Extras - Series 1 Review

Overall Rating

Cringing humour
Great Guest Appearances

Where do I start with Extras? The Ricky Gervais comedy was pure class and the DVD offers much of the same.

Gervais plays the role of Andy - an extra with aspirations of hitting the big time and getting a line in a movie. Unlike his previous incarnation as The Office's 'Boss from Hell', Andy is a pretty likeable chap - but is still prone to classic foot in mouth moments ala Brent.

So, the action centres around and his friend - a fellow Extra called Maggie (Ashley Jenkins) who often inadvertantly scuppers Andy's chances of getting a line in one of the films. Gervais's partner in crime, Steven Merchant, pops up as Andy's agent and his style bares a more than striking resemblence to Gareth from the aforementioned Office.

The big draw in this comedy, apart from the portly Gervais himself, is the appearance of several Hollywood A-Listers and a few British TV bums who all play extreme versions of themselves.

Some of the big names involved include Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Stiller, a very game Kate Winslet & Patrick Stewart. However it's arguably the stars of the small screen who get the biggest laughs with Ross Kemp, Les Dennis & Shaun Wlliamson (Fat Baz from Eastenders) all sending themselves up in the good name of comedy.

All in all, if you enjoy close to the bone laughs, I'd urge you to give this a try, however if your one of the P.C brigade or the easily offended, then it may not be up your street.

Another winner from the best comic in this country.