The Good Life Series Three DVD Review

Distributor: Acorn Media UK
Certificate: PG | 180 minute
Available to buy
Extras: Yes
Writers: John Esmonde and Bob Larbey

ANYONE IN IT WE KNOW?
Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal, Penelope Keith, Paul Eddington

WHAT’S IT ABOUT THEN?
Tom and Barbara Good (Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal) surprise their neighbours by giving up their 9-5 existence and becoming self sufficient in the middle of suburbia, turning their garden into a full blown allotment, complete with pigs, chickens and a goat called Geraldine, their closest friends are their next door neighbours Jerry and Margo Leadbetter (Paul Eddington and Penelope Keith), Margo is very much a snob and finds herself horrified on an almost daily basis by the antics of Tom and Barbara.

SO IS IT ANY GOOD?
By the time of this third series The Good Life was deservedly one of the most popular shows on the box, a very funny sitcom elevated to greatness by the classiness of the performances of the main players. Felicity Kendal and Richard Briers are just great as Tom and Barbara, always happy to see the funny side of life, Penelope Keith has the role of a lifetime as the fussy, snobbish wannabe Margo whilst Paul Eddington’s Jerry offers an occasional voice of sanity.

There are great laughs to be had in the six episodes in this two disc set, The Early Birds sees the Goods trying to change their sleeping patterns to fall in with the rhythm of the seasons and failing spectacularly, the fantastic The Happy Event sees The Goods expecting some new arrivals in the shape of some baby piglets and Whose Fleas Are These in which an outbreak of fleas at the Goods is actually traced to Margo’s. Vintage stuff.

The Good Life is a guaranteed classic and series three is probably the show at its height, the cast super comfortable in their roles and gelling together perfectly. Definitely a must see.

ANY SPECIAL FEATURES?
Mostly text based the extras include bios of the writers John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, cast filmographies and production notes.