Little Britain: The Complete First Series (2004)

Vastly Overrated, Yet Innovative None The Less

When Little Britain was first released here in the UK, it debuted on a little watched BBC channel named BBC THREE. Within a few weeks word had spread about this hysterical sketch show that makes fun of every British stereotype under the sun. There was the Chav teenager, the not so wheelchair bound man, the transvestite in denial, the upper class elderly racist and the man claiming to be gay simply to stand out from the crowd. Those residents of the UK can all relate to at least one of Little Britains characters, even if it isn't some of the main characters, one of the lesser seen characters will certainly ring a bell and have a person saying "That's like such and such down the street".

That was Little Britain's main appeal, but apart from the familiarity of it all it simply had no substance other than a few repetitive gags tweaked and turned to try and keep it fresh. I have no doubt that after the first series, creators Walliams and Lucas should have quit while they were ahead as they ended up destroying some well loved characters. Vickie Pollard was without a doubt the character that caused the biggest stir in the UK as it held up a big poster and said "These are the kids of today". To some it was an offensive message, but there was no doubt there was a lot of truth behind it as most working class teenagers act in exactly the same way.

Other than the odd cheap giggle due to moderate racism or general controversy that, at times had you in stitches. It's been called by many as the greatest sketch show ever made but although I'm one for difference of opinion, calling it the greatest ever is simply not true. Monty Python's Flying Circus craps all over Little Britain and Python was made more than 30 years prior to Little Britain.

Buy the Monty Python collection instead, you will get much more for your money. August 30, 2008

Funny, but undeveloped

There is much going for "Little Britain," mostly in the persons of its two leads -- Matt Lucas and David Walliams -- who perform at least a dozen characters between them. The characters themselves are funny and original -- from rapid-talking bad schoolgirl Vicky Pollard, to unconvincing transvestite Emily Howard, to poodle-coddling, bonbon-eating trash novelist Dame Sally Markham. It's amazing how two actors can conjure up and play such divergent characters -- each having unique catch phrases, makeup and mannerisms.

But Little Britain has more than its fair share of misses. Des Kaye, the out of work TV kids show host now employed at a hardware store is creepy and wretched, but not funny. The narrator's introductions are so juvenile that I thought they might be parodies. And the characters find themselves in precisely the same situations over and over again. This is particularly true for the characters Lou Todd and Andy Pipkin. Andy is wheelchair-bound and constantly vexes his longsuffering companion Lou with demands for items that (once he has gotten them) he instantly rejects. This was interesting the first time, and perhaps the second, but by the 6th of 7th repetition of the formula, I was wondering about the writers' seriousness. And sanity. Then, there is the vulgarity, which given the show's deficits, seems an attempt to make up with grossness what it lacks in cleverness. Be it plain vulgar words or crude topiary or offensive signage, the dirt goes on and on. This might be funny were its purpose noble or silly, but it's not an asset in this setting.

I would normally rate this show a 2, but I was taken by its flashes of originality. Too bad the writers and actors don't know where to take this buggy once it gets rolling. July 29, 2008

fabulous

talent in many areas.
Fat Finders and Jam at the fair is probably my favorites.

Ok, maybe Bubbles made me laugh the most.
Well worth it. July 6, 2008

Computer says....

Won't spend too long saying how great this series is, but I would recommend that if you liked this then try Catherine Tate. February 14, 2008

4 stars only because season 2 is even better

If you like Kids In the Hall and Monty Python, Little Britain is for you. It's the demented love child of those two sketch comedies, with instantly memorable characters. Season 2 is even better, but this sets the stage very, very well with a lot of laugh out loud moments. February 8, 2008

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