Clatterford: The Complete Season One
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Movie Reviews of Clatterford: The Complete Season One
Movie Review: What Intelligent, well written, fabulously acted television can be!
Summary: 5 Stars
My husband and I think this is in the top of the best of the best of television programming. I'm adding his opinion, as some might call this series a "chick flick series" but we wouldn't agree with that. It's a series that an intelligent, thoughtful adult will like - and there are plenty of men who qualify for that designation.
I don't know how to keep my superlatives under control - the writing is amazing for a start. Jennifer Saunders has outdone herself - she's managed to take on some serious subjects under the guise of humor, and she pulls it off spectacularly. These stories simply must be the result of intelligent observation of fellow human beings - warts and kindnesses, follies and wisdom - written by someone who knows how to write. Then these brilliant scripts are given to actors who can, follow me now, actually act! They create well rounded, fully realized human beings. We are with them all the way. We like them! We empathize with them. Most of us have known people like them, and if not, would very much like to do so. And we appreciate that they care for each other, and despite eccentricities, support each other through the tough times of life. In a believable way, mind you. The people are congruent all the way through and the scripts tell stories that flow naturally and easily from the characters. No problem handing over that "suspension of disbelief" in this case.
I can't leave out the amazing Joanna Lumley - honestly, I laughed every time she came on the screen. And there is a scene between James and his former headmistress involving a pap smear that is maybe the funniest thing ever performed on television. I can't even think about it without breaking into chuckles. The script is beyond wonderful and the actors do it justice with every word and facial expression. Thank you so much - the world doesn't always allow for a good belly laugh, and if I could, I'd anoint you with every award possible for this scene alone. And it isn't alone!
I can't recommend this DVD enough. I have told myriad friends and relatives and done everything I can to get it out and about and seen in the states. By the way, do you know how many times I've used the words "intelligent" and "television" in the same sentence? Maybe 5 times ever?! Okay, maybe 6 times, but that may be pushing it. See this series. Treat yourself. And thank you, Jennifer Saunders - for this you deserve to be remembered forever - this is way better than anything you've done previously - and that's going some!
Movie Review: It's not all jam and Jerusalem
Summary: 5 Stars
Jam and Jerusalem, as it's called in the UK, has a wonderfully large ensemble of actresses and actors (mostly the former!) who live, work, play, and attend Guild meetings in their small English town. As hilarious as AbFab in it's own way the show touches on more universal situations and occurrences than those of Eddy, Saffy, and Patsy. It may not be as crazy as AbFab (what could be?) but it's great fun and shows a genuine respect for each character, foibles and all.
I love Maggie Steed as Eileen, chairwoman of Clatterford St. Mary Guild, who takes it all so seriously and has a phobia about relinquishing even a smidgen of authority to anyone (lest they wrest the Guild from her control, which no one wants to do anyway). Jennifer Saunders plays the affluent, boring Caroline, whose never-seen son Mikie is in a rock band (not a "pop band!") and whose daughter Freida (played by Saunder's daughter Freida) couldn't care less about the equestrian goals set for her by her mother. Dawn French plays simple Rosie, a worker in a cheese factory who regularly gifts others with large blocks of plastic-wrapped cheese, and has another identity called Margaret who regularly antagonizes and scares Rosie (and makes for several amusing and affecting situations). Patrick Barlow is the oft-disgruntled and snippy Vicar who tells the grandson of the deceased at a funeral "Now shut up and sit down!" and shrilly decrees "no tins or packets!" on the church altar for the annual harvest feast.
There are many other great people in this show but Pauline McLynn as Tip, Sally Phillips as Tash, and Rosie Cavaliero as Kate (whose introduction as a drop-in, ersatz grief counselor for Sue Johnston as Sal is priceless -- "No, you've got to do them [the stages of coping with the death of a loved one] in the right order.") also stand out.
I think I've mixed up season 1 and 2 so you best buy season 2 as soon as it's out!
Movie Review: Another winner for Jennifer Saunders
Summary: 5 Stars
As the other reviewers have stated, this is sooooo not AbFab*. In fact, it is the antithesis of AbFab. It's about a country community (in Devon) of people who, while having their differences, care deeply for each other. It's closer to "Vicar of Dibley" (albeit, more subtle) or a somewhat kinky British version of the "Andy Griffith Show" (but, with the emphasis on women) than it is to "Northern Exposure".
For that, you'd have to watch Dawn French's, "Wild West", costarring Catherine Tate. Most of the folks of "St. Gweeb", a fictional coastal town in Cornwall, are as isolated and insular as the tiny population of "Cisely", Alaska...and as quirky/funny.
Back to "Clatterford" (or "Jam & Jerusalem" in the UK). It is partly filmed on location and makes great use of the lovely countryside of Devon. Heart-meltingly beautiful. The characters will melt your heart as well, while making you laugh at the same time. There is something and someone here for everyone to relate to.
BTW, It is not taped in front of a studio audience and it does not utilize a "laugh-track"; you'll have to decide, for yourself, when and where to laugh.
*For AbFab fans...a bit of a spoiler...Saunder's "Caroline" relates her experiences of socializing with celebs that her "Eddy" could only fantasize about. Good stuff.
PS - Pauline McLynn, who plays "Tip", has a blog which I follow. They've just finished work on the second series of "J&J" yesterday, so....there's more to come!
Movie Review: Clatterford "Jam and Jerusalem" is outstanding
Summary: 5 Stars
This program is absolutely fabulous, though nothing like Absolutely Fabulous. Jennifer Saunders is part of the cast, but in a very understated way. Joanna Lumley is nearly unrecognizable. Doreen Mantle, Pauline McLynn, Sue Johnston and Dawn French will be familiar to American audiences from other Britcoms, but one soon forgets their other characters. Clatterford Village Green Preservation Society (the "WI" in all but name), throws a diverse group of women together who have little else to stimulate their imaginations.
Much of the gossip surrounds medical issues, thanks to the doctor's widow, played by Sue Johnston. She is interested in the "itchy crotches" "smears" and "ulcers" of the Clatterford residents. Far from being a busy body about it, she seems genuinely interested and no one hesitates to let her check things out.
The cast of characters is charming and the acting is wonderful. This is not to be missed, and for this writer, every viewing has revealed deeper, richer layers, hence the decision to own a personal copy.
I sincerely hope that Clatterford (Jam and Jerusalem in the UK) will return for another season or two. Where AbFab was more or less a running joke, Clatterford is far more original, and anything, but a running joke; it is exquisitely original.
Movie Review: Northern Exposure with a British Accent
Summary: 5 Stars
"Clatterford" is an intoxicating program with so much going on in the background, repeated viewings never bore. The characterizations are a tribute to the fine acting, but none of that would be possible without the brilliant writing of Jennifer Saunders.
"Clatterford" demonstrates the multi-tasking of women in the myriads of characters and their interactions, often all taking place at the same time. Beneath the eccentricity and idiosyncratic behaviour lurks a sweetness and kindness as well as a family born of their proximity and communal life.
A few favorites are Tip's efforts to force the doctor to rehire his mother as nurse for the surgery by confronting him with having to do a pelvic exam, or "smear" of his old head mistress who is quite a randy woman; Queenie, an elderly member of the Women's Guild and verger at the local vicarage as well as crossing guard, studiously trying to find traffic, even to the point of asking if anyone has seen traffic.
Characters such as Tash, Kate and the Vicar, who annoy almost to the point of screaming, inevitably redeem themselves as we see more of their depth of character.
It is slightly disappointing, and inconvenient, not to have the episode list identified on either disc or the case.
And, WE WANT MORE!!