If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Good movie but grossly overrated

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

This show is one of my favorite comedies. When I was a kid, I saw a few episodes from each season on TV, but I never had a chance to see the whole series. In the light of Mr. Mayall's passing, I've decided to watch a few shows in which he starred, to honor his life and work. Up until today I've seen "Bottom", "The New Statesman", "The Young Ones" and "Filthy Rich & Catflap".Last week, I watched "Bottom" from start to finish and I absolutely loved it, that was such a treat. Although some people on IMDb's message board complain that the third series was cartoonish, I don't mind that, to me it's equally good as the first two seasons. My favorite episodes are "Apocalypse", "Holy" and "Finger". But the other episodes are not far behind those three. A lot of times the sequence of events was so silly and surreal that it made me think: 'Oh no, they're not gonna go that far' and they always did. The violent slapstick is marvelously executed and so are the duologue's between Eddie and Richard. Supporting characters, especially Dave Hedgehog and Spud Gun are also charming. I was glad to see Helen Lederer as a guest star, whenever I see her on screen I remember Catriona from Ab Fab. All in all, this is a great show.I give it a 10/10

When Rik Mayall died a couple of months ago, the BBC, by way of a tribute, repeated both 'The Young Ones' and 'Bottom', while ITV gave us reruns of 'The New Statesman' and 'Rik Mayall Presents'. As I was snowed under with work obligations at the time, I did not get to see the reruns but managed when I had some spare time to watch some of the late star's stuff on DVD. Having recently been re-watching episodes of 'Bottom', I was reminded how wonderful a comedy actor Rik Mayall really was. One of his greatest assets was his rubber-like face which through a plethora of hilarious expressions could go from being strikingly handsome to hideously ugly within a matter of seconds.By the late '80's, Mayall had established himself as one of Britain's most popular comedy stars, thanks to 'A Kick Up The Eighties', 'The Young Ones' and 'The Comic Strip Presents'. His first leading role was in Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran's witty political sitcom 'The New Statesman' ( in which he played corrupt Tory MP Alan B'Stard ). In 1991, Mayall felt it was time for him to return to his old roots and so teamed up once again with long time comedy partner Ade Edmondson to construct a show together. The net result being 'Bottom', which featured the duo as Richie Richard and Eddie Hitler, two deranged morons who when not getting drunk or chasing women are trying to knock ten bells out of one another. Their only friends are Spudgun ( Steven O'Donnell ) and Dave Hedgehog ( Christopher Ryan ). Most of the action takes place in their run-down council flat though some episodes saw them in more isolated surroundings, such as when the two were trapped at the top of a ferris wheel at a funfair.'Bottom' was unashamedly crude, contrived, violent and over the top but was absolutely hilarious. Rik and Ade had planned to name the show 'Your Bottom', so viewers could be heard to say things like ''I saw 'Your Bottom' on telly last night!'' but instead settled on 'Bottom' to suit the episode titles such as 'Bottom Smells' and 'Bottom's Up'. As a mark of the show's popularity, five stage shows were made - 'Bottom Live' ( 1993 ), 'Bottom Live 2: The Big Number. 2 Tour' ( 1995 ), 'Bottom Live 3: Hooligan's Island' ( 1997 ), 'Bottom Live 2001: An Arse Oddity' and 'Bottom Live 2003: Weapons Grade Y-Fronts'. A feature film went on release in 1999 entitled 'Guest House Paradiso' in which Richie and Eddie were running a squalid hotel. The film was not popular with the critics but was considerably well received by fans of Rik and Ade.The final episode of series two, 'Bottom's Out', in which Richie and Eddie have an encounter with a flasher whilst camping on Wimbledon Common, was not shown on UK television until nearly three years after its planned transmission date as the episode's subject matter coincided with the murder of Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common in 1992. It is now regarded, rightly, as one of the best ever episodes.Three series of 'Bottom' were made. A fourth series was written in the late '90's but did not get made as the BBC refused to go ahead with it. A revival was planned in 2013 in which the setting from the 'Hooligan's Island' stage show ( Richie and Eddie were marooned on a tropical island ) was to be used as the new premise. Again, it never got past the production stage due to artistic difficulties between Mayall and Edmondson. Probably just as well. After all, why spoil something that is already perfect.

When Bottom came out in 1991 it instantly seemed to capture the minds of teenage boys across the UK as the role models you really feared you would not end up anything like.Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmonston had effectively prototyped Richey and Eddie in the 'Young Ones' 'Filthy, Rich and Catflap' etc and with Bottom they were free to reach an all new low (or rather high) Full of disgusting toilet and depraved sexual humour it revelled in the grimy world of failed desires. And nothing makes for funnier viewing than Rik Mayall playing a man who has just been caught masturbating in the most undignified way.Bottom was in many ways, a traditional form of comedy, a loser who wears the shirt and tie to give the impression he is somebody, like Tony Hancock in the 50s. But it had all the knocks and gore to satisfy an early 90s audience and that's why we loved it, and of course, still do.

"Bottom" is another entry in the series of Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson projects that involve these grown men behaving like children and hitting one another. What's wrong with juvenile slapstick violence? Absolutely nothing. With these guys you have a good idea what you're going to get, and they give it to you (Ooo-er!)As usual, Mayall plays the more pathetic one of the team, while Edmondson's "Eddie" is the unscrupulous drunk. Neither of them have much success when it comes to the opposite sex, due to Richie's poor hygiene and Eddie's crass chat-up lines (although Eddie has managed to move in for the kill once or twice when things have gone wrong yet again for Richie... ) It's hilarious to laugh at the misfortunes of others, and we get plenty of chance to do that as we follow these two sad cases and their doomed attempts to climb the social ladder."Eddie" is my favourite character because he has a dry sense of humour, knows he's uncultured and just doesn't care. He uses his native cunning to always ensure Richie gets a raw deal, so although a loser at the game of life, he's usually a winner in his own house at least. There's lots of innuendo and things never get too intellectual, so every viewer can feel better about themselves when they watch this pair of misfits.If asked I'd say I preferred the TV series to the numerous live shows that have been done featuring the same two characters. They have to work harder to be funny because in a sitcom format there are limits to how offensive things can get. Virtually anything goes on stage, though, so the gags are sometimes more obvious and a bit lazier - although still funny.By a process of elimination I've just discovered that my favourite episode must be "(Bottom) 'S Out", where the duo are stranded in the wilderness as conversation turns to philosophy and the 'adult' escapades of the Wombles... This is in Series 2, which has the funniest collection of episodes in my opinion; every one a winner.Overall, I wouldn't say it's as good as "The Young Ones", but there are genuine moments of hilarity in certain episodes. If you already know you're a fan of Rik and Ade then you can't really afford to miss it, so I say 'Dig deep into your "Bottom", by all means!'