The Office Complete Collection - The Memorable TV DVD Review

Distributor: Warner-BBC America
Certificate: Not Rated | 450 minutes | Region 1 | NTSC

Created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Marchant
Available to buy
Extras: Yes

ANYONE IN IT WE KNOW?

Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Cook, Lucy Davis

WHAT’S IT ABOUT THEN?

This situation comedy follows office manager David Brent (Gervais) as a documentary team make a reality TV show about his daily life working at a printing company specialising in stationary. Brent thinks he is universally loved and a bit of a bon vivant around the office despite the fact that everyone else thinks he is a complete prat whilst the rest of the Office are a pretty dysfunctional bunch in their own right; problems also rear their ugly heads when it looks like redundancies might be coming the staff's way.

SO IS IT ANY GOOD?

The Office, despite only running for two series (12 episodes) and a 2 part Christmas special, very quickly gained itself a reputation as being the best sitcom since Fawlty Towers. Trading heavily on the comedy of recognition and throwing up a legend of a character with David Brent The Office is fantastic, very funny and for anyone who has worked in an office very close to the bone.

This four disc set from Warners features every episode and right from episode one the show was on the money, Brent thinking he is an intellectual boss with a

real understanding of his "people", shot so the series really does look like a docusoap, the best moments stem from when Brent decides to play up for the camera, pulling off practical jokes or giving the camera a knowing wink.

Like all great comedy The Office has a strain of melancholy at its heart, Brent for all his antics is obviously a lonely man and he considers the staff of the Office his only friends.

The Office is a great series and in the coming years will surely be granted entry to the TV Hall of Fame.

ANY SPECIAL FEATURES?

Extras include 2 documentaries on the making of the series, plenty of deleted scenes and out-takes, a fun video diary, a directors commentary on the Christmas special, a music video and a making of guide to the music video.

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