I'll Be There For You, Cos You're There For Me Too (Friends)

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	Friends
Date:	12/05/08 (87 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great, groundbreaking sitcom

Disadvantages: It finished

In 1994, I was studying for my GCSEs amidst this new phenomenon: a TV sitcom called 'Friends'. It would tell the story of 6 friends living in New York, and was billed to be the next big thing. I thought I would give it a go, and, 14 years later, I am sitting in my own home with the entire DVD collection of all 10 series, and all of them are well watched.

Friends is the worldwide phenomenon sitcom cretaed by David Crane and Marta Kaufmann that has paved the way for many sitcoms since. The six friends are Ross, Chandler, Joey, Monica, Rachel and Phoebe. They come together through a variety of reasons, and their friendship cements iteelf gradually over the decade, with love, career, fun, family and all other aspects forming the centrepiece of conversation in their favoured location, the cafe known as Central Perk.

The comedy on offer here is brilliant, and the cast have all become household names and gone on to feature in films as well:

David Schwimmer is Ross - the college professor who is a bit of a dork, and the more sensitiv e of the guys.

Matthew Pderry plays Chandler - the joker of the pack whose quick wit provides a lot of the comedy.

Matt Le Blanc plays Joey - the ladies' man and simpleton of the group - quite often it is at Joey's expense that Chandler makes his jokes.

Jennifer Aniston plays Rachel - in and out of love with Ross and a score of other men, she loves fashion and eventually gets a job in it.

Courtney Cox plays Monica - the neurotic and anal one of the group, and Ross' sister.

Lisa Kudrow plays Phoebe - the eccentric one who can't sing or play guitar but does so regularly. She is full of silly comments and dappiness!

The six combine brilliantly, and it is later on in the 10 year feast that the popularity of the show attracts other stars to polay cameos, such as Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis, Elle MacPherson, Danny DeVito. There are longer parts for repeat characters, played by actors such as Elliott Gould and Tom Selleck.

My Opinion

I loved Friends, and although I was sad when the final episode was over, I still have the DVDs, and there are enough episodes that each time I watch one I see something I didn;t remember, and it is always funny!

The direction and acting is top notch with Friends. The series really has set the benchmark in terms of sitcoms of its genre, and it came about at the right time. These days, there are too many sitcoms to keep track of, although I feel that had Friends started now, it still would have ruled the roost!

The box set of Friends, including all 10 series, is available from amazon.co.uk for £99.98. Each individual series is available for £8.98, bargain prices the both of them.

This review may also be posted on ciao.co.uk.

Thanks for reading.

Summary: Friends sitcom from 1994-2004