Benidorm - Series 1 - DVD (Johnny Vegas - Dir: )

The Solana resort, at the heart of Benidorm, sounds like quite a place to spend a holiday. It attracts a broad selection of characters, all sorts of antics, and fortunately for anyone picking this DVD up, a good few laughs too.

A comedy programme that slipped under many people's radar, Benidorm puts an all-inclusive holiday destination at the heart of its setup, and then sets about filling it with a collection of fascinating characters. So you have the quiz kings for starters, along with a pair of mature swingers. There's a standard-ish stereotypical family, a gay couple on holiday to celebrate, and a squabbling married pair too. It's a broad ensemble, and this proves to be one of the many qualities of the programme.

However, also in Benidorm's favour are some witty scripts, plenty of not-for-the-kids dialogue and a lot of belly laughs. All six episodes from the first series are collected here, and while the laughs don't always constantly flow throughout, the hit count is certainly high. And given the lack of quality fresh British sitcoms of late, Benidorm proves to be quite a collectors item. It might not, on the basis of this first series, be on the way to being a flat-out comedy classic, but there's so much enjoyment in the episodes here that a second series is hard to resist. --Jon Foster

Customer Reviews of Benidorm - Series 1

Pugsie
UK
21st November 2008

Very British!!!!
This is so funny and unfortunately the characters remind me of people I have met and know through life! A great easy comedy that can be watched over again.

Ms. Karen Thompson
Strasbourg, France
23rd October 2008

Classic British comedy
When I first read reviews on Benidorm I knew I would find it funny and had to buy it. Within the first 5 minutes of watching it I was laughing out loud. The characters and acting are first class. After a bad day at work I was able to switch off and watch a comedy that is so true to life. I was still giggling away to myself the next morning on my way to work thinking of all the really funny parts. I know it's a DVD I will never tire of watching, just like The Royle Family. I went to Benidorm about 8 years ago and even saw Sticky Vicky (she is real). My favourite characters have to be the swinging couple, they are classic. I also loved the Garvey family, I have met many people like that on holiday and in day to day life.

S. P. Doherty

6th October 2008

Brits abroad?
Very well written,excellent casting,its great that we have the ability
to laugh at ourselves,we have all met these people on holiday at some
point...EXCELLENT.

davlav13
Surrey, England
30th September 2008

So very funny and observant
Frighteningly accurate portrayal of Brits on holiday in the hell that is Benidorm. Sharp and funny, well acted - a gem that should have received greater credit. Will be getting Series Two as soon as.

jreevy
UK
19th September 2008

Brilliant
With the exception of the surrealistic and brilliant observational comedy (such as The Office and anything by Eddy Izzard) we get from time to time, most modern British comedy is formulaic, crude and not funny. This is crude and formulaic and very very funny.

Having seen this on TV, it took ages to get my wife and kids to watch episode one after I had explained the basic premise to them (badly). Once I did, they watched the whole series right through in one sitting and we regularly repeat episodes.

I suspect it appeals most to the sort of people who wouldn't be caught dead in a place like the Solara, but the casting is as the writing.

If it hadn't been for the Office, I'd say this was the best British sitcom since Dad's Army.