IT ISN'T GRIM UP NORTH, IT'S DAMN FUNNY........ (Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights Series 1 (DVD))

Member Name: Gingaro

Product:	Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights Series 1 (DVD)
Date:	13/07/05 (424 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Original script, funny one liners and has a long lifespan

Disadvantages: Danger of straining facial muscles from smiling and laughing too much

I didn't purchase this, it was a gift from a very close friend just after Christmas to stop me moaning that I hadn't had time to go out and buy it!

I'd watched the second series on channel four religiously and loved every minute, and now consider myself a bit of a die hard fan. I just can't stop watching it!

Pheonix Nights is set in Bolton, Lancashire and revolves around the Pheonix Social Club, which in my opinion really is the cowboy of all social clubs, with corners cut at every turn to trim expenditure and a whole host of zany characters, most of which I can relate to as being regulars at my local pub!

Pheonix Nights was the brainchild of Peter Kay, Dave Spikey and Neil Fitzmaurice all of which take starring roles in the series. The first series received glowing reviews and was even described by the usually conservative Radio Times as "Funny and clever. It should be on every week, forever."

As I said earlier, the first series revolves around the club and the various goings on, with witty dialogue, side-splitting one liners and intelligent observational humour. The DVD contains the entire first series which consists of 6 hilarious episodes lasting 145 minutes.

Except for Peter Kay, I had never heard of any of the cast prior to watching the series, so I'm going to give a brief rundown of the main characters and the actors/actresses who play them so well.

Peter Kay

Peter Kay plays a number of roles throughout the series, including the wheelchair bound owner of the club Brian Potter, the 'ard but slow bouncer Max, and the dog loving fire safety officer Brian Laird (you'll understand the dog lover comment when you watch!).

Dave Spikey

Dave Spikey plays club compare Jerry St. Clair. A hypochondriac, who can't sing to save his life, and instead of telling jokes and cheering the audience shares his growing health concerns.

Neil Fitzmaurice

Neil Fitzmaurice plays the dodgy psychopath Ray Von, the club DJ and self styled handyman.

Patrick McGuiness

Patrick McGuiness plays the club's other bouncer Paddy, a serial womaniser who worries constantly that he's going bald.

Toby Foster and Steve Edge

These actors play Alan and Les respectively and form the club's backing band imaginatively called LesAlanos. Although they have a minor role throughout the series they are used to drop in one-liners and pull scenes together very well.

Archie Kelly

Archie Kelly plays young Kenny, a rather large character with again a minor but effective role. He regularly drops in one liners and suggestions on running the club that make no sense whatsoever!

Justin Moorhouse

Justin Moorhouse plays Kenny (Snr), a pathological liar and village idiot.

There are other characters such as holy Mary, the god fearing barmaid who likes nothing better to quote scripture and Den Perry, the rival club owner, but their roles aren't really worth mentioning.

This opinion would go on all night if I described each episode or plot, but the series includes the opening of the club with the highlight being a racist folk band playing during a power cut, an abusive (and crap) medium, a drunken horse and a van full of aggressive midgets, and last but not least, the golden goose of clubland, hosting the final of Talent Trek.

Although each episode is only 25 minutes long, the storylines tend to lead on from one episode to another and are linked together brilliantly. A punchline in a scene from episode 3 may be referenced to an event that took place in the first minutes of the first episode.

Pheonix Nights is in my opinion typical northern humour presented in an original and amusing way. Although there is swearing throughout (the DVD is rated 15), it isn't overly used to cause effect, it merely creates the feel of actually being in a social club in Bolton!

Each character is well written and the actors themselves pull off excellent performances throughout the series and they really cannot be faulted at all. Everything from the set, the acting, to the jokes are flawless.

After much persuading, my friend admitted to buying this for only 13.99 from Our Price.

Is it worth it?

Yes. If you haven't seen Pheonix Nights go and buy it. NOW!!!!!

If you saw the series on TV and you did like it, trust me on this one, you cannot afford not to have this DVD in your collection. If you watch it again you'll spot so many jokes and one liners you missed from the first time you watched. I've now watched the entire series 5 times since the start of January and loved it each time. It hasn't got boring yet, in fact, it seems to be getting funnier! A rare treat with comedy these days.

As I've said earlier, Pheonix Nights is typical northern humour in my opinion (without a sheep in sight), but I can see this appealing to all, not just us northerners. If it can keep me entertained and make me laugh without fail, it must be doing something right.

THIS ISN'T RECOMMENDED, I INSIST YOU BUY IT!!!!!!!!

My favourite line/scene comes from Brain Potter in response to a student.

Student: "That was crap, I'd like a refund"

BP: "Well, I'd like to moonwalk son, but life's a shitter"

As this is a DVD, it also comes with lots of lovely extra's for me to check out. Upon closer inspection of the extra's I start to feel that I may have stumbled across quite possibly the best ever DVD produced. There are a glut of the buggers on the DVD and they are amazing, some nearly as long as the actual series!

Deleted Scenes

In excess of 6 deleted scenes that are very funny indeed. I can't understand why they were deleted in the first place!

Out-Takes

Fluffed lines, collapsing sets and fits of giggles are all packed in this section. The out-takes are broken down episode by episode for easier reference.

Uncut Armchair Superstore

Throughout the actual series the regulars can be seen sat around the TV in the club watching a shopping channel which is a piss take of QVC, selling useless items such as a solar powered divers watch, Maine (spray on hair) etc. This is a full length show but to be honest, once taken out of the actual programme I didn't find it funny.

Trailers - The trailers taken from channel 4 adverts.

Peter Kay Commentary - Raises laughs as he explains how each scene came about and what inspired the writers to create such obvious mayhem.

All in all, the features on their own are worth the purchase price! 9/10

Summary: An original and funny series