FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: The Office - The Christmas Specials [2001] [DVD]

The Office - The Christmas Specials [2001] [DVD]
enlarge	Actors: Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis, Ewen MacIntosh Studio: 2 Entertain Video Category: DVD List Price: ~~£19.99~~ Buy New: £1.51 as of 23/11/2009 00:34 GMT details You Save: £18.48 (92%) New (41) Used (39) from £1.00 Seller: em-g Rating: 29 reviews Sales Rank: 1812 Format: PAL Language: English (Original Language) Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Region: 2 Discs: 1 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 90 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5014503137427 ASIN: B0001WHUFK Theatrical Release Date: January 23, 2003 Release Date: October 25, 2004 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


Similar Items: The Office - Complete Series One Two [2001] [DVD] The Office - The Complete Second Series [2001] [DVD] The Office - The Complete First Series [2001] [DVD] Extras - The Special [DVD] Extras : Complete BBC Series 1 [2005] [DVD]


Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review The two-part conclusion to IThe Office/I bids farewell to David Brent and his long-suffering co-workers in a surprisingly poignant not to say dignified manner. Supposedly accompanied by the fly-on-the-wall documentary crew three years after his highly undignified exit from Slough-based paper merchants Wernham Hogg, the first part reveals Brent as a travelling salesman by day and D-list "celebrity" by night, enduring humiliating club appearances organised by his clueless manager. But Brent can't keep away from his old stamping-ground in Slough, especially with the imminent prospect of the annual Christmas party. As much to spite suave rival Neil as anything else, Brent is on an agonisingly painful hunt for a date to bring along. PBack at Wernham Hogg, lovelorn Tim has to endure not only the officious behaviour of Gareth, now his manager, but also a cheerless existence bereft of Dawn, who is living in Florida with boorish fiancé Lee. Matters are brought to a head for all concerned--including Lee and Dawn, flown over specially for the occasion--when they finally gather in the office for the party. PAs ever the script is full of priceless one-liners (witness big Keith's chat-up spiel, as he promises "at least one orgasm" to any woman), and the show is peppered with those direct appeals to camera (Tim's weary "I don't believe he just said that" look, Brent's desperate self-justificatory "Eh?"), as well as achingly effective silences that simultaneously enhance the fly-on-the-wall conceit and heighten the comic effect. Without descending into the sentimental or the trite, somehow iThe Office/I closes for business on a genuinely heartwarming note. PBOn the DVD:/b This single disc has good, if unexceptional, bonus features. There's a behind-the-scenes documentary in similar format to those on the previous releases, a commentary from Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais on Episode 2, a funny and deservedly self-congratulatory featurette on the Golden Globe Awards ceremony, the full video of David Brent's single "If You Don't Know Me By Now" plus a recording session for "Freelove Freeway" (with Noel Gallagher on backing vocals). --IMark Walker/I

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next » Surprisingly sensitive conclusion to this class series July 28, 2004 russell clarke (halifax, west yorks) 66 out of 77 found this review helpful Ricky Gervais and Steve Marchants decision to bring The Office to a conclusion after only two series with these two Christmas specials may have felt to many like a hasty one. However watching the episodes its difficult to argue with them for they bring the whole project to a satisfying ,moving and timely conclusion .After two series they clearly felt that a comedy so bound to one location and centring on the same characters so relentlessly would be hard to maintain in terms of quality and freshness. Plus having David Brent made redundant at the end of series two drove them up a comedy cul de sac. The problem was the story arc of some of the shows characters hadn't run its course so this was a nice way of tying up all the loose ends. It was a gamble but it's done with such panache and with a script that pays as much attention to the dramatic as the comedic that it pays off handsomely. These two episodes, particularly the second are superb.brDavid Brent is now a Rep, still spouting inane cod philosophical asides and crass bulls***, except now he does it scooting up and down Motorways. Garth has been promoted sort of and is still about as effective as wellies in quicksand. Dawn is still in America with her sexist plank of a boyfriend and Tim is still Tim. Brent is trying to cash in on the minor fame his TV exposure via The Office has given him, even to the extent of hiring an agent who with an air of weary resignation books him slots in seedy nightclubs so he can appear in excruciating "Blind Date" parodies along with Howard from The "Halifax." He has also joined a dating agency leading to a couple of acutely embarrassing encounters where his penchant for asinine effrontery goes up a notch. As ever these are wincingly funny but still make you take a sharp intake of breath.brObviously to divulge more would be to ruin it, but the Tim and Dawn situation is resolved in a believable and poignant way while Brent finds true love or what ever passes for it in his own warped little universe in a way that isn't quite so realistic given his inherent character traits but if it makes him a better person as is implied then what the hell.brThis isn't pure comedy in the manner of a "Fawlty Towers " or a "BlackAdder" but it's still very funny at times and as a miniscule peak at the internal dynamics of a work place and the disparate characters involved its terrific and wonderfully observed, aided by some superb performances of which Gervias is fantastic as ever. The acting for the conclusion of the Dawn/Tim thing is absolutely sublime. It would make a bollard weep. As endings of popular comedies go its right up there with the conclusion of" BlackAdder Goes forth" and you can't get better than that. Wonderful stuff. Parting is such sweet sorrow October 27, 2004 Ben Lacey 15 out of 19 found this review helpful Parting is such sweet sorrow and when it's from the cast of 'The Office', this is particularly true. This DVD will leave any fan of David Brent and his staff with a firm lump in their throat but a finer ending to this splendid series could not have been imagined. Moving away from it's root in cringe-worthy situation comedy, 'The Office Christmas Specials' move into a territory still laced with embarassment and laughs but with a large measure of something else...if I try and describe it, it won't do it service. You just have to watch it. pApart from the 'drama' (which in itself is worth it's weight in gold), the DVD has some gems for any discerning viewer wanting to see the banter and 'behind the scenes' of 'The Office' saga. The Golden Globe Awards documentary (the only British comedy EVER to win a Golden Globe award) is very touching. The best thing that comes out of these documentaries is what a good time they had. What with the full version of David Brent's failed single (a cover of 'If you don't know me by now'), Ricky Gervais' complete band version of 'Freelove Freeway' and more, you won't be disappointed. The warmth that comes from 'The Office' cast will leave you glowing and Ricky Gervais' unique, manic enjoyment of having a laugh and make others laugh is undoubtably the highlight of this DVD. Buy it. Show it to your kids and then give it to them to show to their kids. Brilliant Comedy October 20, 2004 8 out of 10 found this review helpful This is British comedy at its best. The follow up to the two series this Christmas is one of the best around, adding more depth to the main characters (including a more sympathetic side of David Brent) and introducing great new ones. Brent is probably the best lead character in recent Sitcom history and his appearence in a club version of Blind Date is hilarious. Also look out for his wince inducing single and its cheesy video. All in all absolute quality, a great script brilliantly acted and with a moving ending. Buy it!!!! A tear-jerking, pant-wettingly funny finale. October 26, 2004 Mike Mantin (Bristol, UK) 13 out of 17 found this review helpful When The Office signed off its second series, we were left with a redundant David Brent, a parted but secretly desiring Tim and Dawn, and an office block full of loose ends left untied. So it was up to the Christmas special- two words that could usually suck the festive cheer out of any telly fan- to feed us one more time with understated and embarrassing comedy genius. Ricky Gervais has promised these to be the final episodes of this ground-breaking and astonishingly well-received show. Only time will tell if we will ever see these adored characters again, but just in case, cherish these highly-anticipated episodes.pIt kicks off three years after The Office parted company with the nation's TV screens, the first of two Christmas specials providing an unbearably detailed account of David Brent's rapid descent into being a failed salesman and appearing in cramped, Burberry-swamped clubs to say hello and then be booed off. The specials interestingly move away from the Slough office to reveal the new and sad side of David Brent, the most excruciating scenes being those of his awful attempts to win women through an internet dating service.pBut this is the end of a show which quietly sent every programme in its way packing its bags and going home, one that captured the hearts and imaginations of fans from the very moment Tim glanced at Dawn or David Brent insulted everybody in the room he was in for the first time. Is it possible to shake up the touch-sensitive relationships of the characters to finish the whole thing off for good? It is, with the ultra-realistic acting talent and the sharp writing, this is a fitting last bow by perhaps the best UK comedy show ever. The Highlight of XMAS 03 June 24, 2004 27 out of 42 found this review helpful Christmas always brings its highlights and lowlights as far as TV is concrened. The office was the must see comedy last christmas. Only fools and Horses was a real let down I barely smiled during the entire episode so that spoiled my xmas day. Boxing day came and more importantly Boxing Night my family and I sat down with great anticipation to see what Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant had confirmed would be the last ever episodes of the office. It was fab. David Brent trying to capitalize on the minor fame the BBC2 series had bought him, Garreth as the boss, Dawn returning to the office for a christmas party after living in America with fianice Lee.brOther reviewers have said it and I agree completly its a perfect end to one of the best series of British tv history! br(Shame about the end of Only fools and Horses) Showing reviews 1-5 of 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next »

CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON EU S.à.r.l. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.