OVERVIEW

If you like physical comedy, are able to laugh at social class differences, and you can laugh at someone for always looking bad no matter how hard he tries to do the right thing, then this series is for you! It is superbly written and acted, and beautifully filmed. It is also incredibly rich and incredibly well observed with many sub-plots and engaging characters.

ABOUT THE SERIES

The name of the series gives the background of the whole story away perfectly. It is about the worst week in the life of Howard Steel, a man who falls in love with a girl from a more refined social background than his own. Don't let that mushy stuff put you off, this is far more rewarding than that!

This is another series that comes from a company that seems to have amazing success at writing first class comedies. Hat Trick is an independent company with hits like Father Ted, Have I Got News For You and Room 101 under it's belt.

Each series consists of 7 programmes and each programme represents a consecutive day in the week and there begins the story; the first series concentrates on the run up to the marriage of the two main characters (outlined below) and the second represents the build up to the birth of their first child. A 2006 3 part Christmas Special was also made and whilst hilariously laugh out loud funny, it is not included as part of this box set.

Both series were shown on BBC 1 primetime Friday night comedy slots and in total 14 episodes are included here.

THE CHARACTERS AND THE PLOT

The main character is Howard Steel, a man from a distinctly working class background, who has done fairly well for himself, having achieved middle management status at a publishing firm. However, the more you learn of the character, you begin to wonder just how he made it there, for every single thing that Howard Steel does, it goes wrong - spectacularly wrong. The character is played perfectly by Ben Miller.

Series one begins with Howard and his fiancé, Melanie Cook preparing for their marriage, the thing is, Mel is from a well off family, living in what can only be described as a mansion in the rural English countryside. She is daughter to Dick Cook, a retired magistrate and Angela Cook, a woman who seems to like the high life, enjoying parties and social gatherings. The character of Mel is played by Sarah Alexander, Geoffrey Whitehead plays Dick and Alison Steadman is Angela. The cast is simply perfect, Geoffrey Whitehead's ability to say a thousand words with just one scouring look is fantastic, it speaks volumes for a well observed characterisation of snobbery. Dick Cook does not like Howard Steel, he thinks his daughter Mel could have done a lot better for herself marrying someone with more money, someone that fits into their social backdrop more comfortably.

It is very hard to do this comedy justice in my review, I mean how many things can go wrong in one week for one character, that impact on a seemingly normal, well to do family. The simple answer is lots! We have a former lover stalking Howard, trying everything she can to stop the wedding going ahead, we have the hilarious death of the family dog, followed by a funeral which really must highlight social class differences if nothing else does! Then there is the gentle frolicking and playfulness of two people about to get married which almost ends with the killing of granny. Nearly killing the vicar and the meeting of two very different families adds to the richness of the writing.

I don't want to be overly critical, but I found the pace of series one a little slower, it feels like many comedies do, that the writers are introducing the characters and just seeing how far they can run with them, how absurd can the events really be, how much can they push things, and it never quite gets there. I'm sure that reads harsh, please don't be put off, this is only my opinion afterall, but for me, I found many more laugh out loud moments in series 2.

So series 2 follows the newly weds as Mel prepares to give birth. I love this series, for me there is just so much going on, so many twists and character traits and just so clever, I hope the writers can come up with more. Sadly granny has departed, and Dick is suspicious that Howard really had something to do with it, but having one of the pallbearer's not arrive, Dick eventually agrees to allow Howard to help, with what can only be described as a cringe-making-ly hilarious outcome. Still at least granny left Howard and Mel with a lovely cottage. Dick hands over the name plaque his father made for the cottage all pristine, but things quickly go wrong.

Later in the week Dick is due to get a CBE for his services in law, which he collects, but it ends up getting damaged in a very unusual way. Then there is the arrival and eventual outing of Dick's closet gay, army major brother at the CBE party. The arrival of the blind aunt just offers the writers with too many opportunities for gags and they are physical and funny. Probably the single funniest scene for me is when Howard tries to make up for some of his unfortunate happenings by mowing the lawn, only to drive the lawn mower over the gravel drive way. Then there is the sub plot of Howard being accused of sexual harassment at work, or when he and his secretary are caught 'dogging' or, when Mel nearly goes into Labour only for Howard to enter the wrong birthing room. And there is so much more besides!

THE DVD SET

The set is presented in a 2 DVD disc and case set encased in a cardboard wallet. The series is in 16:9 format for widescreen TV's and has Dolby digital sound.

Extras include interviews with cast and writers, and outtakes for additional comedy! Series one is rated 12 in the UK and series 2 is rated 15 in the UK.

CONCLUSION

Ok, I hope that I've given you a good flavour of what the characters and plots are like, but please remember there is so much more going on, and I hope that I have been restrained enough not to give too much away.

Don't be put off by my critique of series one, it is very funny, and if anything you can think of it as things just getting more and more out of control as the two weeks go on. It really is just one thing after another, if anything can go wrong, it does go wrong and some of it makes you cringe, but in a funny way. The acting is perfect, exactly the right mix of talents and gravitas from the actors. There is a good ensemble cast as well, with many familiar faces such as Howard's secretary, Janine Duvitski (familiar to many as the neighbour's wife in One Foot In The Grave).

The photography is very rich and colourful, and as I say the writing, observation, richness and detail makes for a perfect comedy series. I can say nothing more than, Please Buy It Now!