Perfect Comedy (Dad's Army)

Member Name: Trix1212

Product:	Dad's Army
Date:	02/02/09 (86 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Still as funny a sit ever was

Disadvantages: None that I can think of

I was introduced to 'Dad's Army' from a fairly young age by my grandfather who loved this series. Since it started being released on DVD I've rushed out to buy each series as soon as I could and rediscovered some of the wonderful episodes I remembered from years ago as well as discovering, to my delight, that there were many, many more wonderful episodes that I'd never seen before.

For anyone who is not familiar with the series it is one of the greatest classic British sit-coms ever. It is set during World War Two and based in a fictional seaside town in the southern England called Walmington-on-Sea, which would be the first line of defence in the case of an enemy invasion from France. A small group of characters are the focus of the comedy. These make up the 'Home Guard', or Local Defence Volunteers; a group of men who, due to age or other reasons, were considered unfit for army service but considered it their patriotic duty to serve in any way they could and their bumbling attempts to form an efficient band of soldiers make for hysterically funny watching.

Self-appointed 'Captain' Mainwering is the town's pompous bank manager, full of his own importance and rather intolerant at times of his platoon's failings. He is played to perfection by the wonderful Arthur Lowe. He is a loveable buffoon but, when real trouble arises, usually comes through and proves himself to be a real hero. His second-in-command is Sergeant Wilson, is a born aristocrat and, as such, seen as a real threat by Mainwering. Wilson (played by John Le Mesurier), however, couldn't care less and just wants an easy life. His long suffering air of patience is brilliant and his long standing affair with 'Mrs Pike' is a constant affront to Mainwering's sense of social propriety.

Frank Pike (son of Mrs Pike and, possibly, Wilson - this is always hinted at but never confirmed) is too young for the army but very eager to prove himself. Things never go quite right for him though, and he is constantly berated by Mainwering as 'You stupid boy!'. Lance Corporal Jones is an elderly war veteran with very little common sense but a strong passion to fight and a dangerous way with a bayonet, because 'They don't like it up 'em!' you know! He is played with terrific energy and enthusiasm by the much younger Clive Dunn, who gives so much to this character and makes him possibly the most memorable of the lot with his wonderful 'Don't panic!'.

Godfrey is the oldest member of the platoon and continually needs to be 'excused' with his weak bladder. Frazer is a patriotic Scottish undertaker, whose rolling eyes and heavy sarcasm are usually aimed at Captain Mainwering's imaginative schemes to improve the platoon. The final member of the platoon is Walker, the only one who is of the right age to have been called-up but apparently excused because he is in a reserved occupation. His actual occupation seems to mainly consist of obtaining and selling black market goods - a practice which makes his very popular with the ladies of the town and frowned upon by Captain Mainwaring (except, of course, when he is benefiting from it himself)

So there you have it. The perfect set of ingredients for comedy genius. When you mix in several supplementary characters who look upon the antics of the group with disapproval, and a healthy competition with the Home Guard from the next town, added to the fact that very little official help or support was available to the LDV and much of their activity was taken up in improvising weapons and plans for defence you come up with one of the best loved comedies ever.

The character-based nature of the comedy means that his series is still funny today and there is enough in it that, the more you watch, the better it gets. Timeless in its humour, it also contains some moments of real humanity and heroism when the characters stop bickering amongst themselves and pull together to protect their loved ones and their country. I still find it one of the few TV shows that makes me laugh out loud, even when I'm watching it alone, and I can offer no better praise than this.

Summary: Wonderful, character based comedy