Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12569 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-07-07
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 180 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The standard of the impressions in Dead Ringers is never less than superb, even when some of the more obvious characters (Rolf Harris, Nigella Lawson and Parkinson, for example) seem over-familiar thanks to the BBC's other similar series, Alistair McGowan's Big Impression. Others, such as Thora Hird or Tom Baker as Doctor Who, simply lack the contemporary edge present throughout the rest of the show. But for the most part the large and talented cast provide enough variety to ensure that the sketches are a pleasure to watch: be it George W Bush's "shockerating" and "erogenous" use of the English language, interviews with the aggressive Lothario Russell Crowe, the reinvention of Michael Buerk as a threatening celebrity kingpin, or the appropriately pretentious Newsnight Review send-up.

One of the most unique and rewarding segments of the show captures the cast on hidden cameras interacting with members of the public while in disguise. Thus we are treated to the unusual sight of Tony Blair addressing a confused bus queue, Jimmy Hill attempting stand-up at a hostile open-mike night, and Gladiator's Maximus Decimus Meridias getting quotes from real-life builders for the reconstruction of his ransacked Roman estate. "I'm not sure I like the sound of decking, how about some Saxon paving?"

On the DVD: Dead Ringers DVD features all six episodes from the first series, including the Christmas special plus the original Pilot. The only features are episode and scene selection. --Paul Philpott

DVD Description
Ransacking the worlds of politics and broadcasting in the name of comedy. No public figure is safe from this exceptionally talented team of impersonators and their satirical digs at subjects that range from the newsworthy to the naughty. Celebrities and politicians are mercilessly lampooned - Russell Crowe, Judi Dench, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robbie Williams, Nigella Lawson, George Bush, Tony Blair and Iain Duncan Smith crop up in strange places, doing the oddest things. Movies and television also get a new twist, as 'The Elephant Man' appears on the grooming-for-a-date show Would Like To Meet, and 'Tom Baker aka Dr Who' befriends the Daleks. Sharp, clever and exceptionally funny, this is satire at its finest.

Special Features
English
Region 2

Customer Reviews

Dead Ringers, Big Hit
Impersonations can be a tricky part of comedy. Some people like to think they're great at them but sound awful and the others who make it big often get stuck doing the same people over and over. However, Dead Ringers shines as a perfect example of how to do this kind of comedy right. The cast mock a large number of celebrities and politicians, never making them catchphrase characters and coming up with hilarious sketches to put them. If you're a fan of satire, I highly suggest you buy this DVD.

One of the best contemporary comedies on TV...
In my opinion dead ringers has something a lot of other impressionist comedies don't have - script. Alistair McGowan is an excellent impressionist, but I find the scenes in his show get repetitive, simply making fun of people's manurisms and speech impedements, where as Dead Ringers has a funny script to back up the characters, and keep the show fresh and funny.
The satirical aspect works well, and much of the script can be related to the news of the time, twisted hilariously to suit each character.
The impressions themselves are superb, and some are more like the real life people than they are themselves. Examples include Tom Baker (Doctor Who), David Dickinson, Michael Buerk, and Ann Robinson.
Dead Ringers is one of the best contemporary comedies on BBC, and in my opinion on TV altogether, and is a welcome return from watching repeats of the days when BBC comedy previously shined (which, sadly, it has not done for a long time).

Dead Ringers... Dead Funny!
This is simply brilliant. On my first viewing, I almost passed out after being deprived of air (due to my fits of giggles, not a bout of strangulation) for the entire programme. If you are considering this DVD as a post-Christmas-blues lifter, you're right on track. A great, feel-good impression show that will snatch away that sadness lurking around and open your eyes to how funny the world is!