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Amazon.co.uk Review
Written by and starring Rob Brydon and Julia Davis, Human Remains features six different "mockumentaries" with the pair playing couples caught in bizarre, dysfunctional or hopelessly imbalanced relationships. These include an upper-class couple, in which wife openly pines for her first, lost love, whom she has buried on the grounds; a thoroughly homely hubby and wife who run a guest house in the Midlands that features an S&M parlour; and a ghastly pair of God-botherers who live in a state of curtain-twitching loathing of their neighbours.
While the sheer range of characters depicted in Human Remains represents a prodigious feat on the part of both actors, the show has much in common with Brydon's other hit Marion and Geoff. The strangeness or awfulness of each couple's situation generally takes a while to come into focus, the deeper truths conveyed through low-level bickering, cumulatively revealed in deceptively banal interviews to camera. Brydon and Davis are sometimes merciless in their satirical savagery, as with the Alanis Morissette wannabe Fonte Bund; at other times, Human Remains is too bleak to watch. However, the sheer acuity and detail with which these characters are unwittingly realised, coupled with the brilliance of the (semi-improvised) monologues/dialogue means that our encounters with them, although mercifully brief, are both hilarious and touching. This is an exceptional series.
On the DVD: Human Remains features a generous package of extras, including deleted scenes and outtakes, among them an extension of the "healing" scene featured in the episode with the S&M couple, footage of the early rehearsals and improvisations from which the characters took shape, a commentary in which Davis and Brydon recap on the circumstances of the filming, an excerpt of the pair in S&M gear singing "American Pie" in rich Brummie accents and, best of all, the Fonte Bund Band in which the folk-rock duo featured in the series have an added, Spinal Tap-type documentary also starring John Martyn (who supplies the series' theme). --David Stubbs
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: 2-DVD Set, Deleted Scenes, Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Human Remains' is a darkly comic series about six very different, very offbeat, and very engrossing couples who unwittingly expose the dynamics of their dysfunctional relationships. From a bald neurotic to a male chauvinist fiancé, the characters conduct open, honest and shocking interviews as the series sets new boundaries for extraordinary relationships in a seemingly ordinary world. 'Human Remains' takes a documentary-style look at the lighter side of unconventional couples, as each episode develops into something funny and touching, and deeply absorbing. ...Human Remains - Series 1
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Rob Brydon and Julia Davis turn in some astounding performances in this brilliantly funny series, co-produced by Steve Coogan. This is black comedy as it should be...realistic, subtle and in places quite disturbing. Presented in the format of six stand-alone fly-on-the-wall documentaries following the lives of six (wildly different) married couples, the linking theme is that each relationship is in some way horribly warped. Loveless relationships, sexual frustration and perversity, and dominant and totally imbalanced pairings are central themes throughout the series, and make for some horribly cringe-worthy moments, of which Rob Brydon is the absolute master. The range of characters that Brydon and Davis create and bring to life so realistically is quite amazing, and is performance comedy at it's very best.
'Human Remains' is not the sort of series you can watch that often, but it is still worth owning on DVD as there are plenty of moments that are simply priceless. The DVD comes with some really nice touches, especially the option to watch the episodes with links to rehearsal improvisations. This gives a great insight into how the comic brains of Brydon and Davis really work. It also allows you to see them laugh (since they obviously can't in the actual programmes)... you can hardly blame them! If you can't decide whether you want this or "Marion and Geoff", I suggest you buy them both!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Having really enjoyed Nighty Night and Marion & Geoff this was an obvious purchase as it combines the talents of two of my favorite comic performers of recent years.
The episodes have some great side-splitting moments as you would expect, and some great acting from the support actors as well as Rob Brydon and Julia Davis. And typically there are lots of subtle details that mean you need to pay close attention to get all the jokes.
The DVD is also very generous with plenty of extra material, including the original improv that the actors did to come up with the characters.
The original improv, commentary and outakes are actually some of the funniest (and revealing) material on the DVD. It's almost worth listening to the commentary first to spot all the jokes as some of them are actually too subtle to pick up from the episodes proper.
The only downside is that this series didn't work quite as well as either Marion & Geoff or Nighty Night and there are some quiet periods in some of the episodes. Plus the porn scene is All Over My Glasses is a little too brutal to be funny. Interestingly the actors seem to agree judging by the DVD commentary.
Still it is fascinating to see and hear how Rob Brydon and Julia Davis developed the characters and there are enough funny momments and great performances to make it a worthwhile purchase. It's worth it just for some of the classic lines in "An English Squeak" and "Slither In".
I really wanted to give this 5 stars but I've only given 4 stars because it wasn't quite as well-finished as other programmes that Rob Brydon and Julia Davis have done.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This mockumentary highlighting the relationship between six mostly profoundly mismatched couples in as many episodes is one of the most disturbingly funny, beautifully shot, and tightly scripted series I have ever seen.
Rob Brydon and Julia Davis both wrote and acted in the series; each portrays a palette of characters which is each convincing and beautifully developed, distinct, and with real depth. If it weren't for its restrained twistedness, you would be convinced these were genuine people- it just looks so documentary. Half the time, you won't know whether you should be laughing or crying as the darkly desperate details of the mundane and mostly banal misery of each couples' lives unfold - I know you're thinking crying is the proper answer, but I was borderline hypoxic much of the time because this dark desperation comes cloaked in brilliant, straight-faced absurdity. The scary thing is, we all know people who are not so far removed from these characters, and the series is like a looking glass into their inner workings.
There is nothing slapstick about Human Remains- this is comedy best watched with your ears more than your eyes- and much of it is subtle. Because of this, you can watch the series time after time, and each time get a slightly different take than the last time. Now, that's value for money. This series is a work of genius and worthy of great respect.
Rob Brydon and Julia Davis both wrote and acted in the series; each portrays a palette of characters which is each convincing and beautifully developed, distinct, and with real depth. If it weren't for its restrained twistedness, you would be convinced these were genuine people- it just looks so documentary. Half the time, you won't know whether you should be laughing or crying as the darkly desperate details of the mundane and mostly banal misery of each couples' lives unfold - I know you're thinking crying is the proper answer, but I was borderline hypoxic much of the time because this dark desperation comes cloaked in brilliant, straight-faced absurdity. The scary thing is, we all know people who are not so far removed from these characters, and the series is like a looking glass into their inner workings.
There is nothing slapstick about Human Remains- this is comedy best watched with your ears more than your eyes- and much of it is subtle. Because of this, you can watch the series time after time, and each time get a slightly different take than the last time. Now, that's value for money. This series is a work of genius and worthy of great respect.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Top Stuff
Alright speile? Just come on here to give this review, rightly or wrongly I think it's cracking stuff. Specially "All Over My Glasses". Any of you soft boys want to say it isn't? Read more
Published 29 days ago by Stephen
Depressingly unfunny
I thought I would love it too, unfortunately not. It is about as funny as watching an orphanage burn down. The show is one long depressing note. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Robbie Miller
Peerless stuff
Wonderful stuff - everyone a top-quality two-hander between Rob Brydon and Julia Davis. Not for everyone - some of it is wincingly dark - but I loved it!
Published 4 months ago by simon condywust
Wonderfully sick
I believe this was only ever shown once on BBC 2 in 2000 when it first came out. I don't know why it's never been repeated. Read more
Published 9 months ago by pestofan
I'm surprised to have disliked this as much as I did
After watching the series "The Trip," I thought I would love "Human Remains," but I found it to be horrible, each installment more horrible than the one before. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Kathryn M. Kuchenbrod
Brilliant.
I've always been a fan of both Brydon and Davies but I was still staggered by just how good their characters, scripts and performances were in Human Remains. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Movieman
Brydon & Davis at their Best.
Rob Brydon and Julia Davis wrote and performed this fabulous series of programmes. Their expertise in observational comedy is excellent. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Los Carlos Boy
human remains
Brilliant! can't recommend it enough, both Julia Davis and Rob Brydon are at their usual genius,and the script and characters are played faultlessly. Read more
Published 18 months ago by murph1
Absolutely unmissable!
If you like Rob Brydon, have seen 'Nighty Night' and enjoyed it, you'll love this. This series of beautifully observed insights into what makes some couples tick will make you... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Bandywords
Dark, sinister and hilarious!
This series is extremely funny but will take you to twisted and dark places. The performances by Brydon and Davis are absolutely fantastic- perfect in-fact, both perfect comedy... Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2010 by Veritas
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