The Office Collection

 

 

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It's a dark "Dilbert," a realistic "Office Space." Hit Brit-comedy "The Office" takes mockumentaries to the small screen, featuring the hilariously unfunny David Brent, and his unhappy employees. This three-pack includes both seasons, plus the satisfying holiday special, which also serves as the grand finale.

The first season opens with David Brent (Ricky Gervais) learning that either his branch or another branch of paper corporation Wenham-Hogg will shortly be downsized. So this wannabe-comedian sets out to prove that his branch is better, stumbling as he tries. Trailing in his wake is bored everyman Tim (Martin Freeman), dead-looking yes-man Gareth (MacKenzie Crook), and pretty, quietly cynical receptionist Dawn (Lucy Davis).

The second season, while more unsteady than the first, takes some new and darker steps. Now David's rival Neil (Patrick Baladi) is his boss, and David has a slew of new employees who are less than thrilled about his racist jokes, chicken suits, and the lack of any actual work going on. Dawn becomes jealous when Tim gets a girlfriend, and Gareth searches for any way to bed Tim's girlfreind. And after a catastrophic managerial meeting, David learns that the next downsizing just might be him...

After the dismal ending of the second season, the feature-length "Office Special" provides a satisfying wrap up. Three years later, everyone from Wenham-Hogg -- including those who no longer work there -- is being called back for a special reunion. Tim is given one last chance to win Dawn's affections, and David finally learns the truth about himself. (Anyone disappointed by the end of the second season had better check out the new endings)

Don't expect a typical sitcom in "The Office." No laughtracks. No punch lines. No gag humor... well, not much. And no episode has a clear-cut ending. Instead, we have the format seen in "This is Spinal Tap" and the Christopher Guest mockumentaries -- hidden cameras watching the madness. And what those cameras see is enough to make the world's cubicle-dwellers cry. Okay, most offices don't have giant inflatable genitalia, or a comedy-for-charity day, but the core of it is frighteningly close to home.

The series gets off to a slightly bumpy start -- at first, the jokes are a bit too thinly-spread. But soon "The Office" gets its footing and the humor steadies itself ("Tim's put my stapler inside a jelly again. That's the third time he's done it!" Gareth complains, displaying the stapler in a Jell-O mold). And a lot of the humor is a subversive, subtle kind -- it creeps into your mind, and by episode two you'll be laughing your head off at David's bad jokes, his spastic chimp dance, and his prejudices hidden behind a veil of political correctness.

Ricky Gervais is brilliant. David is every bit as annoying and obnoxious as the immortal Basil Fawlty, but hides it under a genial mask and stupid jokes. Mackenzie Crook is wonderful as the obsequious boot-licker with a bit of a sex fixation; his Dirty Bertie toy is one of the most tasteless, horribly funny scenes on TV. Tim, like Dilbert, is a lovable loser who can't get himself out of his soul-sucking job. And Dawn is mired in a relationship with an obnoxious cheapskate, yet it takes her the whole series to finally do something about it.

Clearly destined for cult status, this is "The Office" as it was meant to be, with a darkly funny storyline culminating in a satisfying finale. Funny, strange and immensely entertaining.

...seriously painful. For anyone who even has the slightest tendency to emulate TV personalities, STAY AWAY FROM THIS SHOW! These characters have little to no redeeming qualities; total prats, the whole lot of 'em. It's funny on TV, but not fully in real life. And that gap is bridged on far too many occasions through this 2 season series. Lord help me if I ever see someone break out a guitar during a meeting at my office...

The Office (UK) is like watching those horrendous wedding speeches. All at the same time you cringe, tune out, mentally attempt to speed it up, laugh at the speaker's ineptitude, watch the reaction of others, celebrate when the content is relevant and entertaining, and generally marvel at how we humans can miscommunicate and be unaware of our behavior and how we present ourselves. Anyone who has worked in an office can relate to bizarre co-workers, incapable leaders, office politics, relationships that cross any acceptable boundaries, in fact, it is amazing that any work at gets done in the workplace which is so ably demonstrated in this series.

And that is what Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant have extraordinarily captured in a very original format. It borders on voyeurism as we follow the excruciatingly painful missteps of a hapless boss and his unambitious team as they are followed in a quasi-documentary format. But where the brilliance lies is in the exploratory of topics and situations that regular sitcoms never remotely touch. I still cringe at many scenes too numerous to mention which make it relatable, believable, and at the end of the day, real.

The ensemble cast must get huge credit given what Gervais brings to the role. It is an incredible portrayal and catalogue of what must be every excruciating interaction he ever had with a bad boss. The writing is terrific and so is the amazing ad lib. Having watched the whole thing five times in six years (damn you Gervais - my time is precious), I am continually surprised how much the U.S. version continues to mine the brief U.K. version for story-lines and one-liners.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious!
I originally started watching the US version of The Office. I love that show so I was interested in seeing the original. Read more

Published on Mar 16 2009 by M. Thomas

5.0 out of 5 stars Great series
The office is very well done,in a documentary style.
The first episodes are a little slow but stay with it as it takes off from there. Read more

Published on Mar 6 2009 by Greg

5.0 out of 5 stars outstanding
I have watched this series several times and it never fails to make me belly laugh. This is not a dvd that will be shelved and forgotton, it will stand the test of time because... Read more

Published on July 18 2007 by Linda D

5.0 out of 5 stars Setting a new standard for comedy
The British have a long history of producing classic TV comedy series but "The Office" takes it to a new level. Read more

Published on Mar 4 2007 by I. Dobson

5.0 out of 5 stars cringeworthy, awkward, depressing genius!
Anyone with a remotely British (or worthy of! hehe) sense of humour should appreciate this. Set as a documentary, scenes of hilarity impossible in a conventional comedy series... Read more

Published on Dec 11 2005 by Paul

5.0 out of 5 stars Mundane is Hilarious!
Do yourself a favour and buy this! You heard me...BUY IT! Dont rent it or borrow it! This is comedy at its best... Read more

Published on Nov 16 2005 by Diy

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
I saw a couple of episodes and the special. Well, I've never laughed harder. This is a very well done show. I'd get it if you like a sophisticated comedy or laugh you ass off.

Published on Jun 23 2005 by Cameron Craig

5.0 out of 5 stars I dislike most TV, but I like this.
The Office is one of the most well crafted series I've ever seen. No episode lacks a purpose, especially when viewed in the overall story arc of the series and no episode lacks a... Read more

Published on May 29 2005 by T. D. Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Genius
A few years ago, I remember seeing this British guy (Ricky Gervais) winning a Golden Globe and I wondered "Who the heck is he? Read more

Published on April 11 2005

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