Inbetweeners: Complete Series [DVD] [2008] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

It's about time! Of all the British sitcoms that I've watched through the years (and there have been more than I can count), I never understood why "The Inbetweeners" hadn't received more notoriety or even a proper DVD release for North American audiences. Finally, I'm thrilled that Entertainment One is correcting this egregious oversight. This program, in my opinion, has enormous cross-over appeal and is one of the better coming-of-age efforts that you're likely to encounter. It miraculously manages to feel both truthful and absolutely absurd and that's not easy to do! Featuring a quartet of prep school boys navigating the road to adulthood, the show plays to similar themes that we've seen countless times in other TV shows and movies. But with sharp writing and a spot-on cast, these misadventures seem refreshingly original. Bawdy and crude, the screenplays also succeed with smarts and wit. That's why I really love this show. It's quality entertainment masquerading as lowbrow humor, but it's more biting and daring and absolutely merciless than most conventional TV fare.

The four friends at the center of "The Inbetweeners" aren't quite in the popular crowd, but they still aspire to make their mark. To do so, however, they will face countless humiliations. There is no plan that they can't derail, no situation that they can't make awkward. By trying too hard to fit in, they stick out even further. Just like real life. Early episodes revolve around Will (the impeccable Simon Bird) as he transfers to a new school and ends up with an equally maladjusted trio played by James Buckley, Blake Harrison, and Joe Thomas. Buckley life is filled with bravado and big stories as he constantly brags about sexual escapades that seem rather unlikely. Harrison is the requisite dimwit, hilarious in his offbeat view of the world. And Thomas spends much of his time pining for a girl who has been a lifelong friend. When Bird enters the scene, he thinks he is above it all but soon becomes the target of bullies which pushes him into the new social circle. You believe these four could be actual friends, and each actor perfectly embodies his role.

The Complete Series consists of three seasons worth of episodes. This being British TV, however, each season is only comprised of 6 episodes. So here you are getting a total of 18 episodes at about 24 minutes each for a total package for over 7 hours.

Season One: (1) The First Day, (2) Bunk Off, (3) Thorpe Park, (4) Girlfriend, (5) Caravan Club, and (6) Xmas Party.
Season Two: (1) The Field Trip, (2) Work Experience, (3) Will's Birthday, (4) Night Out In London, (5) The Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and (6) Exam Time.
Season Three: (1) The Fashion Show, (2) The Gig and The Girlfriend, (3) Will's Dilemma, (4) Trip to Warwick, (5) Will is Home Alone, and (6) Camping Trip.

I truly love this show and give it the highest recommendation possible. It was twice nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Comedy, Bird was nominated twice as Best Actor and Buckley picked up one nod. Simon Bird, in fact, won two British Comedy Awards for this role and the show picked up that top prize for its 2010 season. Hilarious and occasionally heartfelt, you'll identify with these boys more than you'll care to admit. One of my favorites. KGHarris, 4/12.

My fellow Amazon reviewer - K. Harris - has already posted a very detailed review of this DVD so I won't repeat much of what he has written (all of which I agree with) but, rather, add some more info that I think you will find helpful.

"The inbetweeners" ran on the commercial Channel Four network in the UK from 2008-2010 and, as K mentions - British TV series are only usually six or seven episodes per season. So this DVD package from eONE contains all three seasons.

The series follows four boys in a "comprehensive school" in the UK. (Wikipedia defines "comprehensive school" as a state run school similar to high schools in the US. The four main characters are obviously "under 18" (as many lines in the script refer to that) but we're not sure what grade they are in since they seem about 17 in the first season and continue in class as the seasons progress.

One thing to say for these guys is that their hormones are working overtime. They want to "have at it" with not only the young "birds" in school but - ready for this? - with their friends mothers. (If this fact shocks you, then this is probably not a series you will want to watch - honestly - but it's all done with a sense of raunchy humor. I found that a lot of the language and situations in the short 25-minute episodes - reminded me of the "American Pie" series of movies. And I at times it went even further. This may have been a TV series but it probably exceeds most US cable shows in the number of times the F-word and similar expletives are used. And there is nudity but most often bare male buttocks. And the "toilet humor" is not just a style of humor, but a lot of scenes seem to occur in a toilet. And there is virtually a "bodily function" joke at least once in every episode. Again, I'm just pointing this out for those who may not know what they are getting into.

At the same time I was watching this DVD, I've been catching up on the US TV series (on broadcast TV) "The Big Bang Theory". Like "The Inbetweeners" it revolves around four friends (this time they are post college geniuses) and their attempts to meet women (including the "hottie" across the hall. Each of the four is distinct and in a few cases they parallel the four guys in "The Inbetweeners".

This series seems to have a cult following and I must say that, once I knew what to expect, I had a lot of fun watching the series. It's definitely over the top but most guys can relate to similar experiences. (well some, anyway).

The eOne set is LOADED with bonuses, though they are probably for the true fan more than the casual viewer. Each of the three discs has a separate "making of" or "behind the scenes" featurette, plus a "video diary" created by the cast. There are deleted scenes and outtakes (these last items under a minute each) and more.

So, check your inhibitions as to language and check out the guys in this DVD. It really is a lot of fun.

By the way, the series was followed by a "feature film" about the quartet's post school years, which as not yet been released on DVD in the US. Since the "trailer" is the first thing you see on this set, and the DVD has an insert saying the film will be "in Theaters September 2012", I guessing that eOne will release it on DVD by the end of the year.

I hope you found this review both informative and helpful.

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"

I first saw the show when I visited the UK in 2009. I am a huge fan and clearly this is a very biased review. I originally purchased the DVDs but they were coded for a different region. So, sadly, after watching them on my MacBook a few times, I had to place the DVD's in a closet since I ran out of options regarding choosing a particular region for viewing.

So, here we are in 2012, and the boys have finally jumped the pond. Wonderful. They're on iTunes as well but you can only get seasons 2 and 3 via that service. I understand the movie will be out on DVD in the US later this year, still another reason to live just a little bit longer! :-)

The boy's friendship is evident in each very well-written episode and the situations hilarious. Their experiences and motivations tend to focus on girls and the related angst is typical for their age group For American viewers, think Animal House meets the Big Bang Theory, but with more cursing and British accents.