After successfully releasing the first half of their 26 week
long series (quite an effort in Aussie TV considering most shows get
barely 2 episodes to prove their worth), The Chaser boys continue to
wage their war on everything and everyone with the release of episodes
14-26 of the "satirical anti-variety show" that has given news crews
around the country plenty to report on this last year.
Much like The Late Show, War is filmed in front of a studio audience with the Logie Award-winning team (CNNNN was a new benchmark in Aussie comedy, while the The Chaser Decides
put the boys on the political map), do what they do best - confront and
lampoon key players from the world of politics, business, religion,
media and culture. There are many similarities to The Late Show,
with it's discussions and lampooning of news-of-the-week, comedy
sketches, and their uniquely irreverent field experiments. However, the
guys seem to go one step further on some occasions, they are certainly
appealing to a more intelligent cliental than your Wedge audience.
Originally
founded by Charles Firth (the only one of the guys who looks like he's
of age to receive a pension), Craig Reucassel, Julian Morrow and
Dominic Knight, in 1999 as a fortnightly satirical newspaper produced
out of a spare bedroom (see, who said dorks don't end up TV stars!).
Since those humble beginnings, the team has expanded considerably to
include Andrew Hansen, Chas Licciardello (a real find - in particular
if you saw his hilarious attempt to get into the back of as many shots
as he could at the 2006 Logies) and Chris Taylor. There are
some fantastic moments captured over these two discs, most prominent is
the hilarious spoof "Are You Being Shagged?" (the only single entendre
comedy on the box), Commercial Road Tests and of course, the Surprise
Sprucer. While it's not always as tight at the first load of episodes
(one can't help but think that a second batch of 13 eps was given the
green light in a hurry), there are still some fantastic laughs to be had
here. War, good god, what is it good for? Absolute Laughs - sing it again! DVD
Extras Amazingly,
the boys sit down and audio commentate every single frame of the eps,
which is an absolutely amazing feat. While the boys seem to run out of
ideas towards the end, and fair enough to (although, I have heard
several DVD commentaries which have been recorded as the talent drink
more and more, making the end a must to listen to). There's also
a "Obligatory Menu Joke" on each disc, making this a pretty worthwhile
package to add to the comedy DVD case in your bedroom. Conclusion:
Movie 70% Extras: 68% 
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