Alan Partridge - I'm Alan Partridge - Series 2 [VHS] [1997]

What an experience it is. Alan is portreyed fabulously by Steve Coogan, a man obviously full of comic talent. Alan himself is a character who splits your emotions right in two: on the one hand, you feel deeply sympathetic that a man could drop as low as Alan at times does during the episodes (throwing up at a small-time launch party as a result of injuring himself on a health club guard rail), whilst on the other you feel a sense of satisfaction that a man who obviously treats others with such contempt has been given what he deserves.

Alan is, basically, a child at heart, and Coogan gets the impression over perfectly. Be it running around his soon-to-be-built living room, to sneaking round his house like James Bond, or having his personal assistant Lynn draw a chalk 'member' on an old school rival's back, Partridge is a very insecure character always trying to 'get one over' people. It goes to say that, of course, he fails more often than not.

The acting in the series is absoloutely first-rate, and so good that you sometimes can't imagine that the characters are in fact fictional. It's so very well produced, so detailed without becoming over-complex, that repeated viewings are as pleasurable the tenth time as they were the first. In the way that every classic comedy such as Blackadder has stood the test of time due to the fact that the jokes are funny even if you have heard them countless times, so Alan Partridge maintains it's level of excellence throughout repeated viewing. Every action, word and situation the series conjurs up are clever, amusing and, in some circumstances, purposefully uncomfortable in the way that you really cannot believe the lengths Alan will go to in order to re-establish himself.

All in all, I would heartily recommend this to anyone who enjoys fine English comedy. As Alan himself would say - 'back of the net!'

If you loved the first series or you haven't even watched Steve Coogan perform as Alan Partridge, (Where have you been hiding?!) then check him out, he is a breath of fresh air when it comes to British comedy, his sarcastic and true abrasive attitude just makes you laugh until your sides start to hurt!

After a couple of years of being clinically fed-up, Alan has bounced back. He's got the third best slot on Radio Norwich, and a 33 year-old girlfriend called Sonja.

With new catchphrases such as "Back of the net" and Butter my arse" this is an essential addition to all you Alan fans out there.

I'm sure Steve Coogan has won many fans through his Alan Partridge persona, and undoubtabely will gain many more after this new release.

My advice is quite simple actually, BUY NOW!

It is simply First Class!

Episodes On DVD 1 :

The Talented Mr Alan, ***

Alan bumps into his old school teacher, who once caned Alan for having a chalk *ahem* drawn on his back, and agree's to do a presentation at his old school

The Colour Of Alan, *****

Alan is really on the up, he has been asked to organise a sales conference at Dante's of Reading, (the ferrari of the coal effect fire industry). However, following a nasty accident at his local country club 'Choristers', the day of the presentation dosen't exactly go to plan.

BraveAlan, *****

Alan meets Dan Moody - owner of Planet Kitchen, both of them love director's bitter, use lynx deodorant and drive Lexi (plural for Lexus). When Dan asks Alan to present an award at the Norwich bravery awards, it seems an invitation to join Norwich's social elite is beckoning...

Never Say Alan Again, ****

Alan and Michael plan to spend a Bank Holiday weekend watching every single James Bond film back-to-back. Alan helps Sonja work out the catering arrangements for the perfect Bondathon, but then finds out about Michael's American loving trucking friend.

I Know What Alan Did Last Summer, ****

Alan is worried about a visit from the Inland Revenue following an upsetting journey on a cross-channel ferry, in which he threw all his business receipts into the sea. Meanwhile, Sonja is swooning over her favourite pop star Bono, and has made a special scrapbook in his honour.

Alan Wide Shut, *****

Alan appears on Prayer Wave, a religious discussion show on talk Cambridge, has an invitation to Lynn's baptism, and has a pressing engagement at the recycling plant, following some bad news regarding his book.

Extras on DVD 2,

- Anglian Alan (Anglian lives documentary)
- Unused Alan (Delted Scenes)
- Cast & Production commentaries
- Add-on Alan (10 minutes of additional material)
- Alan Aid (Highlights from 1999 and 2001 Comic Relief)
- Audio Alan (Jingles gallery)
- Still Alan (Photo Gallery)