Steve Coogan - The Complete Coogan Box Set [DVD]

Having ordered and now received this box set, I assume it has been taken off general release for the moment due to the content of the DVD's not always being that described on the front of each disk. However, everything that should be within the box set, is (somewhere). For those that can't be bothered to return the box set to Amazon and await the replacement, the disk order should read as follows, with a brief review of each;

1. Knowing Me, Knowing You
The series that really raised Coogan's profile into national prominence. Received complaints at the time of original broadcast as some viewers failed to recognise it was a spoof. Very funny and painfully close to reality in terms of Partridge's TV personality character traits.

2. Knowing Me, Knowing Yule
Christmas follow on from the original series. More of the same, but that's no bad thing. "Do you want some, I'm handy?!"

3. I'm Alan Partridge Series 1. 4. Series extras
Arguably Coogans finest hour(s). Solitary stays in travel taverns have never quite been the same since. The Partridge character is fleshed out, with all his flaws coming to the fore. Still, there's been worse television programmes commissioned than "Monkey Tennis".

5. I'm Alan Partride Series 2. 6. Series extras
The creators were alledgedly in retrospect not too pleased with this series, maybe due to some of the scenarios and acting becoming a little over the top. Alan has swapped his travel tavern for a caravan next to his new house. I personally loved it.

7. Paul Calf's video diaries
Contains the original video diary, and the follow on. I brought the box set mainly for this, as I don't think the BBC ever sold them as a seperate DVD release. Very good. RIP Fat Bob.

8. Paul and Pauline Calf's Cheese And Ham Sandwich
Live show contained the two characters mentioned in the title. I thought the character jokes were starting to get a bit stale by now.

9 & 10 Saxondale Series 1
Overlooked and underated. Coogan proved he had lost none of his comic timing and touch, with his portrayal of the ageing roadie who attends anger management classes and can't quite let go of the past. Some brilliant moments, and virtually on a par with Partridge.

11. Saxondale Series 2
Again, more of the same, but equally as good as Series 1.

12. Doctor Terrible's House of Horrible
I actually missed this first time around, so cannot comment.

13. The Tony Ferrino Phenomenon
The Portuguese singer character received far more hype than Saxondale ever did, however never quite hit the spot. Had it's moments though, and well worth a viewing.

14. Coogan's Run
A combination of old and new characters in 6 one off specials. Ranges from average to good. Again, more for the novelty factor than many true comedy classic moments.

I saw Coogan recently in his live show (having also seen his last one almost 10 years ago), and too be honest it was a bit disappointing, and I think some of the characters are reaching the end of their shelf life. However this box set is proof (if any was needed) of his comic genius.

Overall, this is brilliant value for money, even if the BBC do seem to have had immense difficulty in counting to fourteen.

If you are a fan of Steve Coogan and own little of his work on DVD then this is a great purchase at a great price. If you - like me - own the majority of his work already and are buying it for the previously unavailable Paul Calf's Video Diary and Tony Ferrino content they you may ask whether it's worth it.

The answer is - probably no. The Paul Calf stuff is very funny but a bit dated. Tony Ferrino is Coogan's weakest comedy creation and whilst somewhat amusing this will probably be the least watched DVD of the set.

If you already have the majority of his stuff then I probably wouldn't bother purchasing this for Calf and Ferrino. However if your Partridge DVD's are worn out due to their weekly watching and you are able to sell the DVD's you already have to a friend like myself I'd go for it.

The pick of the bunch is obviously our favourite Norwich based broadcaster followed by both series of 'Saxondale' who is a fantastic creation. 'Coogan's Run' varies in quality but is well worth watching.
'Doctor Terrible' again varies in quality but has great range of actors and some very funny moments. The Victorian pulp pastiche with Mark Gatiss is the most enjoyable. The live show 'Paul and Pauline Calf's Cheese and Ham Sandwich' is relatively short but the extras more than make up for it.

All the DVD's are the same as their original releases so you won't miss any content or extras and unlike the original pressing of this set they all have the correct names on the disc.

As I've said - this is a great set of work by Britain's best comic actor but it may not be worth the cash depending on your current collection.

The 'Complete Coogan' boxset is, put simply, essential viewing for fans of Steve Coogan's various comedy characters such as Alan Partridge, Paul and Pauline Calf, Tommy Saxondale and so on. Collecting previously released material with two exclusive discs, containing the hitherto unreleased 'Paul & Pauline Calf's Video Diaries / Three Fights, Two Weddings and a Funeral' and 'The Tony Ferrino Phenomenon', it's an impressive package.

'Knowing Me, Knowing You' and 'I'm Alan Partridge' are probably his best known work - particularly the latter, which has established itself as a modern comedy classic. But there's plenty of worthwhile material elsewhere in the set - Coogan's most recent BBC series, 'Saxondale' about an ex-roadie turned pest control operative, which although not a smash in the same way that Partridge was, still has some great moments. Then there are the anthology series 'Dr Terrible's House of Horrible', which spoofs old school British horror and shows, and 'Coogan's Run', a showcase for a variety of Coogan characters. Both have their ups and downs, but are well worth the effort - and fans of old Hammer / Amicus films will appreciate 'Dr Terrible' in particular, which is loaded with in-jokes and references which will go right over the heads of most viewers.

It's great to see 'Paul and Pauline Calf's Video Diaries' on DVD, as this was one of Coogan's earliest starring vehicles, and the Calfs remain a much-loved part of his live repertoire to this day. Slightly rougher around the edges than later, more lavish series, this is a neglected gem. Less essential is 'Cheese and Ham Sandwich', a live outing for the Calf siblings recorded for television, though it's backed up by a rather good 'making of' documentary which gives some insight into how Steve Coogan prepared for his return to live performance. Finally, there's 'The Tony Ferrino Phenomenon' - largely forgotten, but a pretty decent parody of cheesy star vehicles of the 60s and 70s. It's a shame Tony Ferrino never caught on as a character, but then, watching the programmes on this disc, it's hard to see what more could have been done with him.

Many of the programmes are accompanied by an array of special features - particularly the Partridge discs, which are pretty exhaustive in terms of their bonus content (and Series One of 'I'm Alan Partridge' also boasts a rather fun commentary from Alan himself, plus long suffering PA Lynn). Any fans of Steve Coogan's work should be well pleased with this set, and if you're not just buying this for the exclusive content, at the moment it represents excellent value for money.