Search - Little Britain - The Complete Second Series on DVD

One Step Beyond

Junglies | Morrisville, NC United States | 05/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having been left Albion's shores these eleven years past, I have only returned to my homeland twice. On the second occassion, in 2005, I found myself being confronted at almost every turn with denizens of Blair's Britain.

Travelling from Newcastle station to nearby Sunderland I came across a phenomena where idle youths dressed in track suits and sporting apparent items of Burberry clothes or accessories and almost constsantly talking on mobile phones predominated in towns and on public transport. An old school chum identified this class as "Chavs" which would be known in the venacular of the United States as white trash and who is exemplified in Little Britain by Vicky, the archetyal Chav.

Indeed the endearing feature of this series and which is more prominent in Season 2 is the degree to which Britain laughs at itself through the mechanism of Little Britain. A friend commented to me that a number of the jokes and scenes were very repetitive and the degree of variation between sketches was not that great. While at first, I agreed, after several watchings it is clear that the writers of this show are able to focus on the stupidities which prevail in contempoaray British society. Take the question of cultural assimilation which is so loudly claimed as being the exemplar for other societies to follow. What Little Britain shows us is that the spin is radically different from the reality as indicated by the two ladies sampling different foodstuffs and the reaction of one of them upon discovering the social standing of the maker of that foodstuffs.

Similarly the homophobic attitudes of Daffyd, the only gay in the village. Again the reality being somewhat different from the publi9c persona. Whilst on that theme, some of the most hilarious sketches are about the straight Prime Minister and his gay secretary who has a thing for him. There is a degree of cruelty too particularly in the sketches of the mental patient who's behavious is being supervised by a medical practitioner who clearly has nothing to say in the face of repeated anti-social behaviour by a patient who often indicates every evidence of compos mentis but who perpetrates a fraud on the mental health care policy of the state.

Much of this show can be taken as being offensive and would be if it was not portrayed within the context of Britons laughing at Britain. The effects are heightened by the lush baritone of Tom Baker, better known as the fourth incarnation of everyone's favourite timelord.

All in all a vulgar comedy in the grand British tradition of Carry On and Monty Python yet at the same time, this is certainly a sharp witted social commentary which should make us all think in between all the laughter."

Even better than the first !

Christian R. Donval | Washington, DC | 05/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you liked the first series of "Little Britain", you can buy this one without hesitation. As of early May 2006, it hasn't been released in the US yet, so when I received a british copy as a gift, I ran out and bought a region-free DVD player just so I could watch it !
There are a few more wacky characters this time around, and the existing ones are more outrageous than ever. Some of the skits are so un-politically correct, it would never fly in the U.S, which probably makes it even more fun to watch.
If you go to your bank to apply for a loan, you'll probably have a smile on your face. " Computer says no"."

Greatest Comedy Series!

Paula | 04/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this DVD in Asia months ago. I guess it hasn't been released in America yet. Well, the DVD has tons of extras like the first! I love this series -David and Matt are brilliant! My husband doesn't like British humour, but he loves this series as well! Highly recommended!"

A second trip through Little Britain

M. Lang | Dayton, OH USA | 07/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first discovered Little Britain in Britain, of all places. While flipping channels, I came across two "women" in anatomically correct fat suits...naked and fighting. Now normally I would keep on moving across the dial, but this "sight" made me pause. I have been hooked ever since. As an American with an expat English wife, I have come to love English comedy. Little Britain is English comedy at its best....and absolute worst... I would have it no other way!

Fortunately BBC America has been playing Little Britain for the past year. They just finished Series 3, which easily builds upon the success of the first two Series which are both currently available on DVD stateside. I will not go into an exhaustive review of all of 6 sketches, but rest assured that most of your perennial favorites return: Lou & Andy, Daffyd and of course Vicky (ya, but no, buy ya) Pollard.

The second disc in Series 2 is a real treasure. There is a great behind the scene documentary as well as sketches Matt & David did for England's Comic Relief. Appearances are made by Elton John, George Michael and Robbie Williams. There are about 40 minutes of deleted sketches. Here you will find sketches with familiar characters that they felt where not quite up to par. Plus, there are a few new characters which I actually thought were hilarious. The "Porno" sketch was great.

Introducing English comedy to my friends has sometimes been hit and miss. Little Britain has transcended this and has been uniformly accepted as the "it" comedy show. I know that other reviewers have dissed Series 2 because the characters play upon the same themes they did in Series 1. I disagree. I believe that because of the amazing abilities of Matt Lucas and David Williams, this is why Series 2 is so good. I find my self caring more about the characters then the hijinks they get into. Yes, Andy can walk. Yes, Vicky is a "little" rough around the edges. But that is what you expect and when interspersed amongst new characters you do not know as well, it is nice to here Vicky talk about someone's tracky bottoms and see Andy go for a swim.

It's rude, it's fun and it is done really, really well.
"