Drop The Dead Donkey - Series 3 DVD

Advantages: Sharply observed current affairs humour
Disadvantages: Stereotyped characters

...Drop the Dead Donkey was a Channel 4 production and regarded as cutting-edge humour in its time. It broke new ground in its current affairs satire and its office-based sitcom, and was a frequent allusion in newspaper columns and conversations round the coffee machine. I enjoyed it at the time, and having missed the re-runs, thought it was worth another look. It is set in the newsroom of an independent TV station. In the first episode the characters are established and delineated. George the editor, anxious and lacking in authority, Alex the thrusting professional deputy editor, Damian who would mug his grandmother for a good story, Dave, a bit of a lad, Gus the smooth corporate spy, Henry the lecherous old hack turned newsreader, Sally the posh airhead newsreader. The new ingredient in the standard sitcom mix is the current affairs... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Characters to love and funny to some
Disadvantages: Would have liked to see more the landscape

...informs him that Princess Fiona is on her honeymoon - with Shrek! (Mike Myers). And so rolls out the story of Shrek and Fiona having a happy honeymoon, romantically laying on beaches with mermaids and less romantically, being chased by angry famers with flaming torches (what a fairy tale stereotype). Arriving back at the swamp, the still happy couple find Donkey (Eddie Murphy) has been watching their home, although he's less than willing to leave to give husband and wife space as he's having troubles of his own with his romance from the original movie - Dragon. Surprisingly Dragon does not actually feature in the movie, although I do believe there are extra scenes on the DVD that include Dragon and Donkey. As Donkey finally is about to leave, messengers from the royal family of Far Far Away arrive to inform Shrek and Fiona... Read review

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Advantages: drama and comedy in one, excellent acting
Disadvantages: never got the praise it deserved

...Sadness and comedy. Bittersweet fun. 1992 in Grimley, but for this mining community life is stuck forty years before. The colliery is at the heart of local life, but with more and more being laid off, the juggling of paying the bills is becoming harder, life is becoming more and more depressing. The only thing to keep them all going is the Colliery Band led by Pete Postlethwaite. An all-star Brit cast, Stephen Tompkinson (Ballykissangel & Drop the Dead Donkey), Melanie Hill (Aveline in Bread), Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald, and Ewan McGreggor bring their natural talent to an already gritty comedy drama. This film is great from start to finish and I defy anyone to keep a dry eye throughout. I still can't understand how so few people know about this film and The Full Monty somehow stole the show from this film. BRassed Off... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful