Review of Max And Paddy`s Road To Nowhere

Introduction

Don`t know where we`re going,
Got no way of knowing,
Driving on the road to nowhere...

Peter Kay has been on the stand up comedy circuit for several years now and is one of a rare breed of comedians who don`t have to resort to excessive swearing and jokes about genitalia just to get a laugh. Instead he recounts genuinely funny stories mixed in with a few good old fashioned gags. His stand up work led him to be offered the chance to do a show for Channel 4`s Comedy Lab season. That show was The Services, and the 6 episodes of That Peter Kay Thing came after the success of the Comedy Lab show.

Phoenix Nights was a spin-off from one of the episodes of That Peter Kay Thing, and Max & Paddy is a spin off from Phoenix Nights. I wouldn`t have chosen them as characters for a spin off myself, but maybe Peter Kay faniced the challenge of trying to develop the 2 characters.

Here are the episodes on the DVD (they don`t have titles).

Episode 1 features Max and Paddy beginning their journey. First they must upgrade the their motorhome (everyone needs a 42" plasma TV), and then they must search from some friendly local ladies.

Episode 2 starts with Paddy auditioning for a role in an adult entertainment production, and then sees our heroes having to cope with a breakdown and a night out camping beneath the stars while its fixed.

Episode 3 is the first of a 2 parter as Max attends an old school friend`s 40th birthday party, and meets up with the former love of his life, Tina. He learns that he has a son, and will stop at nothing to see him.

Episode 4 follows Max and Paddy in prison, after the previous episode`s shenanigans. Instead of doing time quietly they try to bluff their way along by pretending to be big time villains. Will they last the distance, and will the only person on the outside who can save them come forward to clear them?

Episode 5 sees our heroes struggling in the countryside after killing a cow by running it over. They get conned into buying a pig by a local farmer and then have to try and make a profit.

Episode 6 is the final one of the series and sees Max and Paddy visiting an old "friend" in Newcastle. Billy turns out to be nothing but trouble....

Video

A 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer as you would expect of modern television. And as with most modern television it has transferred to DVD looking as good as or better than first broadcast.

Audio

A DD2.0 stereo soundtrack that is again reminiscent of most modern television. Everything about it is fine.

Features

The best extra is the one that I can`t tell you about. The PR company have banned us from telling you about the "surprise audio commentaries". There is a commentary for each episode but I can`t tell you who by. Some are better than others.

Next up are the out-takes, which run for over 20 minutes and are hilarious. If the kids are watching, you can view them without sweraring.

Deleted scenes come next, and there are scenes from each episode.

Finally we have trailers and a gallery.

Conclusion

I always wondered whether this series would work with these two characters. It does and it doesn`t. Some of the film parodies in the episodes work wonders, but some of the stuff with the two main characters just doesn`t feel right. There are moments of genius and moments that are less enjoyable.

The whole "on the road" thing really works though, as you`re not tied to your usual set of sitcom locations, and it allows the characters to drift off into the sunset and start something new next week. It`s all the embodiment of the essence of Peter Kay and his style of comedy though.

The DVD is well put together with good picture and sound and a few nice extras. I wish I could tell you more about the commentaries too. A good DVD and one that might just make it into a few Xmas stockings this year (sorry to mention it, but it`s already that time of year with regards to DVD releases!)

Recommended for fans everywhere.