentary in general, and the exaggerated excitement of it. Another recurring sketch is the various scenes of execution in which a man is asked "Any last words?" at which he shakes his head, and then just as he is killed he shouts "Actually...!" I haven't actually given a spoiler away here, as there is obviously a lot more to it than that, including locations, costumes and facial expressions!

Perhaps a downside of the two series is that on occasion the show becomes simply too silly, and strange, to the extent that you are more puzzled and bemused than amused. I found this particularly in the second series, which might be because Graham Linehan had no part in the second round (or it might be because i watched both series straight through with barely a break, so i was probably comically stunted...) But it might be something worth mentioning that if you are for more wit and less slapstick, then this show might not be for you. Then again, i generally dislike slapstick, whilst i adored this show (which just goes to - prove...or myabe it was Simon Pegg which did it for me...)

Certificate 15: This is probably warranted as some scenes are of a more "adult" nature, and there is numerous sexual reference (numerous, but not frequent.)

Price: Well, i felt this was a bit of a disappointment for me, as whilst i extremely enjoyed the show, i thought £19.99 in HMV was a bit steep (even for two series). Perhaps you can get them cheaper, but i recently looked on amazon, and their RRP is £24.99, so i'm not sure. My advice would be wait until a sale! For pre-screenings/ tasters of what you might see if you bought the dvd, i would type "Big Train" into YouTube where i believe there are some sketches available, although i cannot guarantee whether they will be the best ones or not.

Soundtrack isn't really applicable, but where it used, it is done so very appropriately - for example, a sketch in which the tin man just makes a b-line for a random commuter!

Surreal, bizarre, controversial (in places), but generally harmless, the Big Train show is nothing if not downright silly comedy at its very best. 

...less