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28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not classic but certainly worthwhile, 7 Jun 2009
This review is from: Time Trumpet [DVD] [2006] (DVD)
This originally aired on BBC2 back in 2006. I, like most people, missed it. Intrigued by the good reviews and the talent involved, I regularly scanned the BBC schedules looking for a repeat. To the best of my knowledge, there never was one. I find this is a persistent problem with the BBC. When they need repeats to fill out the schedules they opt for dreck like "Two Pints" or Catherine Tait and leave underappreciated gems like this on the shelf collecting dust.
The good news is that the Beeb has at least had the presence of mind to release this on DVD. Quite why it's taken them almost three years is anyone's guess but, since it's here and this is supposed to be a review, I'll stop moaning and tell you about it.
The concept is simple but clever. The show is presented as a historical documentary but one made in 2031, looking back on the early years of the 21st century. The focus is mostly on the years 2006-2012 so we're looking back at the present and a few years into the immediate future. This is a neat idea and one that lends itself well to political, social and cultural satire as the writers are able to take present day events and trends and, projecting them into the future, skewer them through exaggeration.
If that sounds a bit abstract, I'll provide some examples. In one episode we learn that public apathy and disrespect towards the monarchy got so bad that no-one attended the 2012 Coronation of King Charles. In another we learn that the public became so fond of voyeuristic and cruel TV that the top-rated show of 2010 was called "Rape an Ape" (later to become "Celebrity Rape an Ape", of course). We learn that our culture of ostentatious caring and celebrity obsession became so irrational that Bob Geldof organised a rock concert with the aim of eradicating death. And so on. All very funny.
In between clips showing these events there are numerous interviews with people from 2031, be they cultural commentators or present day celebrities now 25 years older. The cultural commentators - played by comics such as Holness, Ayoade and Mark Watson - are inarticulate, provide very little insight and often have no recollection of what they're supposed to be commenting on. In this sense, "Time Trumpet" also works well as a sly dig at clip-based nostalgia shows and the 2nd rate comedians and Z-list celebrities who usually appear on them. The celebrity interviews are often hilarious too. David Beckham in his 50s was my favourite.
I have to say the best material here is stellar. It's clever, daring, gloriously silly and laugh-out-loud funny. It's just a shame that there are, on average, about 5-6 jokes per episode that just don't work, be it because they are unnecessarily dragged out, repeated too often or just not that funny. The quality does vary and the lack of consistency and focus is what prevents it being in the same league as the great satirical shows of recent years - shows like "Brass Eye", "The Thick of It" and "Monkey Dust."
Nevertheless, this is very, very good. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys their satire with a distinctly British flavour and equal dollops of intelligence, silliness and imagination. Fans of Iannucci's previous work and that of Chris Morris will particularly enjoy it.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant! And there are special features..., 19 May 2009
This review is from: Time Trumpet [DVD] [2006] (DVD)
I agree that this is a brilliant show - classic Armando Iannucci. The previous reviewer is incorrect when he says that there are no extras - there are several easter eggs hidden on the disc, you just have to find them!
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21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely brilliant programme, but the DVD could be better!, 25 April 2009
This review is from: Time Trumpet [DVD] [2006] (DVD)
When I received an email alert to say Time Trumpet could be pre-ordered I purchased it straight away. In my opinion Time Trumpet, ranks up there with The Day Today and Brass Eye in terms of humour, satire and presentation, however, this DVD disappoints a little.
Apart from the six episodes, there are no other special features and some contractual edits have been made, so some of what was originally broadcast on TV sadly does not appear in this DVD, hence the 3-star rating.
Its a shame that more time has not been taken to produce a DVD with more features, but don't let this take away from the high quality of the programme itself!
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