Vicar of Dibley:Volume 2

Dawn French plays Geraldine Granger, the new vicar, who seems to be the only sane person in the charming little village of Dibley. In this volume, the vicar continues to prove that she is eminently capable of providing for the needs of the parish, much to the chagrin of the pompous, self-serving David Horton. The vicar also continues, wherever possible, to get the better of David. The balance of this assorted and eccentric cast of characters consists of the ditsy and naive verger, Alice Tinker, and her intellectual equal, Hugo Horton (David's son); Frank, the village council's incompetent secretary; Owen, a rustic farmer with his own distinct brand of farmyard humour; the dithering Jim; and last but not least, Letitia Cropley, a geriatric nymphomaniac and "Dibley poisoner."

This video consists of three 30-minute episodes. Briefly, in "The Weather and the Window," the church window is damaged in a storm and the vicar must somehow raise the money to pay for its replacement. "Election" has David Horton campaigning to keep his seat as District Councillor; this time, however, he's up against a little competition--from the vicar. Finally, in "Animals," the vicar has the novel and unorthodox idea of holding a blessing for the animals of the parish. This last episode (as many an animal lover will no doubt agree) is truly the most beautiful of all; it is certainly my own personal favourite.

In conclusion, this is classic British comedy at its best. Along with the hilarity, there is also a real tenderness that pops up from time to time--moreso in this volume than in the first. It's without a doubt one of the best series (British or otherwise) that I've ever seen. Extremely highly recommended!

French stars as the new Vicar in the tiny village of Dibley. While French can anchor a show all by herself, what really makes this show wonderful is the ensemble cast. For example, the regular church meetings, a staple of every episode, usually provide some of the best moments. And even though you can get away with saying some wild things on British television that wouldn't be allowed in America, this series never becomes vulgar or profane.

British television also seems to be a lot more realistic than American programming. For example, the camera isn't limited to filming full-figured Dawn French from the waist up, nor is her character forced to spend screen time ruminating about how she "really should lose weight". Instead, everyone in the village admirers her, for reasons that are evident in these episodes. Her character has flaws and dreams just like any one else, but her weight is simply not an issue.

This is a very well-balanced show; religion doesn't keep it from being side-splittingly funny, but the jokes do not make fun of religion, either. I highly recommend the Vicar of Dibley.