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- HBO
- Feb 19, 2010
- HBO
- Feb 19, 2010
- HBO
- Feb 19, 2010
- HBO
- Feb 19, 2010
Where to Watch
Season Episodes
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
62
53% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
41% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
6% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
62
53% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
41% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
6% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Using the audio from the radio episodes and then supplying a sort of 1960s-style Hanna-Barbera wash of cheap animation to more fully illustrate the inanity of their conversations, Gervais has landed on something quite special that can be scorchingly funny.
Media Rights Capital, an independent production company, took an offbeat idea and made it work surprisingly well.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 21 User Ratings
8.7
90% Positive
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
10% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 21 User Ratings
8.7
90% Positive
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
10% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
The cartoon show is the least of his series, but it is generally amusing and pretty to watch, and I like the way it rambles.
That a premise so slight yields as much amusement as it does is a tribute to Gervais and Merchant's quick wits and to Pilkington's blend of extreme gullibility and offbeat quirkiness....The purposely retro animation, which turns Gervais into a more cheerful Fred Flintstone, not only adds nothing to the mix--it subtracts.
The chats are amusing, quirky and strangely obsessed with monkeys (which, granted, is always a funny topic), but the illustrations tend to overemphasize the throwaway moments, draining them of spontaneity and often of their original humor.
To reduce talents as large as Gervais and Merchant to caricatures seems absurd. The vitality and enthusiasm that passes between them, and the unfettered joy implicit in that, demands a human face, and without that, HBO is missing the point, creating a show that's easy to listen to, but actually hard to watch.
The static nature of three talking heads (even in cartoon form) is dull, and the intermittent non-studio interstitials used to illustrate the discussion fail to provide enough of a change. Watching cartoon characters laugh at one another feels recursively silly, and not in a good way.
Those of you that listened to the podcasts on-line will quickly realise that much of the material in this first series is repeated but when it is as funny as this who really cares?
The only thing added by the TV show are the animations to go along with Karl Pilkington's crazy stories and ideas but these really do add the entertainment often making it even more funny. If you've never listened to Karl Pilkington you are really missing out and I would definitely recommend you pick up this animated comedy gem.
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SEASON 1
Some joyful, witty banter enlightened by amazing animation. It's a show hard to dislike.
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SEASON 1
Treat yourself. I just don't know anyone who could get away with what Ricky Gervais does. But as with all good humor - this is pure truth, gnawing at those funny bones and exposing parts of us that are both funny and truly painful. If you haven't had the luck to catch After Life - don't give up after ep 1 because you think you know what this is about. It is so much more. Pure genius - thank you.
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SEASON 1
This is great, very funny the animation does really add a lot to the podcasts and even tho i have listened to the podcasts i had no problem watching this in parts the animation made it even funnier.
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SEASON 1
