Wow! Such a good movie.

Very well executed

How sad is this?

All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.

Clearly envious by the success of 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' and 'Not The Nine O'Clock News' on the BBC, Granada Television in 1982 pitched together some of the freshest comedy talent around of which consisted of Ben Elton ( who wrote much of the material ), Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson, Siobhan Redmond and Paul Shearer and placed them into a three part comedy show entitled 'There's Nothing To Worry About!' ( broadcast only in North West England and which was also intended to be a vehicle originally for Rik Mayall ). The following year, Granada screened nationally 'Alfresco', which retained the cast from 'There's Nothing To Worry About!' save for Paul Shearer, who was replaced by Robbie Coltrane.The sketches had little or no logic to them. It seemed to exist purely in its own world. The first episode contained a sketch in which a nervous young man ( played by Hugh Laurie ) attempts to buy a bottle of perfume from a department store as a gift for his mother. ''I'd like some scent, please.'' says the young man to the sales girl ( played by Emma Thompson ), to which she replies ''Sorry, we don't deliver!''. A 'Tales Of The Unexpected' spoof saw Hugh Laurie dancing to the theme of said show. A very funny 'University Challenge' spoof saw Ben Elton answering a question about MI5 spies, only then to be shot dead.The first series was overall very dark in tone. Each week, it would open with an animated set of opening titles which saw a busker playing on a saxophone 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles'. The second series was more upbeat and featured a catchy tune provided by the late David McNiven which played over a comic-strip style set of titles. It was also in the second series that 'The Pretend Pub' ( an obvious send-up of 'Crossroads' ) was introduced, a patently obvious mock-up of a pub peopled by strange characters such as Ezzer, Bezzer, Lord Stezzer, Huzzer and Bobzerr.Despite its many plus points, 'Alfresco' sadly just did not gel. Critics slashed it to pieces and after the second series it simply vanished into the open air. Perhaps it was just too weird for Granada audiences. The cast certainly did their very best with what they were given. In particular, Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson ( who looked particularly sexy in some of her guises ) and Robbie Coltrane managed a few guffaws but overall the 'Python' feel was not suited to this stable of comedy.Despite its unremarkable reception, 'Alfresco' has still proved influential in some respects. For instance, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie later made their own BBC series 'A Bit Of Fry & Laurie', Siobhan Redmond landed many straight acting roles such as Maureen Connell in 'Between The Lines' whilst Robbie Coltrane and Emma Thompson went on to become Oscar award winning stars. In 2009, 'Alfresco' was released on DVD, with all three episodes of 'There's Nothing To Worry About!' included as a special feature.

Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie gave us the flawless characterizations of "Jeeves & Wooster", and the often hilariously clever silliness of "A 'Bit' of Fry and Laurie". Throw in the talented Emma Thompson and Robbie Coltrane, and what could possibly go wrong? Just one thing: the writing.This is sketch comedy at its absolute worst -- self-indulgent, unfocused, under-developed and instantly dated. "A 'Bit' of Fry & Laurie" (not to mention "Monty Python's Flying Circus") worked because they relied heavily on absurdist humor, apportioned out in very brief sketches. "Alfresco" sketches wander on and on, with no punch line in sight, just one obnoxious character, potty joke and petering-out plot after another, all propped up with a pathetic laugh track.They savage "new-agers" (ooh!), the class system (how brave!), and those wacky pop musicians (oh, Alfresco -- you shouldn't have!). They wear madcap wigs and wacky make-up! They affect goofy accents! Every aspect of the show is turned up to eleven, without it raising the humor one tick. Honestly -- I really wanted to like this series, but found it impossible.

I loved this when I saw it when it was first aired. I had then never heard of Emma Thompson Hugh Laurie or Stephen Fry. I now still think of them as Ezzer, Huzzer and Lord Stezzer. Alfresco sank without trace at the time (I seemed to remember it was aired mid-week and late) and I was therefore delighted to see it released on DVD. It is just as funny as I remember. I know some others do not like it, but comedy is such a personal thing. I am not easily pleased by comedy sketches. All I can say is I watched a couple of episodes randomly yesterday with my husband and teenage daughter and we all literally cried with laughter. All the principals (also Robbie Coltrane, Ben Elton-who did most of the writing- and Siobhan Redmond) were excellent, but Emma Thompson's ability to take on a character is up there with Peter Sellers. Brilliant!

I have almost worn out my tape of the few episodes of this show I managed to record before it disappeared from the airways. It featured a cast of astonishing talent, who were, as then, not very well known, yet have all gone onto become far better known and for the very good reason that they are all outstanding actors.I'm surprised it's never been released on DVD given that Hugh Laurie is now starring in the very popular 'House', Emma Thompson has won an Oscar, Robbie Coltrane wowed the critics in 'Cracker' before going onto wow kids as Hagrid in the 'Harry Potter' films and Stephen Fry and Ben Elton are pretty much household names in the UK.The sketches were, on the whole, imaginative and tightly scripted, the acting was outstanding, and as with "Laugh??? I Nearly Paid My Licence Fee" and "A Bit of Fry & Laurie" the sketches never followed the expected route. As with those shows, some of the sketches were witty and inventive and some didn't quite get there, but the hits far outnumbered the misses. And the same could be said of Monty Python, the spiritual grandfather of so many of the sketch shows that followed them along lateral and surreal paths instead of the beginning, middle, end and punchline format of the past. This was an era of so much good comedy on British television that I think shows like this were taken for granted by viewers at the time. I remember the backlash against Emma Thompson by critics when her own show 'Thompson' came out, another sketch show that was witty and inventive yet greeted with a lacklustre shrug by UK critics who seemed to have a problem with a woman being that intelligent, equally good in comedy and drama, and that successful (and - at the time - married to Kenneth Branagh, then a rising star of the British theatre). It's a pity that a series that showcased so much talent in its early stages is not better known and has never been released on VHS or DVD for another generation to enjoy. I would love to sit down and see the whole series again from beginning to end.