Manchild - The Complete First Season

Rating:
Summary: "Sex in the City" for men...
Review: I was perusing the "unusual" today, in search of a comfort video to nurse me through the balance of a particularly violent Sunday hangover. I picked up this compilation of Manchilds first season, and was snagged by the cover which advertised "Sex In The City for men". "Ahkay", I groaned, figuring something half as entertaining would make a fine accompaniment to drawn blinds and a trough-full of Spinach Artichoke Dip.

Dragged myself home, popped this thing in with low expectation, and was immediately, and very pleasantly, surprised.

I watched the entire 2 DVD's in one sitting, and laughed (painfully considering the headache) the entire way through. The characters are, much like Sex In The City, leaning over the cliff of believably, but sufficiently real to connect with. All four of them roughly 50, all of them successful, all but one of them are single. Philosophically "light", but nonetheless intriguing.

Where Sex In The City seemed to be about four young women growing up and finding a place in their lives for family, Manchild is more about what's on the other side of family..."what then?".

I do think it appropriate however to issue a yellow "Girlfriend/Wife alert", there are numerous "men issues" that these energetic 50 year olds aggressively and often unsensitively tackle. I watched with my girlfriend, and would occassionally glance over to see her, mouth agape in horror that men might ever think or do such things.

For those that love SITC, you have cause for celebration, this is a male reflection of that show; for everyone else who are looking for a good laugh (or to successfully nurse a hangover), pick this DVD series up. You won't be dissapointed.

Enjoy,

Christian Hunter
Santa Barbara, California

Rating:
Summary: Men Will Be Boys
Review: In 2002, the BBC took a risk on a show many have referred to as "a male 'Sex In The City'"; however, "Manchild" is far more than that. It's the story of four friends - Terry (Nigel Havers), James (Anthony Head [Giles from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"]), Gary (Ray Burdis), and Patrick (Don Warrington)- growing old disgracefully. They've got the money, the fast cars, the posh flats, and (except for Gary, who's happily married) the 20-something girlfriends. They've got it made; or have they?

This is a playful, honest study of the way men - and women - think and inter-react. The writing is crisp, witty and brilliant, but what sells it is the ensemble cast. Their chemistry made me believe their characters had been friends for life. My personal favorite character is James - a former dentist, newly divorced and ready to follow in the footsteps of his best friend Terry. However, James finds himself facing a problem he never expected to 'arise'.

This series is laugh-out-loud funny, no matter how many times I've seen the episodes. Make a date with these guys - you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Men Will Be Boys
Review: In 2002, the BBC took a risk on a show many have referred to as "a male 'Sex In The City'"; however, "Manchild" is far more than that. It's the story of four friends - Terry (Nigel Havers), James (Anthony Head [Giles from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"]), Gary (Ray Burdis), and Patrick (Don Warrington)- growing old disgracefully. They've got the money, the fast cars, the posh flats, and (except for Gary, who's happily married) the 20-something girlfriends. They've got it made; or have they?

This is a playful, honest study of the way men - and women - think and inter-react. The writing is crisp, witty and brilliant, but what sells it is the ensemble cast. Their chemistry made me believe their characters had been friends for life. My personal favorite character is James - a former dentist, newly divorced and ready to follow in the footsteps of his best friend Terry. However, James finds himself facing a problem he never expected to 'arise'.

This series is laugh-out-loud funny, no matter how many times I've seen the episodes. Make a date with these guys - you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Funny, but what is underneath?
Review: Sex in the City for men was how this show is always described. I have not seen any episodes of SITC, but I own this series. Some women I know seem to be concerned that watching it will give their husbands ideas. Lord, I hope not.

See, the trick with the show is in the credits. Watch them and you'll notice the wives are still there (execpt Patrick). During the course of the show, anyone with a brain should notice that:

1. Terry is a complete wanker.
2. James is a dim bulb.
3. Patrick, though bright and funny, is full of himself.
4. Gary, the fat married one, is actually the happiest of them all. (And Cheryl, his wife, is the smartest character in the show)

It is a funny show and it hit all sorts of fantasy buttons for this male (initally). But watch it several times and you realize how utterly empty their lives are (Something the lads notice themselves in Series 2).

There is a second series of Manchild. There are 8 episodes, 2 of which (Dirty Dixon returns from Africa and James moves in with Terry for a few weeks) are the best in the series, while the other six are utter embarassments. If you think Terry was a wanker in Series 1, he is almost unwatchable in Series 2.

Still, if nothing else, Manchild gives us the intriguing question, "Can you seduce her without saying a word?". Patrick always was good with those sorts of questions.