After a few months off (that turned into almost four years), I've got back into the swing of things....
After a few months off (that turned into almost four years), I've got back into the swing of things... concentrating mostly on travel reviews this time around.
Member since:28.07.2000
Reviews:155
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‘Black Books’ is an original comedy series that first appeared on Channel 4 a couple of years ago – due to living in Germany, it had passed me by completely but I recently got hold of the DVD on the recommendation of a friend back home. I tend to be a bit wary of new shows that are billed as ‘the next big thing’, as the standard of a lot of recent TV comedy shows hasn’t been the best, but ‘Black Books’ succeeds in being original and amusing and I’m looking forward to catching the second series.
As with any successful comedy programme, it is not the situation that makes it work so much as the characters within it, and ‘Black Books’ has the advantage of having three strong lead figures in every episode. The series is largely played out in the eponymous bookstore, run by Bernard Black (played by Dylan Moran, who co-wrote the series with Graham Linehan), who seems to be spend his days parked behind the desk, drinking wine and
barking down the phone, whilst doing his level best to drive away customers and not sell any books at all!
His only human contact comes in the form of the slightly daffy Fran (Tamsin Greig), who owns the ‘Nifty Gifty’ store adjacent to the bookshop. She is good friends with Bernard, and seems to be spending most of her time on a desperate man-hunt, reinventing her personality for romantic dates and then drowning her sorrows in wine with Bernard when it all goes horribly wrong.
However, their cosy world is disturbed by the appearance of Manny (Bill Bailey), a long-haired, bearded accountant who is far too stressed out by his job and charges into the bookshop looking for the ‘Little Book of Calm’ to help him get through the day. No sooner has he crossed Bernard’s path than he find himself in trouble at work, choking on his chunky soup and absorbing the book of calm into his body. In his newly beatific state, Manny attempts to bring soothing platitudes to random strangers, resulting in a confrontation with Millwall fans outside the pub opposite ‘Black Books’ – and so the circle is complete.
Before you know it, Manny is working in the bookshop, the ‘happy couple’ have a new addition to their dysfunctional family and you have six episodes of slightly surreal situation comedy to enjoy. Accounting problems, fine wine, a new security system, and a boxed set of ‘The Sweeney’ might not seem the most auspicious basis for a comedy series, but the sharp writing and good acting ensure that this is a very enjoyable programme to watch. Bernard’s dishevelled, laconic style and hard drinking contrasts sharply with Manny’s laid-back attitude to life and Fran’s chaotic search for a partner, but it is the interplay between the characters that is the most fascinating, and funny, aspect of ‘Black Books’.
The plots are original, as Moran and Linehan have found humour in everyday situations without resorting to cribbing from other successful comedy series. Although most episodes rely heavily on the three main characters, each one manages to remain fresh, and it is interesting to spot some of the bit-part players who have since enjoyed success with other programmes - in the first and last episodes in particular!
The DVD has a reasonable selection of special features, all easy to find in a well-designed menu system. Perhaps more could have been offered in the way of extras, but how often do you really listen to the director’s commentary feature on a DVD? That’s here if you’re interested in watching all six episodes with the main protagonists talking about them, but I find I can only listen to commentaries in small doses. Anyway, you have the cast commentary, out-takes (some of which are very funny), a selection of black-and-white stills from the series, and a trailer for series 2. Not bad really, and enough extra stuff there to while away a loose moment or two.
The DVD carries a 15 certificate and runs to 142 minutes in total - all in all, this is an very enjoyable, well-written and well-acted series, and while there could perhaps have been more special features and extras available on the DVD, there’s still enough here to keep your interest. This is a very promising first series, I just hope that the second manages to live up to it...
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