30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
Your office, my office
It's a dark "Dilbert," a realistic "Office Space." Hit Brit-comedy "The Office" takes mockumentaries to the small screen, featuring the hilariously unfunny David Brent, and his unhappy employees. This three-pack includes both seasons, plus the satisfying holiday special, which also serves as the grand finale.
1 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
moderate BBC comdey
It's funny, but it' not that funny. Everyone watched it came out, and banged on about the dance scene, and my mum thought Ricky Gervais was really funnyy. I can't imagine an office being 'that fun, or that friendly and layed back' in real life. Don't think I could bring myself to watch it again though. Sorta on the same level as the Royale Family.
It's a dark "Dilbert," a realistic "Office Space." Hit Brit-comedy "The Office" takes mockumentaries to the small screen, featuring the hilariously unfunny David Brent, and his unhappy employees. This three-pack includes both seasons, plus the satisfying holiday special, which also serves as the grand finale.
The first season opens with David Brent (Ricky Gervais) learning that either his branch or another branch of paper corporation Wenham-Hogg will shortly be downsized. So this wannabe-comedian sets out to prove that his branch is better, stumbling as he tries. Trailing in his wake is bored everyman Tim (Martin Freeman), dead-looking yes-man Gareth (MacKenzie Crook), and pretty, quietly cynical receptionist Dawn (Lucy Davis).
The second season, while more unsteady than the first, takes some new and darker steps. Now David's rival Neil (Patrick Baladi) is his boss, and David has a slew of new employees who are less than thrilled about his racist jokes, chicken suits, and the lack of any actual work going on. Dawn becomes jealous when Tim gets a girlfriend, and Gareth searches for any way to bed Tim's girlfreind. And after a catastrophic managerial meeting, David learns that the next downsizing just might be him...
After the dismal ending of the second season, the feature-length "Office Special" provides a satisfying wrap up. Three years later, everyone from Wenham-Hogg -- including those who no longer work there -- is being called back for a special reunion. Tim is given one last chance to win Dawn's affections, and David finally learns the truth about himself. (Anyone disappointed by the end of the second season had better check out the new endings)
Don't expect a typical sitcom in "The Office." No laughtracks. No punch lines. No gag humor... well, not much. And no episode has a clear-cut ending. Instead, we have the format seen in "This is Spinal Tap" and the Christopher Guest mockumentaries -- hidden cameras watching the madness. And what those cameras see is enough to make the world's cubicle-dwellers cry. Okay, most offices don't have giant inflatable genitalia, or a comedy-for-charity day, but the core of it is frighteningly close to home.
The series gets off to a slightly bumpy start -- at first, the jokes are a bit too thinly-spread. But soon "The Office" gets its footing and the humor steadies itself ("Tim's put my stapler inside a jelly again. That's the third time he's done it!" Gareth complains, displaying the stapler in a Jell-O mold). And a lot of the humor is a subversive, subtle kind -- it creeps into your mind, and by episode two you'll be laughing your head off at David's bad jokes, his spastic chimp dance, and his prejudices hidden behind a veil of political correctness.
Ricky Gervais is brilliant -- David is every bit as annoying and obnoxious as the immortal Basil Fawlty, but hides it under a genial mask and stupid jokes. Mackenzie Crook is wonderful as the obsequious boot-licker with a bit of a sex fixation; his Dirty Bertie toy is one of the most tasteless, horribly funny scenes on TV. Tim, like Dilbert, is a lovable loser who can't get himself out of his soul-sucking job. And Dawn is mired in a relationship with an obnoxious cheapskate, yet it takes her the whole series to finally do something about it.
Clearly destined for cult status, this is "The Office" as it was meant to be, with a darkly funny storyline culminating in a satisfying finale. Funny, strange and immensely entertaining.
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I think genius is not too strong a word to describe the comic talents of Gervais and Merchant's in their conception, writing, acting and casting. I also think that The Office is not only fantastically tears-running-down-your-face-funny but also important in the history of TV Comedy. Somehow, without demonising him, Gervais gives us a monstrous egotist called David Brent who challenges our attitudes to modern social values, ruthlessly exposes workplace politics, and shakes us out of our apathetic comfort zones. The fly-on-the-wall mockumentary format is marvellously effective in emphasising the unbearably cringe making moments - it says "that really happens, it's hilarious, but it's awful". The humour is in how the blinkered and self-deluding Brent is blissfully unaware of what a complete prat he really is; such a desperately lonely loser that we actually feel some sympathy for him (even after his office party dance - one of the funniest TV moments of the decade). The series is also refreshingly non-PC and, like Father Ted, is likely to offend over sensitive souls, but it is so much more relevant and profound than those dreadful middle class British sitcoms like "Keeping Up Appearances" or "zany" candyfloss USA shows. The casting is also perfect - Gareth, Tim and Finchy all memorable creations and the satirical take on modern management style, business guru buzzwords, motivational techniques, team building exercises etc are all mercilessly lampooned. Gervais' delivery is absolutely perfectly timed - the pauses and sidelong glances, facial expressions and pretentious gestures, as funny as the lines. Brent embarrasses us and makes us think. OK Alf Garnett did that in the 60s and 70s and Alan Partridge more recently but a measure of the greatness of the show is that anyone who has worked in an office can relate to the characters and events without too much effort. Finally, it's a show that knew when to quit. Last of the Summer Wine PLEASE TAKE NOTE !
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This show was very innotive and very well done , although it's somewhat an aquired taste ....... like marmite it'll either click very well ..... or it'll be bad viewing if it doesn't click
Done in a very interesting format , not your straight forward sitcom ..... having a more real presence , with a fake documentary style appearance , it was indeed a unique watch at the time !
Best of all , this box set has the whole collection! So yeah great value !
Get it while amazon has the price cut
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The Office goes beyond all previously established forms of comedy, and in the grand British tradition it's done marvellously. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant are comic geniuses and all the characters in the show are deliciously spot-on, playing the roles of 'normal office employees'. You really do feel as though you're watching a documentary as opposed to a comedy series.
The Christmas Specials episodes were fantastic-especially the ending of the second one(!!!) and the bonus material scattered throughout three of the four discs made me laugh so hard I was literally in tears.
This show is all about what modern-day humanity has 'evolved' into. How could anyone with a sense of humour not become addicted?
Highly recommended to all Office fans and anyone out there with a pulse:)
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Finally a great DVD box set, charting the tears and the triumphs of a local Slough paper merchant. But thanks to 14 spectacular episodes it's not just any paper merchant firm, it is home to the grotesque comic monster David Brent, sweethearts Tim and Dawn, emotionally immature Gareth and all the rest. If you've never seen this series before, buy this box set you won't regret because it will be some of the best comedy and even drama you have ever seen. What makes the 'Office' more than just another annoying sitcom is the way it is filmed. It's like an offbeat documentary and the characters, who just going about their daily lives are totally believable and played to perfection. There is no irritating laughter track to tell you when to laugh and each and every scene is crammed with witty observations that seem more profound and deep than your average sitcom. Laugh at the chartiy dance, squirm as David Brent introduces a new Swindon Brach and even cry when Tim and Dawn finally get together. A comedy masterpiece that you can own on four extra-packed discs forever. Don't miss it.
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'The Office' is a defining moment in the history of comedy. Welcome because it unsparingly sends up the appalling genre of reality shows without going over the top or being gratuitous.
The genre also allows the camera to keep running after moments of accute embarrassement, when in filmed drama it would be cut. Thus, you can witness the characters squirm in front of the camera like insects being examined under a microscope.
David Brent is a pathetic nonentity, who in the bleak Christmas specials, somehow finds himself when he dismisses the obnoxious Chris Finch and stops trying to be 'one of the lads'. That he discovers a woman who appears to be sympathetic towards him is nothing short of miraculous.
Comparisions between Brent and Basil Fawlty, two dysfunctional, social misfits are instructive. But whereas Fawlty was manic unstable, intimidating and got himself ensnared in some amazingly funny, farcical situations, Brent has soaring self esteem, which quite out of proportion to how he is regarded, and which makes him at best a sad loser and at worst, unbearable and unwatchable. He makes you cringe with his awfulness. Both were unloved although possibly not unloveable, at least in the case of Brent, although that is left hanging at the conclusion.
The 'love strand' running through the first two series, is satisfyingly concluded in the final scenes, as in the tradition of romantic comedies. Tim finally gets his woman, Dawn, but it took her an awful long time to realize that he and her thuggish boyfriend were unsuited. Doubtless that was another plot device.
The Box set also contains some outtakes from the first series and the directors' comments on why the scenes were cut, mainly because of time constrictions, but occasionally, because the point had already been made.
I really enjoyed this series. The difficult part will be to follow it up with something that is different, fresh and not a retread in the same genre. Highly recommended.
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9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
Comedy Masterpiece., 21 May 2005
By A Customer
Sheer Genius 2 words that perfectly sum up this highly original comedy masterpiece.Set as a Fly on the Wall type Documentary in an office of a slough paper merchants & full of totally believable characters this has to be one of the best ever comedies i have ever had the pleasure of watching.Main character David Brent(office manager) played by Ricky Gervais has to be one of the best ever comic creations to appear on British T.V.up there beside Basil Fawlty,Edmund Blackadder & Del Boy Trotter.Every episode is a gem with memorable moments aplenty & i defy anyone with a sense of humour not to fall in love with the show & its characters who you will probably think are similar to your own work colleagues in one way or another.
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The Above words say it all. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchants "The Office" is the greatest thing to happen in BBC comededy since the likes of 'Only fools and horses' and 'Fr. Ted'.
Uniquely shot in a mockumentary style the first series kicks off with introductions of cast members from the embarrassing David Brent to the robot-like Keith and their adventures in what is supposed to be the genuine british office atmosphere.
The acting is nothing short of amazing and is it any wonder that they scooped an Emmy for their efforts 2 years ago.
This Boxset is definately worth the money especially with the 2 christmas specials filmed 2 years later which magically keep that unique style of comedy captured.
The extras are also quite good, featuring interviews, gags, outtakes and deleted scenes. Pay particular attention to series 1 episode 4, the casts (and my own) favourite episode!
BRILLIANT!
"A problem shared is a problem halved, so is your problem really yours or just half of someone else's?"
David Brent
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Ask anyone who has seen The Office and they will tell you that it is probably one of the most funny and original series ever made. The Office will go down as one of the best series in UK history, up there with the likes of Faulty Towers and Black Adder. Get this, as it makes the perfect present for almost anyone. Once you've seen the first one from the first series you'll be glad you have the whole set of series, saving you money for a better TV to watch it on, and time to watch it again and again.
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Co-writers and directors Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant have created a British comedy masterpiece that will surely stand the test of time.
Even though Chris Morris's The Day Today comedy classic featured an observational look at contemporary office life, called yes, The Office, which preceeded this by several years, this is still the most original work of genius by a pudgy and lanky man (respectively) made in years.
Well observed, gentle in places, hilarious in others, truthful and honest, this deserves its place amongst the comedy greats.
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