The Mighty Boosh – 1 - 3 (2003 – 2007/BBC DVDs)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Episodes: C+
The
comedy team The Mighty Boosh has
been a hit in England for a while and now, they are slowly arriving in the U.S.
market from BBC America, than Cartoon Network and now, three DVD sets from BBC
Home Video of their series so far. That
is because the duo who is the comedy team have other Boosh and non-Boosh
projects to juggle and even just visited the U.S. to promote these DVD releases
and their act in general.
Some may
already know Noel Fielding from his hilarious role as Richmond on the extremely
funny British TV hit The IT Crowd
(reviewed elsewhere on this site), but he is very good here too as Vince
Noir. Partnered with Julian Barratt as
Howard Moon, the show is a throwback to the many videotaped children’s TV shows
of the early 1970s from Sid & Marty Krofft, as well as Filmation shows like
The Ghost Busters (1975, also
reviewed on this site) and even Hanna-Barbera’s original Banana Splits on some level.
However, this is darker, not for children and targeting a smart late
teen/adult audience.
Each Mighty Boosh set has the minimum six
episodes per season, then a bunch of extras that pump up the fun factor. It is a good show, but purposely as different
as it can be, which is part of the appeal.
Though I did not find all of it funny, part of it is the mood and
atmosphere it creates; something few TV shows of any kind do anymore, so it is
an acquired taste, but one many are likely to catch on to.
The anamorphically
enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is not bad for what looks like a late PAL analog video
production with minor detail issues, good color and only the occasional
aliasing error, while the Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is decent for a TV
production like this. It is well
recorded and the mixes have character. Extras
on all three sets include Outtakes/Deleted Scenes, audio commentary on most
episodes, making of featurettes and various promo pieces. The first set adds Boosh Music and stills,
while the second stills, a pilot show and “Sweet”
skit. Try the first set at least, but
know all are going to be grouped together later and more shows seem to be in
the works.
- Nicholas Sheffo
