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Amazon.co.uk Review
Remarkably for someone who doesn't claim to be either an actor or a professional stand-up comic, Ricky Gervais has now triumphed in both fields. Animals Live is his one-man show at London's Bloomsbury Theatre during which the star of The Office ("That's two BAFTA Awards") presents a "lecture" on the animal kingdom in a shameless bid to inherit David Attenborough's mantle, since the old boy is getting on a bit and can't last forever. The subject is loose and broad enough to allow for plenty of digressions and amiable ramblings about sex, childhood, war and, of course, more sex.
There's something of Eddie Izzard's style in Gervais's approach, especially noticeable when he dissects the Biblical Genesis story for its absurdities; and he has also learned lessons from the father of his Office co-star Lucy Davis, Jasper Carrott. In the best segment, and one that's pure Carrott Confidential, Gervais reads out genuine animal "facts" from a website and comments gleefully upon them. Although his range is limited--he's neither an impressionist nor a mimic--Gervais gets by on a mixture of easygoing charm and bare-faced cheek, which in a short show of about an hour is all he needs to keep everyone laughing. --Mark Walker
DVD Description
Filmed during a limited run at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London, the show is based around Ricky’s fascination with the animal kingdom (including that curious species, the human being) and covers subjects as diverse as classifying bats, gay animals and the Great War poets. From the moment the curtain goes up, it becomes clear that David Attenborough has nothing to worry about as Gervais accompanies a short film on animal copulation with a unique and not entirely scientific narration! Fans will wonder if any subject is taboo as the comedy drifts from his interpretation of the Bible (including what really went on in the Garden of Eden) to parts of the animal kingdom that the BBC never dared to cover.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
58 of 65 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A weird Stand-Up show but hilarious,
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This review is from: Ricky Gervais Live - Animals [2003] [DVD] (DVD)
There's no need to spend ages talking about just who Ricky Gervais is. Unless you live under a rock you've heard of the guy, and perhaps heard the term 'Comedy Genius' thrown about as well. That may be going too far but still.I admit I got this DVD purely on the success of 'The Office' in which he plays David Brent and the famous 'Boxing Fight' with Grant Bovey. I was a little surprised when I put the DVD on to find it wasn't a typical stand-up comedy performance, but more a hilarious lecteur on the topic of 'Animals'. Okay he does deviate from the Animal world once of twice which is great. I must admit to having fits of laughter at certain comments and jokes he told. I have come to the conclusion that Ricky Gervais is immune to himself as he doesn't like most performers feel the need to laugh after his own jokes. I can't recall him laughing at anything he says, yet do recall him waiting for the audience to stop laughing to he can continue. When he mentions certain subjects like Rik Waller having the same Fat content as a Pork Scratching or how Darwin's Theory of Evolution is false because a good book available in all good book shops called 'The Bible' says how the world really came to be, will have you laughing. Some people may take offense to some of his comments certainly on the subjects of the wars in history and comparing one conflict to fighting vertical challenged people. Also for some reason he decides to have a rant about Stephen Hawking that borders very closely on being insulting and possible offensive. At the end of the show you will be sat there wondering what you've just seen and heard. I'll admit I wasn't expecting what I saw, and am more used to the stand-up routines of your Peter Kay's and Jim Davidson's. Ricky Gervais has his own style and it works for him, but I doubt anyone else could have pulled this show off and got the laughs he did. Okay a lot of the laughs will come from people thinking, "It's David Brent saying these things." I do recommend this DVD to anyone who's a fan of Ricky's or a fan of the 'Office' and certainly Office fans should look for the gag during the whole 'How the World Came to Be' joke comparing the Bible's 3rd chapter to a 3rd Series of the Office. "The first two chapters were good, you knew he'd get slated for the third so why'd he bother?" Buy this DVD you are certainly getting your money's worth.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely brilliant!!,
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This review is from: Ricky Gervais Live - Animals [2003] [DVD] (DVD)
This is an excellent DVD, and all the better for upsetting anyone who is a pretentious bible-basher. The parallel with Eddie Izzard is very accurate, as they both have that ability to give the audience a little 'knowing' glance before delivering the 'punch line'. Superb!!!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Stitched him right up",
This review is from: Ricky Gervais Live - Animals [2003] [DVD] (DVD)
You're all having a laugh. Peter Kay is undeniably funny (although the Bolton Albert Halls DVD is a poor follow-up to Top of the Tower). However, this is Gervais on top form and his routine beats Kay hands down. True Office connoisseurs will appreciate the subtleties of his humour here - I was in stitches from start to finish. Even Gervais' monologue commentary in the extras had me "cracking up". As any Office fan will attest to it is the little foibles that provide the biggest laughs in the Office and they are in large supply here. This is a must for any true aficionado of the Office. (As is the slot on Xfm on Saturday afternoons). One final thing, Office fan or not, this stands up by itself as first-class comedy.
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