NOT the bowling flick, nor another terrible adaptation of Alan Moore’s comics. Instead, a very fine sort-of-sketchy, sort-of-Sherwood-Andersony comedy from Britain. Like other great sketch groups, a trio of performers enact every recurring character; unlike those shows, there is a loose plot (a man stranded in forlorn Royston Vasey, a rural town somewhere in the wilds of England) and the fun is all character-/setting-driven. There’s an undercurrent of dread and horror to the comedy that is peculiarly, brilliantly evoked.
Mark first cued me into these guys, and I saw the first series from a dvd at my library. I write simply to advise that the next two seasons come out on dvd in the next few weeks. Very much recommended.
Thanks for the tip. It’s about time! I wonder if the release of the 2nd and 3rd season is meant to coincide with the release of the group’s feature length film, “The League of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse,” which opened in the UK a few days ago. It’s not clear if the film will be coming to the US anytime soon, though. Maybe the success of DVD sales will determine that.
Finally!!
Of note, “League of Gentlemen” were credited with doing many of the voices in “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
The film is out in the UK? Any reviews of it floating around the Guardian or Telegraph?
I just finished the entire box set – 3 seasons of 6 episodes each (half hour) plus an hour long Xmas special. This is SO well done… It just might be one of the best comedy series I’ve seen. Consistently impressive and original, with great references to horror movies and British culture.
Just watched the first series of Little Britain, a BBC show that heavily borrows from League of Gentlemen.
There are some laughs in it, and in some cases it may be a little funnier minute by minute than League of Gentlemen, but the same jokes gets repeated every episode. And if you’re watching this on DVD over two nights, then that gets old fast. It does not have the quality of League, the ability to keep the same characters and stay surprising with them.
Not much else to say about it, other than, if you’re wondering if you should watch one or the other, I’d highly recommend LoG over Little Britain.
Tom Baker, of Dr. Who fame, does the narration, and that was nice to hear him mispronounce everything (on purpose).
Just ordered The League of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse from Amazon UK. Should get it in a week or so.
you kids and your multi-region dvd players…
I got my copy of THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN’S APOCALYPSE. Will try to watch tonight and report.