Customer Reviews

Flight of the Conchords: The Complete Collection

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Where to begin here? HBO released the first season of this histercally funny show a while back. Then they released the Complete SECOND season. Finally (well, almost) they released a package with both Seasons 1 AND 2 and added a CD of some of the soundtrack. Well this time they have repackaged it AGAIN, replacing the Cd with "new to DVD" disc of their American TV debutin 2005 for HBO's One Night Stand special. The special is just 25 minutes and has Bret and Jermaine on stage with their guitars singing song which never would have fit in the TV episodes because of length. The first one takes nearly nine minutes. Some are funnier than others - as you can tell from the live audience reaction - but its still fun to watch.

There are many other reviews out there about each of the two seasons and I agree (with most of them) in that Season One is more consistently funny than Season Two (but there are great moments in Season Two). I think this is the case with most TV series. The best ideas come in the first season. I've given this set four stars based on this.

Whether you need this set depends on whether you already have either (or both) of the previous packagings. The One Night Stand is for completists. And, if you've not seen ANY of the shows, this package might be an option.

Steve Ramm

"Anything Phonographic"

Jermaine and Bret are a pair of New Zealand musicians, living in New York City and hoping to hit it big. Yeah, "Flight of the Conchords: The Complete Collection" sounds like a terrible generic sitcom, but instead this series is one of the most hilarious comedies of the last decade -- a quirky, weird, tongue-in-cheek little show with hilarious dialogue. Think a musical version of "The Office."

Folk-pop group Flight of the Conchords is Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie (played by themselves), who came all the way from New Zealand to New York. They are being managed by the ineffectual New Zealand Consulate official Murray (Rhys Darby), and they have exactly one fan/stalker, Mel (Kristen Schaal). They don't have many gigs, and even fewer successful ones.

As they chase elusive fame'n'fortune, the guys have to deal with girlfriend woes (dating the same girl, a "Yoko", a girl who just wants to use Bret for sex), financial difficulties (Bret bought a cup!), jobs, muggings, anti-Kiwi racism, a problematic rock'n'roll tour, two new fans with impure intentions, a semi-professional actor/compulsive liar who makes Murray think they've got a multimillion-dollar deal, the Crazy Doggz, Australians, epileptic terriers, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, hair gel, and a stage musical based on their misadventures.

If I had to come up with a description for "Flight of the Conchords," it would be that they're the folky New Zealand love child of Spinal Tap and "The Office." No laugh track, rambling dialogue, and the main characters tend to spontaneously break into song-and-dance at pivotal parts of the plot. And it's brilliant.

The writing is brimming over with effortless weirdness, as the guys encounter everyday problems (threesomes, girlfriend woes, weird dreams) which soon turn into hilariously surreal situations (the disturbing children's show, "Albi the Racist Dragon"). The dialogue is amazing ("When I first met you you tried to have me deported from New Zealand because you thought I was an Australian"), and full of rambling conversations that just get stranger with every line ("Have you ever had a threesome?" "Nearly." "What do you mean, nearly?" "I've had a twosome").

The songs are gutsplitting as well, since they're all about homicidal robots, mermaids, toothpaste, hip-hop spoofs, hermaphrodites ("Oh you sexy hermaphrodite lady-man-ladies"), rappers, cannibalism, and the hiphop-potamus. Not to mention "Frodo, Don't Wear the Ring" and its accompanying music video, which are a nod to McKenzie's role as the elf Figwit.

But none of this would be even half as funny if it weren't for the actors -- Clement's self-named chatacter is stoic and kind of weird (he writes a song about putting a wig on Bret), while McKenzie's is more childlike, naive and likes to sit in a cardboard box. Darby rounds out the cast as their harried, rather pathetic manager (who isn't even supposed to be managing a band), and Schaal is also quite funny as a woman who has a creepy sexual fixation on the guys.

"Flight of the Conchords: The Complete Series" is one of the rarest kind of comedy out there -- steady, hysterical, and only gets better with repeated viewings. And boy, are you sorry when it's over.

The Good:

Includes all of the episodes from the two seasons of Flight of the Conchords

The songs are funny and sometimes really touching ("Carol Brown" is a standout)

Fairly mainstream, accessible humor. This collection has been a hit with a lot of my friends and family.

The Disappointing

Collection only includes the TV series and the HBO special. The addition of the two FOTC music CDs would be worth paying a little more

Verdict

I've been thoroughly pleased with my purchase (Amazon likes to put it for sale in the 20 dollar range, making it a real smart buy). Most people will enjoy the wacky, awkward, and oftentimes touching series, but if you're really on the fence the first episode of season two is available to stream online legally

I purchased this item for my son, who lives several states away. I wasn't certain his address wasn't problematic

and I'd never purchased something and sent it to an address, otherthan my own. I ordered and purchased it online,

with no trouble whatsoever, giving his address for delivery. It was very important, because it was the ONLY item

he's asked for, for his Christmas and this was a post holiday purchase. I had a time finding one.

I was given an 'expected' date of delivery, which through emails to my son, came and went without any delivery. I'm not clear on what held up his present, but sometime later I asked him again, out of the blue, and he confirmed that it had indeed come, as I'd said it would. It was in perfect shape and he was grateful for it.

BULLSEYE!! that's all that really mattered. We're both happy campers! Thanks!

Great series that will keep you laughing over and over again, no matter how many times you watch an episode. Very witty writing that allows you to get away from all of the crap on TV now a days. Too bad HBO did not extend the show, but we got two brilliant seasons out of them!

I discovered this show on "On Demand" and enjoyed it so much that I ordered both seasons. I've never seen anything quite like it. It's a sort of musical sit-com, full of funny songs and quirky characters. The humor is a bit on the dry style, reflecting the Commonwealth origins of the creators. The main characters make a humorous pair and the supporting cast in quirky and funny, especially Rhys Darby. While the show may be a bit slow-paced for people who prefer quicker comedy, I found this show to be really delightful to watch. I bought a few copies to give as gifts and one for myself. I have gone back and watched both seasons a couple of times so it has been worth owning on DVD.

My wife and I have seen every episode 20+ times and they are still as amazing as ever. I have never seen anything like the Conchords, very original. You'll either get it or you won't.

Some may not appreciate the quirky sense of humor and others will LOVE IT!!! I am in the later category.

I just love these guys. My stepson turned me on to them and after seeing a few episodes I couldn't wait to see the rest. I'm sorry they stopped making them! They're funny, witty, unique...really out there. None of the fluff Hollywood adds to productions. Much more raw and real. More Janis Joplin than Julie Andrews, y'know?

A funny show that even if you have never seeany of it, will draw you in . A very rewatchable series with songs that get stuck in your head... it's Business Time......