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Amazon.co.uk Review
Dating from 1976, The Likely Lads belongs to an often-reviled genre--the feature-length spin-off from the 1970s sitcom. However, these were often a great deal better than TV purists make them out to be. The Dad's Army film, for example, more than measures up to the original series, the first Steptoe and Son movie is as sublime as any 1960s kitchen sink drama and much funnier, while this incarnation of The Likely Lads reaches heights of hilarity not even scaled by the splendid sitcom from which it was derived.
Starring Rodney Bewes as Bob and James Bolam as Terry, this is an aimless but endlessly entertaining saga that takes in a calamitous caravan holiday in drizzly Northumbria, a farcical escapade in a seaside guest house and innumerable minor capers in between. The real business here, however, is in Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais' script and characterisation. Most of their best work involves men in confinement of some sort (Porridge, Auf Wiedersehen Pet) and here it's Bob who finds himself timidly chafing at the clutches of domestic "bliss" as personified by wife Thelma (played magnificently and underratedly by Brigit Forsyth, avoiding all the usual battleaxe clichés). He's jealous of the footloose Terry, even though the latter is clearly frustrated at his rootless existence ("I've learned nothing. Y'know what it'll say on my gravestone? "None the Bloody Wiser"!"). Beyond a mere nostalgia-fest, this is vintage, essential Brit-comedy.
On the DVD: The Likely Lads is presented in widescreen 1.78:1. Unfortunately, this comedic milestone comes only with the original trailer by way of extras. --David Stubbs
Product Description
THIS BOX SET IS NEW & FACTORY SEALED - THIS IS A VERY COLLECTABLE DVD FOR THE AVID FAN
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
86 of 90 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Whatever Happened to Sitcoms like this ???,
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This review is from: The Likely Lads Collection (6 Disc BBC Box Set) [DVD] (DVD)
They don't write 'em anymore unfortunately. Possibly the best conceived, scripted, cast and acted sitcom ever. The situation is so simple, so true, so honest and so funny. The "Whatever" series (most of the collection) features the reunion of 2 north eastern working class pals, who meet by chance on a train. 5 years previously the best mates decided to join the army but Bob was rejected due to his flat feet and Terry had to serve his nation alone and bears a grudge, a mysterious wound on his hip that he "doesn't like to talk about" and a tattoo on his buttock (apparently). Meanwhile the 60's have become the 70's, Bob has got a good job and a middle class fiance, become a member of the squash club and gets his hair styled, while Terry is a bit of a dinosaur, jobless and finds it hard to adjust. The comedy ingredients in the 2 series that follow are the tensions between Bob, Terry and Thelma (Bob's fiancee) in a classic love triangle, with Terry tempting Bob with their former laddish bachelor lifestyle and Thelma trying to "civilise" him - Bob is like a ping pong ball in the power struggle. Yes, Men Behaving Badly may be a more modern version but it lacks the timing, depth, subtlety and power to move that characterises the Likely Lads. Like The Royle Family but more universal in scope, more profound in its themes. Why is this great comedy? The script and the acting - fantastic, Bewes and Bolam are a dream team, they ARE Bob and Terry and we share every one of their ups and downs. Their expressions, mannerisms are so natural, the lines so perfectly delivered, the action so uncontrived, the social comedy is so refreshingly non-PC, the comic timing amazing, the storylines so well crafted. In all important respects this has not dated at all, the themes are still as relevant today - I mean there is still a battle of the sexes; we all cling fondly to our past memories and resist change. Bob and Terry were grumpy young men ahead of their time and there is a piece of them in all of us. So whether this is a nostalgia trip or you're too young to remember the series first time round, this is not to be missed.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bargain Gem,
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This review is from: The Likely Lads Collection (6 Disc BBC Box Set) [DVD] (DVD)
This a fantastic bargain. Arguably the best written TV Comedy series ever...bar none. I guess that many of you will be shouting Fawlty Towers at the screen now (or Dads Army, or The Office or Blackadder or countless others) Yes I agree they are all brilliant and probably funnier if I'm honest. But I am specifically thinking about the dialogue. Bob and Terry's conversations are so cleverly structured, so full of character, so funny. Every line is crafted superbly. Example: 'It's never not busy in here, it's never not busy' Isn't that more interesting than the normal expression, 'It's always busy in here'. That fine attention to detail is applied throughout every episode. You are not necessarily aware of this but it lends a measure of authenticity to the whole proceedings.
A 6 disc set for such a low price makes this a must for every comedy lovers collection.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than Likely!,
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This review is from: The Likely Lads Collection (6 Disc BBC Box Set) [DVD] (DVD)
Even better than I remembered it. Some of the things they got into reminded me of younger days with my best pal.
You don't need to be a Geordie to understand the dialogue as Bob was always well spoken and Terry refined some of the Slang brilliantly without losing his true identity. Down to earth clean humour in very typical situations make this one of the best shows born in the North East.
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