More laughs from the BBC's divine comedy hit
Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 04/28/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Return to the loopy English village of Dibley, with this DVD containing the complete third series of THE VICAR OF DIBLEY, Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer's divine comedy hit from the BBC.
"Autumn" - Alice and Hugo return from their honeymoon with some unexpected news, meanwhile Geraldine's romance with David's roguish brother Simon heats up.
"Winter" - A very pregnant Alice wins the role of Mary in the annual Nativity play by default and causes a furore when she actually goes into labour during the performance!
"Spring" - Gerry makes plans to establish a creche at St. Barnabus.
"Summer" - When water shortages threaten the village, Gerry stages a protest against a proposed new reservoir. Meanwhile, the council members discuss the subject for a possible millennium commemoration statue.
Lots of fun with all your favourite characters. Starring Dawn French, Emma Chambers, James Fleet, Gary Waldhorn, John Bluthal, Roger Lloyd Pack and Trevor Peacock.
The DVD includes a couple of great bonuses: "Ballykissdibley", which features Father Clifford from BALLYKISSANGEL vistiting the town of Dibley. The 1999 Red Nose Day Special features Gerry mingling with Johnny Depp, Fergie and more when a film company sets up shop in Dibley. There's also a fascinating doco called "The Real Vicars of Dibley" which charts the lives of similar real-life vicars who lead unconventional lives. Includes interviews with the cast and writers of the series."
Funnier than St Vitus' dance but a poor print
Laurence B. Budd | Fort collins, colorado | 11/17/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"If you know Dawn French of French & Saunders, you know you are in for a very good laugh. If you also know how small villages and their residents behave, you're in for a whacking good time. Based on the real life adventures of an Anglican lady vicar in a sleepy english village, we follow the trials and tribulations of the new vicar as she slowly wins over the village's motley crew. Shot before a live audience, The series covers 3 seasons. There is a great joke at the end of each show, which always baffles Alice, the village idiot. Miss French has, so she says, left the stage and retired to her farm in cornwall. Maybe we can talk her out of it.
The quailty of the BBC DVD print is poor, with a constant halo or "burned" effect. It's not your player, it's in the print, unusual for the Beeb."
The Vicar of Dibley: one of the best British sitcoms
SitcomBuddy | NJ, USA | 02/08/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I just love this warm, cozy, and really very funny sitcom. My only complaint is that there simply are not enough Dibley dvds. (Can I hope for another special, someday?) Dawn French and the cast are marvelous. Outrageous at times, and yet down to earth. And always funny. As far as I'm aware, this show is no longer found on television in the states, so your only recourse is to purchase the dvd(s), settle down on your sofa, and enjoy."
Better than Fawlty Towers
M. Steffens | 06/25/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm crazy about Britcoms, but never quite understood the whole Fawlty Towers thing; it's good, but not all that and a bag of chips. *This* series, though, is all that, a bag of chips and a chocolate-dipped ice cream cone.
Dawn French is perfect as a woman vicar. At the time the series was first being made, there were only a handful of women vicars in Britain, and her role was meant to get the idea out to everyone in a humorous way. The series was co-written by Richard Curtis specifically for Dawn, and he did a wonderful, wonderful job in bringing out equal rights, religious controversy, village living and jousting among friends and neighbors.
Although I own many TV series on DVD, I go back to this one time and again for fun and relaxation; I never get bored with it. My only regret is that, like so many other good shows, all you get is these three seasons and a few specials. Be sure to check out other DVDs on this show, too."