Winner of numerous BAFTAs, Comedy and Television Awards this 3-Disc collection of the entire Black Books
series is a delight. It's half sitcom, half sketch show and one third
absurd. Yet, somehow, it all blends together perfectly to become one of
the more enjoyable English comedies on offer in quite a while. Eccentric
Irish comedian Dylan Moran plays the anti-social, heavy drinking
chain-smoker who owns a small London bookshop named Bernard Black.
Ironically he detests customers/humans of any kind and finds his only
solace in physically and verbally abusing them at every opportunity,
proclaiming to one customer "Look at your face. I bet your cornflakes
try to crawl out of the bowl." His best (and only) friend in
the world is his lunch time drinking partner Fran, a neurotic and
boyfriend-desperate woman who owns the pretentious new-age arts and
crafts shop next to his. However, soon both their lives takes an
unexpected turn when he sells 'The Little Book of Calm' to
hyper-stressed accountant Manny Bianco (fluffy haired comedian, Bill
Bailey), who against all odds ends up swallowing it. When the dust is
settled, Manny will have a new job, Fran will have a new friend, and
Bernard's life will be far more surreal. I first discovered Blacks Books
when it aired on the ABC almost four years ago. There had been little
press, as is the case with most shows on Channel 2, however I had heard
little tidbits months earlier about this "Award Winning Comedy". So I
gave it a burl, and ever since I've not been able to watch an episode
without imitating Moran's manic nature for the following two days.
There is something so cathartic about convincing yourself that it's ok
to be a drunk Irishman. There are some standout episodes
throughout the series, with a few rough patches here or there - which
can only be expected - but otherwise fairly consistent viewing.
However, more than anything, this series thrives on scenes and one
liners moreso than fully contained episodes. From Bernard inviting two
Jehovah's witnesses into his house to avoid doing taxes ("We'd like to
talk to you about Jesus" to which he replies "Lovely, come on in,
what's he up to now!") to the hilarious performance from Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead) as an uptight Chain-Book Store Manager. Overall,
it's quite a good package with some great TV moments, and it is very
much a Sunday afternoon enjoyable comedy - however, probably leave a
few months in between repeat viewings to keep the jokes just as fresh
and hilarious each time round. Or, as Bernard Black would suggest "Enjoy. It's dreadful but it's quite short". EXTRAS The
extras here are not to bad as each of the discs were released
separately at first so each is jam packed with special goodies. Lovingly
presented in a 3 Disc Digi Pack Fold Out (I'm a sucker for packaging),
the packaging for this box set is superb. Special Features include
Out-takes, Photo Gallery, several Audio Commentaries (although all the
cast members seem to be determined to mumble the lowest) along with
Deleted Scenes, Trailers and a humerous little short film which has one
of the episodes scene performed by replica toy dolls. Also included is a letter by none other than Dylan Moran himself - worth the purchase price alone! Conclusion:
Movie 80% Extras: 75% 
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