| Product: |
Office, The |
| Date: |
02.10.02 (717 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Original, Genuinely Funny
Disadvantages: Not slapstick enough for some
He is the scourge of offices and factories up and down the country - the awful boss who cracks terrible jokes, thinks he is god's gift to women and can still be one of the lads.
Everybody knows him and he was brought to life on screen by BBC Two's spoof fly-on-the-wall documentary series The Office in the form of exceptionally seedy David Brent - the head of a paper merchants in Slough.
Brent thinks he is the office joker who shows strong leadership skills and is both loved and respected by his staff. But in reality he is a bungling bully who is loathed and despised by the majority of his staff.
This odious man is the creation of comic Ricky Gervais and the show , which returned to BBC Two Monday night, turned out to be one of last years TV hits.
It hardly sounds the formula for a hit comedy but it has been a surprise to all concerned.
I think it was one of those where people found out about it by word of mouth. People probably stumbled across the programme and once they realised it was a joke they would tell their mates about it. I was told by a mate and missed the first few episodes unfortunately but I thought it was the best comedy I had seen in years due mainly in part to the true to life nature and also the incisive, original wit.
Everybody knows somebody who is like David Brent and people can easily identify with an office environment as well.
A thing that signifies the success of the show to me personally was when I recently heard some blokes in the pub all impersonating the David Brent gobbledygook.
It is surprising it has become a success because there are no stars and there isn't even a laughter track to tell people it's a comedy but I dont think you should insult people's intelligence.
Ricky Gervais also writes and directs the show, I saw him in an interview recently and he is nothing like his onscreen character. He comes across as easy going, thoughtful a
nd charming and clearly very talented. I'm amazed they got to make the show in the first place as all the actors in the show are complete unknowns. I bet when they got commisioned, they couldn't belive their luck.
I havn't seen any of the actors except Gervais (who was in The 11 O'Clock Show) in any other show and I havn't seen them trying to cash in on the success of the show either which is unique yet welcoming these days.
Other characters include Tim, a nice, intelligent bloke who has a bit of a thing for the receptionist played by Jasper Carrott's daughter Lucy. His attentions towards her in series one were constantly thwarted by her bulky but thick boyfriend. I think more of this relationship will be towards the fore in series two as there's definately chemistry between the two.
Gareth is completely out of cink with reality and has an unhealthy interest in all things to do with the Military !! He's the butt of most of the jokes and is generally hated by most especially seen as Brent looks upon him as his prodigy but how many of you out there know one of these oddball types? I think we all do !
Finchy is David Brent's partner who just like Brent thinks he is wanted by every woman he meets and that everyone should laugh at his jokes. The rest of the office despise Finchy as much as Brent but at least he puts Brent in his place which is something they cannot do. Brent idolises him and talks incessantly about their pranks when hes due to visit the office.
My favourite moments so far have been the quiz when Finchy and Brent lose when they were cocksure they had won even though they had cheated every way imaginable and the day a trainer comes to the office to improve their people skills - Brent interrupts at every opportunity because the focus isn't on him enough and even renditions the whole group to his songs complete with guitar.
Comes complete with the Rod Stew
art v
ersio
n of Handbags and gladrags as the Soundtrack !!
A brilliant new comedy - if you havn't seen The Office yet, I strongly recommend you tune in for the second series which started Monday night !
Regards
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Wormvision2002
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