An Ideal Comedy? (Ideal - Series 1 (DVD))

Member Name: sandemp

Product:	Ideal - Series 1 (DVD)
Date:	27/07/09 (102 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny, realistic. Good special features

Disadvantages: Not for the politically correct

Following the life of small time hash dealer, Moz, Ideal is one of those programmes that you either love or hate. The first time I watched it was by accident, I was flicking channels during adverts and somehow never managed to finish whatever it was I'd been watching. Aired exclusively on BBC3, the episode I caught was part way through the second series and as the 5th series aired my partner and I decided that we would be able to follow proceedings better if we watched the earlier series and so we bought this, Season 1, on DVD for the very reasonable price of £3.98.

==The Season==

Set almost exclusively in a dingy bed-sit, Ideal is a gritty, surreal, over-the-top and yet somehow realistic character-led comedy-drama. Drugs feature highly in the subject matter, but not in a way that particularly glamorises them, this is a comedy about real life, and as hard as anyone tries drugs are a part of life and society. The lead character, Moz, is ably played by Johnny Vegas, I really couldn't imagine anyone else could bring the overweight, childish, constantly stoned slob to life in quite the same way. There's something about Moz that makes me feel a bit sorry for him, although there's lots of people passing through his flat, deep down he's so lonely.

Moz's customers are a motley crew, there's something in at least one character that you could recognise from your own life, even if you've never had anything at all to do with drugs. Brian (played by writer Graham Duff) is one of my favourite characters, with a new guy on his arm in each episode, camp as you like and a bit of a slapper. There's the thick as two planks childminder Jenny, some of the things she comes out with just crack me up, but there's no way I'd leave her in charge of my child. Colin's on probation and proud of it then there's Cartoon-head, a true nutter with his mouse mask that never comes off. And of course there's Moz's on-off girlfriend, Nikki, how she puts up with him I'll never know.

The whole season (and series) is set in just three rooms with an occasional glimpse or the stairs and landing, and this is very cleverly realised. The flat is suitably dingy, messy and lived in, it's extremely realistic and again I do know people that live at a similar (or worse) level of squalor. There is a great deal of drug use throughout the season, but this is handled in a realistic manner and rather than showing glamorous high-fliers taking cocaine, this deals with real people using weed and the effects it has on their life. Shot in an almost documentary manner with special effects that rather than being fancy, are more trippy with slow-motion being the main effect used, there is the feeling that we're actually there in the room smoking with Moz. The soundtrack is in the most part unobtrusive, adding to the mood rather than standing out.

The drug-taking is, however, portrayed in a very realistic manner. I can't help but feel that the actors have, at some point, rolled a joint or smoked a bong. They do actually look stoned, and this more than anything makes the programme feel very realistic. As well as the drama side, Ideal is most definitely a comedy. Many of the characters are played by established comedians and there are laugh-out-loud moments in each episode. The over-the-top characters and situations Moz finds himself in are genuinely funny.

==Special Features==

Along with the eight 30 minute episodes there are a number of special features in the set which are actually entertaining to watch and add to the boxset rather than just being filler. The four audio commentaries are as entertaining as the episodes, full of banter with insight into the thinking behind Ideal. The blooper reel is genuinely funny and made me wonder how they ever managed to complete a single episode, but my favourite was the 'Ideal interview', where writer Graham Duff introduces the main characters while in the guise of Brian. The 'making of' is also above average, showing the development of the programme and the great rapport between the actors and production team. According to the case there are also deleted scenes, but as yet I've been unable to find them.

==Presentation==


Ideal Season 1 is presented over two discs in a standard DVD case, this presentation is practical rather than stylish but the discs are nicely printed and better than anything I could produce. Picture quality is excellent as is the audio and on the few occasions I've used the subtitles when I've been watching this while my partner has been listening to music have been perfectly adequate, large enough to read but small enough to not distract from the actual 'action'

==Final Words==

Even though I'm normally more of a sci-fi kind of girl, I must admit Ideal does hit the spot. It's genuinely funny, and yet it's far more realistic than most mainstream comedies. There is however a reason that this is rated 15, Ideal has definite adult themes. Drug taking is a major part of the programme, there is barely a scene where drugs or their effects are not involved. But this is part of life, people from all walks of life have at the least experimented with cannabis in it's various forms and so is something that many can relate to. There is also a sexual element along with some violence, including one slightly harrowing scene.

The characters, while over-the-top, have a real hint of realism and there's something in them that I recognise from those in my life. It's also easy to relate to some of the situations and relationships they find themselves in, there have been times in everybody's life when things haven't gone quite to plan.

So am I recommending this, and if so who too? Well, yes I am, although there is a lot of drug use, this is a slightly different style of programme to the standard comedy and far more realistic than say, 'Keeping Up Appearances'. Appearing to be aimed at the 20-40 year old with some knowledge of drugs, Ideal is a gritty drama based comedy, that does show the real effects of drug taking and takes the mick out of those effects. Good to watch while straight it's even funnier if you're slightly out of it. Added to the fact it's an excellent series the special features in this set mean it's even more value for money at only £3.98 from Amazon.

Summary: Something different from the BBC