The Trotters are back where they started... (Only Fools And Horses - If They Could See Us Now (DVD))

Member Name: blissman70

Product:	Only Fools And Horses - If They Could See Us Now (DVD)
Date:	24/05/09 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: brilliant comedy, fine story and a great cast

Disadvantages: none really

Director: Tony Dow
Producer: Gareth Gwenlan
Writer: John Sullivna
Star: David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Tessa Peake-Jones, Gwyneth Strong.

This 70 minute Christmas special was first aired on the BBC on Christmas day 2001, 5 years after what was supposed to be the end of the Trotter saga. This Christmas special bringing the first part of the final 3 in the Only Fools and Horses saga.


** BRIEF PLOT...

Del Trotter, (David Jason), and his dippy brother Rodney, (Nicholas Lyndhurst), together with Cassandra, (Gwyneth Strong) and Raquel, (Tessa Peake-Jones).
are all enjoying their life of luxury.
That is until the Trotter bad luck gene kicks in and things go downhill faster than a dram of whisky down an Glaswegians throat, leaving the four of them high and dry, in trouble with the taxman and soon living back at Nelson Mandela house.

Back in Peckham and a return to their old ways of ducking and diving things soon go from bad to worse with Del being forced to relinquish management of the newly reformed Trotter Independent Traders PLC to Rodney and some bad news about a sea faring relation.
So, with Rodney having no idea how to run a business and Del having to find a vast sum of money to pay the Taxman, trying anything to clear his debt, including appearing on a television show, before the Trotters lose everything they have ever worked for.

But, as usual, nothing quite goes according to plan, especially as its Del who came up with the plan to make the Trotters rich once again.


** IN CONCLUSION...

I was a little dubious about Only fools making another episode after the way the Trotters had struck gold in what I thought was the final episode, 'Time on our hands', back in 1996, but once I started to watch this I was quickly laughing as much as I had in earlier episodes.
Thankfully, Sullivan has kept his reputation with his ability to keep the same style of Only Fools humour and continuous cracking banter.
The story starts so well and continues to entertain throughout, with so many comical scenarios that will keep you laughing

There are some flash backs from over the entire series... such as classic scenes like the couch explosion in 'The jolly boys outing', the chandelier in a 'touch of glass' and the batman and Robin sketch in 'Heroes and Villains, so as to refresh the fans minds as to what to expect from the Trotter tales of tremendous terrors.

The all round acting is as good as ever, even if the characters have aged in the five years off air, (and the make-up staff have certainly earned there wages in this episode), but each one is as comical as ever, with the same style of quick wit and brilliant one liners.
Jason still has the 'Delboy' mannerism, even if what's left of his hair seems to be covered in what looks like black shoe polish, his dry wit continuing throughout the episode with many sarcastic remarks and some cracking comebacks, giving the Only Fools fans what they have gotten used to since the very first episode.
Lyndhurst is still as lanky as ever, obviously, with his character remaining the same old self, stressed out, although now very well and truly under the thumb, simply wanting to be loved by his wife and admired by his older brother. He has aged quite well, so the make-up crew have spent less time on him for this episode, just a simple matter of applying a little 'just for men' and away we go.
Strong and Peake-Jones have also aged, but they have not lost that stunning ability to perform just as well as they have done since joining the Only Fools saga. With Peake-Jones doing a great job as the ever so stressed out 'significant other' to the aging lovable rogue Dell, and Strong continuing to excel in her role as the disgruntled wife of the lanky Trotter.

Again, Sullivan doesn't let down the Only Fools fan base in this episode, bringing in the same faces, albeit older such as Challis as the ever so annoying Boycie, bringing the Trotter clan saga back to be as good as when it stopped in 1996.
And with many hilarious scenes throughout this episode, including a rather dodgy impersonation of the Sultan Of Brunei by Mickey Pearce, Del's disastrous appearance on a game show and Rodney and Cassandra's comical attempts at trying to put a little 'romance' back into there marriage, especially when Del interrupts in only the way Del can. (This attempt at marriage guidance being one of the funniest scenes in the entire series, with Del's reaction a shear joy)

In all, this is a great come back from Sullivan and the gang, with just as much comical brilliance as ever, creating another episode which is well worth adding to ones DVD collection.

If you want a copy of this hilariously entertaining episode then get it from www.amazon.co.uk for less than £7.00, although there are no extras on the disc it is still well worth the money for over an hour of classic fun.

Summary: The comeback of all comebacks...Trotter style