Extras - Series 1 DVD > Reviews > Extras - Series 1

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Not applicable

Advantages:	Another cracking comedy from Gervais & Merchant
Disadvantages:	Some people see it as "lesser" compared to the Office

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Right, first of all I get it out of the way......the Office was the sitcom that was critically-acclaimed, and seen by many, myself included, as better than Extras, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's follow-up sitcom. But don't think it's any less of a programme...far from it.

It was first aired on July 21, 2005 on BBC Two, with six episodes made in the first series, based around two people trying to make a living as extras in films, despite the insignificance of their parts.

So, the thing that made Extras somewhat different from numerous sitcoms was the guest stars. Ben Stiller, Ross Kemp, Vinnie Jones, Kate Winslet, Les Dennis, Samuel L. Jackson and Patrick Stewart all starred in the series. As Gervais confessed during filming, in the writing Merchant and he attempt to make "twisted" versions of the stars.

Why though? Well the main character, Andy Millman, played by Gervais is plying his trade as an extra in the film industry, which takes him to films being directed or starring some of these actors, except for Les Dennis' episode, which involves a Christmas panto instead. His parts in them are worthless, but often he will, for one reason or another, attempt to speak to these "celebs" in an attempt to get a line or 2 in the filming.

Another particularly worthy mention is Ashley Jensen, who plays Maggie Jacobs in the show, quite brilliantly it should be said - she is a fellow extra and friend of Millman's. Throughout the series, her attempts to find "Mr Right" lead her into embarrassing scenarios, such as a relationship with a coloured man, and a man with one leg shorter than the other.

Co-writer Stephen Merchant also regularly stars in the show, different to the Office in that he only appeared briefly in one episode. In Extras he is Millman's acting agent, who quite simply appears to be useless, for example, once he left his office phone unplugged for two days without noticing.

Eastenders fans will also be glad to know that former character, Barry, makes a few appearances, played as he real-life self Shaun Williamson, who it would seem, has Merchant's character as his agent too...hence his lack of work since Eastenders!!

The first episode of the series involves Ben Stiller (although this is shown as episode two on the DVD) as a director of a war film in the Baltic states. It is based on a real-life story of a man who is regularly on the set. With this in mind, Gervais' character does his upmost to ask the man to get Stiller to give him a line in the film...ultimately he's successful, but that's not to say he's satisfied with it, and when he questions Stiller, he finds his line as disappeared...

Ross Kemp and Vinnie Jones star in the next episode. (the first episode on the DVD) Again, Andy Millman follows his repetoire as in the first episode by attempting to gain a line in the film. This in turn results in a set to with Jones and Kemp...which humerously shows a very timid Kemp. An infamous line here is when Millman is chatting to Kemp about the SAS... Kemp - "Do you know what the SAS stands for?" Millman - "Yeah of course - Special Air Service." Kemp - "Haha, no it's not, what it really stands for is Super. Army. Soldiers."

The next episode is on the set of a World War 2 Holocaust movie, starring Kate Winslet, who gives Maggie advice on "talking dirty" to her new "male friend". Millman in turn becomes close friend with a woman who is a strong Catholic. When they meet for a night out, they go to a prayer meeting, which Millman is unaware of until he arrives...turning up in a bright-white suit and a rather "slick" haircut!

Les Dennis' episode is based around the panto Aladdin, being held in Guildford, which Millman has some how got a speaking part for it! Unfortunately Les Dennis starts to suffer after finding out his new girlfriend is having an affair, and ultimately breaks down on stage. Credit goes to Dennis here for the amount of flack thrown at him in this episode.

Episode 5 includes Samuel L Jackson, who appears the least out of all the stars in the series, but thats not to say he doesn't make his mark. The main narrative here involves Maggie, who is attracted to the young black actor in the film, but unfortunately a series of racial errors mean her putting her foot right in it, and Andy missing out on a line with Jackson.

The final episode includes Patrick Stewart, although was originally meant to involve Jude Law, but he pulled out with Stewart filling in at the last moment. The film in production is an adaption of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Another interesting piece of this episode though was Andy writing a sitcom which has been commissioned by the BBC. Intriguingly, the sitcom Andy has written, sounds an awful lot like The Office - about a boss from hell, who will be played by Andy.

Like with the Office, the extras (yes, the "extras" of the programme "Extras") are quite substantial. The almost manditory outtakes and deleted scenes are included, but they are often skipped by many. The more interesting parts include Gervais and Merchant attempting to get Leonardo Di Caprio to star in the show after the dropping-out of Jude Law. It's clear that the pair have had a drink or two, making all the more comedy for us.

Also included are a behind the scenes look at Extras - entitled "The Difficult Second Series"; an obvious reference to The Office, and also "Taping Nigel" - another supposed documentary, this time about the editor of the series, who Gervais perceveres to annoy throughout, making as many attempts to stop him working as possible, such as covering him in duct tape and taping him to his chair.

The second series will be on the BBC in September this year, and apparently the guest stars this time around include: Orlando Bloom, David Bowie, Daniel Radcliffe, Sir Ian McKellen, Ronnie Corbett, Jonathan Ross, Dame Diana Rigg, Stephen Fry, Chris Martin and Robert Lindsay - so still a fair old whack of famous names there then!!

You pick up the first series off Amazon at the moment for £17.59, or you can get it "used & new" for just £6.75 - a bargain for what is primarily a very clever, very funny sitcom from a pair of writers who seem to be able to do nothing wrong, and everything right!