Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1453 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-01-26
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 58 minutes

Synopsis
The nation's favourite couch potatoes return for this one-off Christmas special. Events begin, as usual, in and around the Royle's comfortable living room. But quickly move on to the equally tasteful surroundings of Dave and Denise flat, as Denise attempts to cook Christmas dinner. Created by Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash, THE ROYLE FAMILY's subtle humour and surprisingly poignant moments have seen it become a modern comedy classic.

Customer Reviews

Well below previous standard
Like many people, I was eagerly anticipating this latest Royle episode.
Somehow from the first scene where Jim is messily eating the After Eights, it began to feel wrong.
By the time we were at Denise and Dave's house, it turned to near disaster.
A close and loving family who banish the children from their home on Christmas Day (young David's birthday)?
Parents who do not understand food hygiene so happily bathe with a half- frozen turkey?
Denise so stupid she does not know how many legs a turkey has?

Now, if this had been written about other characters, I would have dismissed it as not to my taste and not given it another thought, but it was our beloved Royle characters who were being distorted and downgraded to idiots.

As a working class person, I really resent that sort of patronising portrayal. The REAL Royle family were accurately depicted in an affectionate
light.

I used to watch every second of every Royle episode to savour the atmosphere, but I switched this off in despair a few minutes before the end.

Disappointing
Was really looking forward to this but was bitterly disappointed. Not the same without all the original cast members. The storyline was too ridiculous in parts. Nowhere near as funny as previous episodes.

What a way to spoil a legend
I love the Royle Family, the simplicity and subtlety of it works perfectly. But this special is totally different, it's ridiculous.

Moving to Dave and Denise's house is the first big (and wrong) change. Next is introducing Dave's parents, who have no likable qualities like every other character.

But what I found most disappointing was the over exaggeration of Dave and Denise's level of intelligence. Yes, it has always been a bit of a joke that they are a little slow on the uptake, but a pair of complete morons? Defrosting the turkey in the bath, making a cocktail out of a blue alcopop and then dropping in a whole banana to put some fruit in? Come on, it's just too silly.

The great thing about the original series was that it was totally believable, it was ordinary day to day life that everyone could sympathise with - not a lot happened. There was routine, mundane inconsequential conversation, evenings sat around the telly, excitement at the prospect of eating fish and chips, local gossip. But this special has nothing of the sort.

Having enjoyed the simple, dry humour the of the originals this was painful to watch, cringeworthy even. It completely spoiled everything that had gone before.

That said, I will keep this DVD. As like Dave with the Lighthouse Family, when it comes to the Royle Family: I've got everything they've ever done. But I doubt I'll be watching any future specials, hopefully this will be the last.