Search - The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle on DVD

Dark and Biting

Amos Lassen | Little Rock, Arkansas | 05/09/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle"



Dark and Biting



Amos Lassen



"The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle" is satire at its darkest and most biting. It is also a comedy but not the kind that we usually see. Jennifer Saunders is Vivienne Vyle, a daytime TV talk show hostess and the film focuses on not only the problems of her guests but on her own problems at home and her love life. Miranda Richardson plays Vivienne's manic producer.

The film is of a BBC TV series and it is brutal, tragic and funny as it looks at the world in which we live. It is an indictment of media corporations and celebrity worship and we are witness to regular people who no longer try to communicate unless they do so via technology--TV, the internet or cell phones. The film is disturbing and gives real insight into the world of TV talk shows and celebrity culture. As Vivienne, Jennifer Saunders is ambitious and uncompromising. Miranda Richardson is an alcoholic manic editor of the show which she decides should take a new direction. This film is made up of six thirty minute episodes and each is a balance of comedy, tragedy and an authentic view of the celebrity culture in which we live.

"Vivienne Vyle" is very, very dark but it is crafted to perfection. It is subtle and deep and the acting is brilliant. As for the comedy, this is not the usual kind--we do not laugh every few seconds nor do we laugh aloud. There is an anger theme here and it is a satire that is quite raw.

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Dark comedy at its best

Dr. Marjorie Wiener | 08/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is black comedy, a devastatingly funny, satiric look at "reality" TV a la Jerry Springer, with crazed guests and equally crazed backstage doings at a TV show. Jennifer Saunders is sensational, and all others in the marvelous cast are also brilliant. Each episode of the six can be enjoyed by itself, but it's best to see them all in sequence. The last episode is the best half-hour I've ever seen on TV."

Ab Fab

Walter J. Gordon | Key Largo | 09/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First saw this on a Delta First Class flight out of Milan, Italy. Never heard of it until I pressed the button for the show's viewing, and--well, I had to watch twice the one and only episode Delta offered. Hilarious, daring, and sarcastically biting. Loved it. Bought the entire disc upon my return to the States, and thankfully Amazon, as always, comes through with every title you might dream of obtaining. Great show."

Slightly different side of Jen

Elizabeth Knight | carbondale Il | 01/04/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I really enjoyed this new six-episode series. Jennifer plays a daytime talk show host a la Jerry Springer- tacky and sensational. Her guests are the dregs of society and she showers them with abuse with the stated purpose of helping them. The real purpose being to generate ratings, of course. The series is full of Saunders' trademark dry wit spiced up with occassional camp pratfalls.She's even meaner than Edina Monsoon, though, which took a couple of minutes to get used to.I also enjoyed the supporting players. Her relationship with her gay husband is fun to watch, and in the sixth episode, there is a heart -touching (well, sort of) twist. If you like Jennifer Saunders (I LOVE Jennifer Saunders), you will enjoy this."