Gavin & Stacey: Season One (2009, BBC Video)
purchase from Amazon: DVD
For those of you who a enjoy a great romantic comedy, you canÁ¢€™t do any better than the BBCÁ¢€™s irresistible TV series, Gavin & Stacey. The six-episode first season of this gem from overseas is now available on a single DVD through BBC Video. Created by James Corden and Ruth Jones, the first season, which aired in the U.S. on BBC America, explores the bliss and hijinks of a whirlwind romance between Gavin (Mathew Horne), a good-natured, 26-year-old only child living in Essex, England and Stacey (the adorable Joanna Page), a 26-year-old woman living in Barry, Wales. They meet through work, via the telephone. After months of flirting yet never having met, they arrange a date. Each brings along their best friend. GavinÁ¢€™s is the lovable, sometimes overbearing, often crude Á¢€Å“SmithyÁ¢€ (Corden); StaceyÁ¢€™s is the worldly, goth Á¢€Å“NessaÁ¢€ (played with biting sarcasm by Jones). ItÁ¢€™s love at first sight for Gavin and Stacey and before you know it, Gavin has asked Stacey to marry him and wedding plans are being made.
While it may seem implausible to some of you that two strangers can fall in love at first sight and get married nine weeks later, the premise is actually based on what happened to CordenÁ¢€™s real-life childhood friend. Corden and Jones sought to capture how two people in love become the glue that brings together a new group of people, an extending their families. Together, these gifted writers have created a real, funny, charming show about family and falling in love.
Gavin lives at home with his parents, Mick (Larry Lamb) and Pam (Alison Steadman). Mick is just good all around guy: devoted husband and loving dad. Pam (played hilariously by Steadman) is as doting and protective as we all hope our own moms would be. StaceyÁ¢€™s home life consists of her harried mother, Gwen (Melanie Waters) and her closeted uncle Bryn (Rob Brydon), a simple man who gets excited about trivial things. Popping up in the fifth episode is StaceyÁ¢€™s brother, Jason (Robert Wilfort).
Horne and Page play each scene with such conviction and sweetness that you canÁ¢€™t help but root for them. But donÁ¢€™t worry; even though Gavin and Stacey are sweet and lovable, Smithy and Nessa counterbalance everything with their brashness. As the behind-the-scenes footage on the DVD indicates, all of the actors became closer as the series progressed. Their comfort with, and affection for, each other truly comes through on camera and makes each episode sparkle.
Every episode was written by Corden and Jones and directed with lightness by Christine Gernon, giving the entire first season consistency and steadiness. At just six episodes, youÁ¢€™ll be left wanting for more after the hilarious and poignant wedding episode finale. IÁ¢€™m sure that season two is right around the corner and I canÁ¢€™t wait. Bonus features on this collection include a fun featurette on how the show came together, including lively interviews with the entire main cast. There are also outtakes and commentaries by Jones, Corden and Gernon.
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