Gavin & Stacey – Season One (2007/BBC DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Episodes: C+
It is
hard to do a comedy, even a good one, without falling into TV sitcom
traps. As much as I was surprised and
entertained by Gavin & Stacey, a
new hit comedy from the BBC, Second One
was a mix of predictability and some really good actors working so well
together that they help the show overcome its writing and situational
limits. Part of this is thanks to the
chemistry of leads Mathew Horne and Ruth Jones in the title roles.
The six
half-hour episodes move the storyline quickly as we see the couple (one from
England, the other from Wales) have been carrying on an Internet relationship
for six months and are about to meet. We
also meet all their friends and family in a well-paced way. Then we see if they can continue to enjoy getting
to know each other or will things go wrong and be a disaster. Some of the clichés are almost soap opera,
but maybe creators/writers/co-stars Ruth Jones and James Corden thought it best
to cover all the bases and go from there.
We’ll see if their strategy pays off in the long run. In the meantime, if you are interested, Gavin & Stacey - Second One is
worth a look.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is a mixed bag, with more motion blur
than expected, though it is not as bad as the episodes move along. However, it is more than it should be so
expect that in playback. Otherwise,
color is not bad and I liked the look more than not. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound is also
good for a new show, but there are no real surrounds. Extras are not bad and include audio
commentaries on three episodes with Jones, Corden and Director Christine
Gernon.
- Nicholas Sheffo
