Rating: 
Summary: Bless you for watching!
Review: "Vicar of Dibley" is one of my all-time fave Britcoms, mainly because it stars Dawn French (other half of famous comedic duo French & Saunders of "Absolutely Fabulous" fame). French stars as Geraldine Granger, a female vicar sent to the quiet town of Dibley to replace the ancient vicar whose just snuffed it. As David Horton, town councillor and resident crabpot says, "I think it would be hard to find [an older replacement] without actually recruiting a member of the Rolling Stones". Instead of a "bloke with a Bible, beard and bad breath", they get Gerry, "a babe with a bob cut and a magnificent bosom". Gerry has to fight at first to convince the residents of Dibley that she is the right person for the job, vowing that there won't be "pantyhose drying on the vestry".
Each Dibley resident is unique and hilarious in their own way; Letitia Cropely, whose "experimental cooking" frightens everybody ("that Cropley woman really is the Queen of Cordon BLEH!", Gerry exclaims); Frank Pickles and his anal retentive perfectionism wins him the title of "Most Boring Man in Britain" in the Times; Owen Newitt and his bowel troubles ("I've spent so much time [in the bathroom] I'm thinking of sending out change of address cards."); Hugo Horton, son of the above mentioned David Horton and all around sweet simpleton. Hugo has a crush on Alice Tinker, the church verger who is "as thick as two short planks glued together with stupid glue" according to David, who is appalled by Hugo's infatuation with her. And, of course, there's Jim Trott, who's "No, no, no, no..." everytime he begins a sentence grates on everyone's nerves.Gerry guides her new parishioners in the ways of life and love, manages to secure Kylie Minogue to open the Dibley fete, finds love herself with David's errant prodigal brother Simon, dresses up as the Easter bunny to keep a Dibley tradition alive, and becomes deeply entrenched in this town she was so unwelcome in at the start. The show has a few cameos from Kylie Minogue, London ballerina Darcy Bussell, and Sean Bean (Boramir in "Lord of the Rings"). Fall in love with Gerry Granger- woman vicar, sex kitten, and chocoholic (Crunchie bars are her fave- mine too!). There are very few extras, but is offered is a treat. A look at the UK's 1999 Comic Relief sketches "Red Nose Day" and "Ballykissangel", plus interviews with the actual vicars of Dibley. A collection worthy of your hard earned money. Bless you for watching!
Rating:
Summary: The Lord Is My Shepherd...
Review: "The Vicar of Dibley" is one of my all-time favorite Britcoms. It centers around the arrival of a new vicar to the small town of Dibley. Unlike the previous frail & elderly head of their congregation, the people of Dibley are treated to a fun, buxom, invigorating younger woman named Geraldine Granger (played wonderfully by the always funny Dawn French). Gary Waldhorn stars as David Horton, head of the town council, and all-around dissenter to Geraldine's enthusiastic and modern approach to the church. Over the course of the first season, David starts to warm up to the new vicar, and things really start to click. Two things which are needed to make a successful comedy are the right actors and the right script, and "Vicar of Dibley" has both in abundance. Richard Curtis & Paul Mayhew-Archer have created some of the most unique and funny characters to ever grace a television screen. These characters are in-turn portrayed by a great group of actors, most notably Emma Chambers as Alice Tinker, and Roger Lloyd-Pack as Owen Newitt. But they are just my personal favorites. The others are great, as well. The humor of this fantastic Britcom is rather bawdy and broad. It has its own cozy charm, due in part to its village setting, quaint characters, and episodes dealing with nice holiday dinners, but this is not cozy along the lines of "As Time Goes By" or even "Good Neighbors". If you're more a fan of the slower-paced, gentler Britcoms, then this may not be your cup of tea. Personally, however, I think it a perfect blend of both broad and gentle humor. At a short and sweet length of 16 episodes, the show knew when to quit (although I'm not a huge fan of the last episode). Over the course of the series we get to see the vicar arrive in Dibley, overcome the initial hostility of the townfolk, to eventually become welcomed and accepted, by the community and its endearing inhabitants. There are marriages, celebrities, romances, and babies. All of these things are handled with a deft comedic touch, and it helps to make "The Vicar of Dibley" one of best Britcoms ever.
Rating: 
Summary: Funny, but. . .
Review: . . .is there possibly an AGENDA here???
The parish council is hysterical (except for the constant vulgarities from one member -- WAAY overdone); the predicaments are quite good (and somewhat predictable) and Dawn French is a gifted comedienne.
BUT. . .
Having grown up in a rather high Anglican tradition, and having seen what has happened to the church of my boyhood and a tradition I loved very deeply, I find some of the stereotypes painfully unfunny. Note the following:
Male priest bad -- Female "priest" good.
Tradition bad -- (Radical) innovation good.
Parish conservatives bad -- parish revisionists good.
"The Vicar of Dibley" takes many of the factors which drove me away from Anglicanism and makes them funny -- sometimes hysterically so. But in so doing, a worthy (and fast disappearing) hristian tradition is mocked and ridiculed.
Five stars for humor.
One star for agenda.
Average -- three stars.
Rating:
Summary: Superb writing, comedy
Review: At the opening of 'Service for the Animals', Alice's confession to the Vicar that she can't believe that I can't believe it's not butter is not butter has to be one of the funniest bits ever written. The Vicar's reaction is classic. We watch this series every winter -- it brightens up those long dark evenings!
Rating:
Summary: Best of British
Review: Being a Brit I am biased. Dawn and the Gang are the very essence of rural life here in the UK, only funnier. I havent missed an episode or even the repeats on UK Gold on Sky TV.
They make me feal very cosy and show a life here in Britain that is sadly not available anymore well at least not since the 2nd World War and isnt tainted with greed, envy and any other term you wish to use.
There are no poltics and its anything but politically correct.
I have even been to Dibley (Turville) near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, and expected to see Alice or Geraldine walking across the village green. If you look inside St Barnabus (St Marys) you will even see Dawns signature in the visitors book. If you have any interest in the rural life of Britain and the querkiness of British Culture but this DVD, even though its not even out yet. May be one day we will get the box set for ourselves.
Rating:
Summary: HEAVENLY VIEWING
Review: Being a long tome lover of the British comedy series, The Vicar of Dibley ranks at the top of my list for quality and high entertainment value. Dawn French is fabulous as Gerry Granger the vicar who shakes up a stiff farming community and turns them on their ears. For anyone who has ever seen the show to be able to have all the episodes in one box is a real treat. You will also fall in love with all the other characters from David Horton stuck up society man to the simple minded Alice Tinker.
The extras on the dvd are also something unique they take you inside the real world of women vicars and the church of England as well as showing a rare episode of the show done for charity.
I give this set an A+.
Rating:
Summary: "You were expecting a bloke... beard, bible, bad breath?"
Review: Between 1994 and 1999, the BBC produced a hilarious television series called "The Vicar of Dibley" starring the well-known Dawn French. The plot of the series was that the small English farming village of Dibley needed a new vicar after its 102-year old vicar (played by Preston Lockwood, 1912-1996) passed away. To the surprise of many village residents, their new vicar is a boisterous woman by the name of Geraldine Granger (Dawn French). One villager in particular, the wealthy David Horton (Gary Waldhorn), is especially not pleased with the situation, but over time, his opinion changes. David and several of Dibley's more eccentric residents regularly meet to discuss various issues addressing Dibley. These villagers include David's son Hugo (James Fleet), their secretary Frank Pickle (John Bluthal), the farmer Owen Newitt (Roger Lloyd-Pack) and the stuttering Jim Trott (Trevor Peacock). Until her character passed away during an Easter special (following the show's first season), the village meetings also included Dibley's most experimental cook, Letitia Cropley (Liz Smith). Upon becoming Dibley's vicar, Geraldine is treated to having her own scatter-brained assistant, Alice Tinker (Emma Chambers). The first season of "The Vicar of Dibley" aired in 1994 with 6 episodes. Three 40+ minute specials followed in 1996 & 1997, as well as one 11-minute special, before the second season aired in 1998 with three episodes. The third (and final) season of 4 episodes aired in 1999. The three-disk DVD collection of the series contains the 16 regular length episodes and specials, but not the 11-minute special from 1997. These episodes and specials (with my rating for each) are listed below: Disk 1: 1. "Arrival" (5+). Dibley's aging vicar passes away, and Geraldine Granger arrives to take his place.
2. "Songs of Praise" (5+). A BBC TV program wants to feature a show about Dibley's new female vicar, and Geraldine decides to have auditions for church choir.
3. "Community Spirit" (5). Geraldine promises a huge Autumn Fair turnout thinking that she can get Elton John to appear thanks to Alice, but Kylie Minogue arrives instead.
4. "The Window and the Weather" (5). A wind storm causes a tree to fall through the church's stained-glass window.
5. "Elections" (5). Geraldine and David clash over bus service to Dibley and becomes his unintentional opponent in the race.
6. "Animals" (5+). To David's disapproval, Geraldine holds an animal church service. Disk 2: 1. "The Easter Bunny" (5+). Letitia passes away and bequeaths her Easter Bunny duties.
2. "The Christmas Lunch Incident" (5+). Geraldine gets talked into several filling Christmas lunches.
3. "Engagement" (5). Alice and Hugo get engaged with a little help from Geraldine.
4. "Dibley Live". Geraldine is in charge of "Radio Dibley" that exists for only one week and is live.
5. "Celebrity Vicar" (5). Geraldine appears on a TV show and becomes a celebrity.
6. "Love and Marriage" (5+). Geraldine presides over Hugo and Alice's wedding and meets David's brother Simon (Clive Mantle). Disk 3: 1. "Autumn" (5). Geraldine finally gets to spend time with Simon and Alice is pregnant.
2. "Winter" (5). Geraldine is in charge of Dibley's annual nativity reenactment.
3. "Spring" (4.5). Alice & Hugo's daughter who they named after Geraldine is baptized.
4. "Summer" (3). Dibley struggles through a hot drought and the water board wants to turn Dibley into a reservoir. Overall, I rate "The Vicar of Dibley" with 5 out of 5 stars. The vast majority of the shows are very good, with the exception of the final episode that didn't seem as well written.
Rating: 
Summary: Run of the mill sitcom
Review: Bought this collection based on the glowing reviews posted here, particularly those emphasizing the series' sophistication. Well. I sometimes find gastro-intestinal and female anatomy jokes amusing, but definitely not sophisticated. This series has plenty of them, and, sad to say, most are not even that funny. The lead actress seems more suited for standup than series comedy, as she hogs and mugs her way through every scene she's in, dispensing one-liners that aren't particularly funny even by television sitcom standards. The supporting cast is a little better, but after you've heard the grizzled guy with the lower g-i trouble joke about it, or the grizzled crone talk about her sex life, and the grizzled no-no-no guy say no-no-no a thousand times, there's nothing left. Except 16 more episodes.
Rating: 
Summary: BUY IT FOR DAWN
Review: Dawn French in her own series based on a quiet little town where she is the Vicar (obviously) but the ensemble is great and the jokes are ever so subtle and the whole series is quite enjoyable. After having seen only a few episodes on PBS, I wanted to see more but knew nothing of it. Once it was released on dvd, and Christmas came along, I found it to be an excellant show. If you want to see Dawn at her funniest though, I'd go with the French & Saunders boxset, not this collection. French is a bit tame at times and looks bored with the direction of the series occasionally.
Rating:
Summary: BUY IT FOR DAWN
Review: Dawn French in her own series based on a quiet little town where she is the Vicar (obviously) but the ensemble is great and the jokes are ever so subtle and the whole series is quite enjoyable. After having seen only a few episodes on PBS, I wanted to see more but knew nothing of it. Once it was released on dvd, and Christmas came along, I found it to be an excellant show. If you want to see Dawn at her funniest though, I'd go with the French & Saunders boxset, not this collection. French is a bit tame at times and looks bored with the direction of the series occasionally.
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