Surreal Comedy for the Next Generation (Big Train)

Member Name: Frankingsteins

Product:	Big Train
Date:	26/03/04 (219 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fantastic actors and writers

Disadvantages: Won't appeal to a lot of people

Big Train was granted a generous airtime on a Monday night, just before the new first series of the award-winning League of Gentlemen, although it obviously wouldn't be to everyone's taste. The little-known actors and writers all played their characters in hilariously deadpan and low-key styles, experiencing emotions such as fear, confusion and calm much more than happiness and excitement.

1999 was, in my opinion, a great year for British comedy with new series such as the League of Gentlemen and Big Train catering for the laughter and slightly surreal needs of both young and old. Although often criticised or forgotten, Big Train seemed to get the balance between straightforward jokes and confusing/disturbing situations spot on: sort of a mix between the Fast Show and Chris Morris' bizarre 'Jam' series.

The performers are as follows:

Kevin Eldon - a talented actor who has appeared in a great deal of comedy from Lee and Herring's TV and radio shows to Brass Eye. you may recognise him from his slightly monkey-esque face and dark hair.

Simon Pegg - much more well-known for starring in Spaced and the upcoming film 'Shaun of the Dead', it's a wonder he hasn't been in more high-profile shows. He did appear in Guest House Paradiso, the disappointing film version of Bottom.

Mark Heap - like Kevin Eldon, he has appeared in a lot of comedy such as Brass Eye, Spaced, Jam, Brass Eye and a rubbish comedy film called 'Hospital' that only my Dad likes.

The female regulars Julia Davis and Amelia Bullmore will be less familiar to viewers, but have both ap
peared in Jam. Davis was a writer and star of the terrible new show 'Nighty Night,' which also features Kevin Eldon - its only redeeming feature.

Big Train's first six-part series was essentially a sketch show featuring stand-alone stories. Sketches such as the Evil Hypnotist, Spoon-Phobia and the human-sized dog were average length features with great humour throughout while the show also offered a number of very short scenes, used for all of the programme's trailers on the BBC, such as the fireman dancing around and licking the fire pole and the frightened policeman. The first series also became famous partially due to the animated World Stare-Out championship which, despite not being a personal favourite of mine, is certainly very memorable. Lengthier sketches could often drag on a bit too long or just be too confusing to understand, such as a dying man rising and singing a song or a woman cheating a man for a set of traffic lights.

The show's second series in 2002 was written without the input of comic genius Graham Lineham and as such did seem to be lacking a lot of the humour. There were a greater number of sketches which I didn't find very funny or had a punchline, although there were still many which I found hilarious. A man who grows giant when exposed to the sun for too long and a child whose apparent face paint turned out to be her natural markings from some weird tiger-human race were brilliantly bizarre, although did not appeal as much as the earlier programmes.

Big Train is certainly a programme aimed at a specific audience, and it will doubtless not appeal to the greater public at large. For me and my friends it presented a great show amidst the tedious and sho
rt-lived sitcoms of the late 90s, and I look forward to May when it is finally being released on DVD.

Summary: Big Train.