Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3656 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-08-05
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 200 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
"A horrible, vile, disgusting sitcom about four students who live in the most revolting house in Britain", The Young Ones became an instant BBC comedy landmark in 1982 by launching an all-out assault on the moribund sitcom, mixing Monty Python-esque madness with post-punk anarchy. There are no real stories, only a succession of often hysterically funny scenes as ingenious gags collide with deliberately corny lines, cartoon-like ultra-violence, pop music breaks, surreal interludes with characters ranging from the Three Bears to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and gross-out moments based on various bodily functions and substances.

Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer and Christopher Ryan are the four housemates: Rick (Cliff Richard-worshipping radical sociology student), Vyvan (violence-loving punk medical student), Neil (put-upon suicidal hippie) and Mike (self-styled cool guy). Alexei Sayle appears regularly playing various mad Russians. Taking a cue from National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) the show now seems to anticipate the teen gross-out flicks of the late 1990s but to far more amusing effect. In retrospect The Young Ones is cheerfully un-politically correct in a way which may shock more now than 20 years ago; certainly some of the insults and drug-taking would have trouble getting on TV today. The first series was followed by a second equally hilarious series; Mayall and Edmondson played essentially similar characters in Filthy, Rich and Catflap (1987) and Bottom (1991-5).

On the DVD: The Young Ones on disc has disappointingly no extra features except optional English subtitles. The sound is full, clear mono and the 4:3 picture is as good as can be expected from a 1980s BBC comedy shot on video and certainly far better than the show appeared when it was broadcast.--Gary S Dalkin

Special Features
English
Region 2

Synopsis
This beloved British comedy series presents an irreverent look at youth that gained a huge cult following, both in England and abroad. Rik Mayall's inspired comic invention benefits from surreal, unusual writing and hilarious, spontaneous perfomances. This collection contains all six episodes of the first season: "Demolition," "Oil," "Boring," "Bomb," "Interesting," and "Flood." Witness the antics of Rick (Mayall), Neil (Nigel Planer), Mike (Christopher Ryan), and Vyv (Adrian Edmondson), and party like it's 1982. The series features music by bands of the era such as Madness and Dexy's Midnight Runners, as well as guest appearances by Robbie Coltrane, Jennifer Saunders, and writer Ben Elton.

Customer Reviews

Hang on a tic....
I have been a fan of the Young Ones ever since it first ran - every word is ingrained on my memory, much to the annoyance of my workmates and friends who have had to listen to be spout huge rheams of it when conversation lags. I gleefully bought the DVDs and finally thought I could retire my old, VERY much loved and fast deteriorating videos. And then I spotted something.
These have been tweaked. Watch 'Oil', where the scene changes from Neil's 'Arab contemplation' to Rik, Neil and Vyv in the cellar. The scene jumps straight to Vyv banging the floor with his head and omits where he pushes a slacking Rik out of the way with a 'Get on with it Rik you big poof!' (hardly THAT offensive). In addition, the sound effects of Neil's pick and Vyv's head on the floor (and subsequent Neil's pick hitting Vyv's head) seem to have been taken out. I haven't found any more edits as yet, but caveat emptor.
I have heard a lot of rumours that the Region 1 version will have extras and this has p****d off a lot of fans. Me, I don't worry so much about wanting extras, I'm just happy to see the boys back all cleaned up and just as funny as ever.
Now, if only they'd release the Goodies, my life would be complete..

young ones
Not overly impressed ... ok this is the best comedy show in the history of television but this dvd release is awful ... the american release comes with both series and extra episodes from the truly amazing filthy rich and catflap ... this comes with one series and the only extra the bbc choose to give the british public is the box ;)

If you can get the import version .. but then again i might as well be a leonard cohen record ;)

I've Not Always Been Mad You Know...
The Young Ones is a firm representative of anarchy in the 80's. It may be over twenty five years since this was broadcast, but its status within the comedy world now stands as inspiration for upcoming comedians. With Monty Python type sketches and politically incorrect humour, The Royle Family this is definately not.

The main thing to note about The Young Ones is this is where the world was introduced to Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson. Here they played Rik and Vivyan respectively, two characters they would later go on to perform under new names in Bottom. Alongside Nigel Planer and Christopher Ryan as Neil and Mike respectively, these were The Young Ones.

The comedy here is totally different to what you would get today. Rik Mayall is stupendously funny as a Cliff Richard worshipper anarchist, whilst Nigel Planer is perfect as the suicidal hippie. This is also the only show I have seen Alexei Sayle as well and all his parts are hilarious here as the mad Russian Balowski family.

Apart from the comedy, this also featured well known 80's acts like Madness, Dexys Midnight Runners and some fairly unknown talents like Rip,Rig and Panic and Nine Below Zero. Whilst they generally had nothing to do with the comedy itself, they provide that breath of fresh air that most comedies don't do today.

Each episode is a gem to watch, with each one running roughly under thirty five minutes each which is a long time for each one but they never drag. Also watch out for appearances from the likes of Robbie Coltrane (Who would have thought you would see Cracker in a show like this?!).

I reccomend this dvd to just about everybody who enjoys material by Mayall and Edmondson. Its fun, its rude and its funny. :-)