Comedy Gold (Extras: Complete BBC Series 2 (DVD))

Member Name: Macfarlane65

Product:	Extras: Complete BBC Series 2 (DVD)
Date:	02/07/09 (12 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Yes

Disadvantages: Not many

believe Johnny Vegas said that Ricky Gervais would be a one-hit wonder (with 'The Office'), and indeed it must have been hard to follow that unexpected but enormous success. The first series of 'Extras' did it brilliantly, and it's interesting that the fame of 'The Office', and the fact that so many people found it fresh and original, must have played its part - because 'Extras' is of course based on the premise that very famous actors and screen stars would agree to take part and play along with Gervais's unconventional humour. In series 1 there were Ben Stiller and Samuel Jackson, among others. Series 2 ups the ante, if that's possible - there are marvellous turns from Sir Ian McKellan, Robert de Niro, David Bowie, Dame Diana Rigg, Daniel Ratcliffe, Ronnie Corbett, Richard Briers and Chris Martin but also an unexpectedly memorable appearance by Keith Chegwin, rather as Les Dennis appeared in the first series. Throughout there is the touchingly dim presence of Andy Millman's friend, Maggie (Ashley Jensen, who is wonderful) and in series 2 much more of Sean Williamson ('Barry from East Enders'). Stephen Merchant, Gervais's collaborator, hardly appeared onscreen in 'The Office; but here he is a major player, and a major plus, as the agent from hell. There is the usual mixture of really sharp jokes, excellent ensemble playing and cringe-making situations (Merchant says in the commentary that comes with the set that there's one scene, involving an inefficient WC and an egg whisk, which his parents still will not watch). The additional features, outtakes involving corpsing and, particularly, material about how the series was made, are a big bonus. I first saw Gervais on the 11 O'Clock Show, when I thought he was awful. There's no doubt in my mind now that he has a most original and fresh comic wit, and though he is not an actor as such, he is marvellous in front of the camera as Andy Millman, just as he was as David Brent. This is comic gold, just as enjoyable as 'The Office' but presenting a quite different series of situations and main characters. It's startlingly good and very enjoyable.

Summary: Excellent series