Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2206 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-10-25
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 90 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The two-part conclusion to The Office bids farewell to David Brent and his long-suffering co-workers in a surprisingly poignant not to say dignified manner. Supposedly accompanied by the fly-on-the-wall documentary crew three years after his highly undignified exit from Slough-based paper merchants Wernham Hogg, the first part reveals Brent as a travelling salesman by day and D-list "celebrity" by night, enduring humiliating club appearances organised by his clueless manager. But Brent can't keep away from his old stamping-ground in Slough, especially with the imminent prospect of the annual Christmas party. As much to spite suave rival Neil as anything else, Brent is on an agonisingly painful hunt for a date to bring along.

Back at Wernham Hogg, lovelorn Tim has to endure not only the officious behaviour of Gareth, now his manager, but also a cheerless existence bereft of Dawn, who is living in Florida with boorish fiancé Lee. Matters are brought to a head for all concerned--including Lee and Dawn, flown over specially for the occasion--when they finally gather in the office for the party.

As ever the script is full of priceless one-liners (witness big Keith's chat-up spiel, as he promises "at least one orgasm" to any woman), and the show is peppered with those direct appeals to camera (Tim's weary "I don't believe he just said that" look, Brent's desperate self-justificatory "Eh?"), as well as achingly effective silences that simultaneously enhance the fly-on-the-wall conceit and heighten the comic effect. Without descending into the sentimental or the trite, somehow The Office closes for business on a genuinely heartwarming note.

On the DVD: This single disc has good, if unexceptional, bonus features. There's a behind-the-scenes documentary in similar format to those on the previous releases, a commentary from Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais on Episode 2, a funny and deservedly self-congratulatory featurette on the Golden Globe Awards ceremony, the full video of David Brent's single "If You Don't Know Me By Now" plus a recording session for "Freelove Freeway" (with Noel Gallagher on backing vocals). --Mark Walker

Special Features
- "The Office: Closed For Business" documentary - Golden Globe featurette - "If You Don't Know Me By Now" full song and video - "Freelove Freeway" - The Single - "Making Of Freelove Freeway" video - Director's Commentary

Synopsis
The final episodes of the only British sitcom to win a Golden Globe. Since we last left THE OFFICE, David Brent has released a single, Dawn has gone to America, and Gareth has been promoted.
We now follow David on the road in his quest for fame, Gareth in his new role, and Dawn in America. Meanwhile Tim is still suffering in the office, still battling with his feelings for Dawn. It is announced that she is coming back for the christmas party, will old flames still be burning

Customer Reviews

Surprisingly sensitive conclusion to this class series
Ricky Gervais and Steve Marchants decision to bring The Office to a conclusion after only two series with these two Christmas specials may have felt to many like a hasty one. However watching the episodes its difficult to argue with them for they bring the whole project to a satisfying ,moving and timely conclusion .After two series they clearly felt that a comedy so bound to one location and centring on the same characters so relentlessly would be hard to maintain in terms of quality and freshness. Plus having David Brent made redundant at the end of series two drove them up a comedy cul de sac. The problem was the story arc of some of the shows characters hadn't run its course so this was a nice way of tying up all the loose ends. It was a gamble but it's done with such panache and with a script that pays as much attention to the dramatic as the comedic that it pays off handsomely. These two episodes, particularly the second are superb.
David Brent is now a Rep, still spouting inane cod philosophical asides and crass bulls***, except now he does it scooting up and down Motorways. Garth has been promoted sort of and is still about as effective as wellies in quicksand. Dawn is still in America with her sexist plank of a boyfriend and Tim is still Tim. Brent is trying to cash in on the minor fame his TV exposure via The Office has given him, even to the extent of hiring an agent who with an air of weary resignation books him slots in seedy nightclubs so he can appear in excruciating "Blind Date" parodies along with Howard from The "Halifax." He has also joined a dating agency leading to a couple of acutely embarrassing encounters where his penchant for asinine effrontery goes up a notch. As ever these are wincingly funny but still make you take a sharp intake of breath.
Obviously to divulge more would be to ruin it, but the Tim and Dawn situation is resolved in a believable and poignant way while Brent finds true love or what ever passes for it in his own warped little universe in a way that isn't quite so realistic given his inherent character traits but if it makes him a better person as is implied then what the hell.
This isn't pure comedy in the manner of a "Fawlty Towers " or a "BlackAdder" but it's still very funny at times and as a miniscule peak at the internal dynamics of a work place and the disparate characters involved its terrific and wonderfully observed, aided by some superb performances of which Gervias is fantastic as ever. The acting for the conclusion of the Dawn/Tim thing is absolutely sublime. It would make a bollard weep. As endings of popular comedies go its right up there with the conclusion of" BlackAdder Goes forth" and you can't get better than that. Wonderful stuff.

Parting is such sweet sorrow
Parting is such sweet sorrow and when it's from the cast of 'The Office', this is particularly true. This DVD will leave any fan of David Brent and his staff with a firm lump in their throat but a finer ending to this splendid series could not have been imagined. Moving away from it's root in cringe-worthy situation comedy, 'The Office Christmas Specials' move into a territory still laced with embarassment and laughs but with a large measure of something else...if I try and describe it, it won't do it service. You just have to watch it.

Apart from the 'drama' (which in itself is worth it's weight in gold), the DVD has some gems for any discerning viewer wanting to see the banter and 'behind the scenes' of 'The Office' saga. The Golden Globe Awards documentary (the only British comedy EVER to win a Golden Globe award) is very touching. The best thing that comes out of these documentaries is what a good time they had. What with the full version of David Brent's failed single (a cover of 'If you don't know me by now'), Ricky Gervais' complete band version of 'Freelove Freeway' and more, you won't be disappointed. The warmth that comes from 'The Office' cast will leave you glowing and Ricky Gervais' unique, manic enjoyment of having a laugh and make others laugh is undoubtably the highlight of this DVD. Buy it. Show it to your kids and then give it to them to show to their kids.

Brilliant Comedy
This is British comedy at its best. The follow up to the two series this Christmas is one of the best around, adding more depth to the main characters (including a more sympathetic side of David Brent) and introducing great new ones. Brent is probably the best lead character in recent Sitcom history and his appearence in a club version of Blind Date is hilarious. Also look out for his wince inducing single and its cheesy video. All in all absolute quality, a great script brilliantly acted and with a moving ending. Buy it!!!!