Game On
The Complete Series One

Distributed by
VCI

Cert:

Cat.no: VCD 0174

Running time: 176 minutes

Year: 1996

Pressing: 2001

Region(s): 2, PAL

Chapters: 24 plus extras

Sound: Dolby Stereo

Languages: English

Subtitles: English

Fullscreen: 4:3

16:9-enhanced: No

Macrovision: Yes

Disc Format: DVD 9

Price: £14.99

Extras: Photo Gallery, Matthew's Moments

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Director:

John Stroud

Producer:

Geoffrey Perkins

Screenplay:

Bernadette Davis and Andrew Davies

Music:

Gigolo Aunts

Cast:

Matthew: Ben Chaplin
Martin: Matthew Cottle
Mandy: Samantha Janus
Herself: Michaela Strachan (episode 3)

"Where I Find My Heaven", by the Gigolo Aunts, is the title tune from Game On, this DVD containing the full first series and it's here where I find it because it is one of the few laugh-out-loud British sitcoms from the 90s which I could watch time and time again, right up there for constant laughs, social references and general amusement with the Black Adders and the Fawlty Towers DVDs. Yes, if you haven't caught this before, nor the endless repeats on UK Gold, particularly over the summer of 2001, then now's the time.

The series follows the flatmates and their hopes and dreams starting with the agrophobic, lazy and self-obsessed landlord Matthew (Ben Chaplin, who left after the first series and was replaced with Neil Stuke), sex-starved banker Martin (Matthew Cottle), often referred to by Matthew as a "ginger tosser" while demanding a cup of tea at the same time; and, in her prime as the sex-obsessed blonde Mandy, the gorgeous Samantha Janus, even if she did die her hair brown for the second series of Liverpool One. With such perfect casting and chemistry between the three I wondered how Neil Stuke would fit in as a replacement for Matthew but he made the character his own.

Unlike the last time this series was repeated on BBC2 where they cocked up the running order a little, all six episodes are here in their correct order starting with Big Wednesday. Named after the classic surfing film - and knowing Matthew's love of the sport, even if he never ventures any further than the front door, the lovelives of all the flatmates are discussed - or rather the lack of one, for now. Working Girls finds Mandy being offered the job she wants as she works her way up to a high-powered career, although not all the intentions of her potential employer are honourable. It's this episode in which a flashback to unhappier school days causes Martin to shout out on the bus, "I come like the falls!"

Love is in the air, but mainly in their dreams, with Martin falling for a German woman at work and Matt falling for Michaela Strachan playing a photographer in The Great Escape, while Mandy dreams yet again of living the high life business-wise. Of course, none of their dreams are realised but at least Matt gets to practice his Clint Eastwood impressions in the mirror. Bad Timing is what many of us suffer from time to time, but when do you strike and make your move? Mandy's bored after going out with her new guy for just week, Martin's thinking of becoming a teacher and moving out, causing Matt to start looking for female candidates.. er.. occupants to take his place.

The focus of the episode Matthew: A Suitable Case for Treatment isn't hard to work out as even Big Brother couldn't have exposed the sad man's daily routine any further as he goes through Mandy's underwear draw and tries out his Robert De Niro Taxi Driver impressions. Finally, Fame is the name of the game as Matthew fulfils many people's dreams of becoming the singer in a rock group, much to the surprise of the audience when his debut gig comes around.

Mandy asserts her authority by not sleeping with Matt.

All three series of Game On were shot in 4:3 fullscreen, which is how it's presented here. The picture's never what I'd call outstanding, but looks perfectly fine apart from the occasional encoding glitch where it loses sharpness, although you won't notice this from the usual viewing position.

Soundwise, I have no problems. recorded in Dolby Stereo it will hardly test your speakers but at the same time never disappoints.

The extras aren't copious but welcome nonetheless. A Photo Gallery with 16 pictures of Matthew, 13 of Mandy and 11 of Martin, while the section entitled Matthew's Moments highlights seven of his many classic, but brief, behavioural occurences such as inviting a new girl to look at a room, going out for the first time in ages and getting intimate with a microphone stand.

There are 4 chapters per episode, so 24 in all, subtitles in English, but all the menus are static and silent.

Even for £19.99 I would have highly recommended this for comedic content alone, but at a fiver less than that it's a major bargain. Buy it now.

Meet Martin. He comes like the falls, apparently.

FILM CONTENT PICTURE QUALITY SOUND QUALITY EXTRAS
OVERALL

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 2001

The following is a list of all the Game On DVDs reviewed online to date :