Customer Reviews

Jeeves & Wooster - The Complete Third Season

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I admit it, I'm a P. G. Wodehouse addict. I've read most of the ninety-some books he wrote and seen several of the Jeeves and Wooster adaptations. Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry are, without question, the best of the lot.

One of the most difficult things about the series is to make Bertie believable without making him a total idiot. David Niven tried and failed dismally. Hugh Laurie, on the other hand, has found exactly the right tone as the ever cheerfully optimistic if somewhat dim-witted man-about-town. And his rendition of Bertie's singing "Something something something, something something something something, and so on," is pitch-perfect. Stephen Fry, as Jeeves, is equally perfect. He has managed to make Jeeves brilliantly superior without condescension. Between them they have created an affection between the two characters that is believable, touching, and richly comic.

Wodehouse is a rare treat, at once escapist, funny, and sharply satirical. Bertie is the 20s equivalent of today's valley girl and is as fresh and modern a comic portrait as the characters on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I like to think that Wodehouse chuckles in his grave as Giles tells Xander: "I suppose there's a certain Machiavellian ingenuity to your transgression," to which Xander replies: "I resent that...... Or possibly, thank you." Giles, we can assume, would be Jeeves. For those who want to go back to the source, you can't do better than Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.

Entertaining continuation of the earlier series, although not nearly as faithful to the original writing as the earlier productions. Director Ferdinand Fairfax has a much less appealing (and, I think, a much less valid) interpretation of P.G. Wodehouse than did either Robert Young or Simon Langston. If you see the 1990 or 1991 episodes first, you may be a bit disappointed in these by comparison, but they are still well worth viewing.

I agree with Hillsborough, NC. This series isn't quite as good as the ones Simon Langton directed. But Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry are impeccable. Their exploits in New York are not as delightful as those back in England - for an American audience, that is. But for sheer delight in late night watching - any Jeeves & Wooster will do.

Absolutely my favorite season of the boys from London. Jeeves actually becomes a bit human rather than the so perfect Bertie Wooster's 'gentleman's gentleman'. One of my favorite scenes from one season is where an overblown wanna-be uppercrust pseudo-Hitler (tongue in cheek) confides to Jeeves that "The only blokes I can recruit are of the 'working class', but I'd guess you'd know all about that, eh, Jeeves?" And, looking down his very aristocratic nose, Jeeves replies, "I'm sure I wouldn't know, sir."

But the fixes these two get into, oh, thanks for P.G. Wodehouse! The vacuous Bertie Wooster is never silly, but roaringly funny, while Jeeves' smoothness is actually quite sexy. And every now and then, Bertie does or says something that proves he's got a very sharp spot somewhere in that brain of his. I cannot recommend enough - I can't even think of a British comedy that so sharply defines the early 20th century Brit upper crust with such biting humour.

The dim, cheerful aristocrat and his impeccable manservant find that America is just as troublesome as England in the third season of "Jeeves and Wooster." While the American stories lack the usual all-out hilarity, the second half of the season is pure comedy from start to finish.

With Aunt Agatha determined to marry him to the horrible Honoria, "Bertie Sets Sail" for America. But domineering Lady Malvern wants Bertie to babysit her creepy son and keep him out of mischief -- except Monty is determined to live a Paris-Hiltonesque life.... every night. Bertie tries to escape to the country, only to find that his pal Tuppy is besotted with one of Bertie's ex-fiances.

The next is definitely "A Full House." Bicky wants to live in Manhattan, without his ducal dad knowing. And Rocky wants to live in the country, but his aunt wants him to "experience New York." Ever the loyal friend, Bertie volunteers Jeeves and his apartment to keep up the dual ruses. But when both the duke and the aunt show up unannounced, how can Jeeves and Bertie keep them from running into each other?

Aunt Agatha sends theater enthusiast Cyril Bassington-Bassington to New York, so Bertie can babysit him. The problem is, Cyril throws away the "no theatres" letter on the boat. As a result he ends up getting a part in an off-Broadway play, and Bertie happily follows the successful show all across America. But when Cyril attacks a sponsor's son, the entire play may go under... with Aunt Agatha in the audience.

Going back to England doesn't help matters, since Aunt Agatha insists that Bertie go to Deverill Hall and woo Gertrude Winkworth (who is also a pal's girlfriend). His pal Gussie is also required to present himself to Gertrude's mother. But after Gussie is arrested for hitting a cop, Bertie has to impersonate him. And Gussie has to impersonate Bertie. Of course, nothing can end well...

Scandalous memoirs are "Hot off the Press" when Bertie's new fiancee Florence announces that Sir Watkyn Basset, her uncle, is publishing a scandalous memoir. She insists that Bertie steal the book, or else. Even worse, wannabe Nazi Roderick Spode also wants Bertie to steal the book. And if things don't get straightened out by Jeeves, Bertie might end up marrying the soppy Madeleine Basset...

Finally, Bertie's always-in-love pal becomes "Comrade Bingo" when he falls for a comely Communist, and blackmails his uncle into providing money for the wedding. Unfortunately Roderick Spode is also in the area with the Blackshorts, causing a nasty clash between the Nazis and the Communists. Meanwhile, Aunt Dahlia is ordering Bertie to steal a hideous painting, not realizing that Spode is also trying to steal it.

The world of PG Wodehouse is full of domineering aunts, dumb young men with lots of past engagements, wannabe Hitlers, intelligent butlers and dim socialites. And the TV series did it justice, in a manner that Wodehouse himself would have been proud of. Good acting, clever scripting, and goofy direction.

The first half of the season is quite funny, but somehow taking Jeeves and Bertie off their native soil depletes some of the humor. Jeeves out on the town is a bit funny, but it seems rather out of character to see him smoking cigars and partying with actresses. But when Bertie returns to England in disgrace, it all returns. There are all sorts of hilarious scenes like Gussie attacking a bouncer, Madeleine reciting gooey poetry and the safe being blown up.

The cast is still in flux, with new actors in several roles like Stiffy, Bingo and Florence. But the core roles -- Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry -- are the same, and both are magnificent. Fry is quiet, witty and superior as the intelligent Jeeves, while Laurie gives Bertie a hapless, optimistic side that no other actor has managed.

The third season of "Jeeves and Wooster" suffers a bit compared to the first two, but is still cleverer and funnier than virtually any other comedy series. Ever so goosey goosey goosey...

My husband and I have spent may hours enjoying the comic antics of Bertie Wooster, who is always getting himself into hot water of one sort or another. Come Jeeves to the rescue! Jeeves, Bertie's "Gentleman's Gentleman", always manages to get Bertie and his friends out of trouble with as little damage to these incompetents as is humanly possible. The definition of master and servant becomes blurred while watching Jeeves perform his wonders on Bertie's behalf, but Jeeves remains ever loyal and patient, albeit superior, through it all.

If you liked the original ones, get them all. These are just as enjoyable.

One need merely consider the consistent highest ratings on all of the Jeeves & Wooster series DVDs. The best of Wodehouse and the best performances from these Saturday Live players. This is the best fare for aspiring upper class chuffs everywhere.
An interesting vehicle of Wodehouse is to reveal the plot of each episode somewhat like a mystery so that the viewer/reader remains in the dark, not unlike the dense but ultimately permeable Bertie Wooster. The final revelations highlight Jeeves' patient and sage character.
As an interesting side note, Hugh Laurie also plays his own nephew in the Blackadder series 4. General Melchet (Steven Fry) in the "Captain Cook" episode tells Lt. George (Hugh Laurie): "Your Uncle Bertie says 'Hello.'"
British comedy at its best all.

first of all, i'd like to point out that the incident mentioned in the review by lupis1 takes place in the second season of Jeeves and Wooster, not the third. however, i do agree that this season has some very good episodes (though not as good as the second season).
the major fault i have with the Jeeves and Wooster dvds, like many dvds in the same genre, is that there is little to none in the way of special features. an "interactive menu" does not count as a special feature. i would like to see some audio commentaries on some bbc dvds -- see what Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry and Ferdinand Fairax have to say about the process of turning Wodehouse's memorable characters from book to screen.
The characters are incredible, the plot-lines are hysterical. The best episode is "Hot off the Press".

there is an innocence that exists in these 4 DVDs (1-4) and Jeeves and Wooster become like a warm blanket to sit by on a dark night . The parts played by Laurie and Fry are a delight . If ever some one was born to play a part it was these two.Both Wooster's absure conclusions to resolve lifes woes and Jeeves' remedys are a delight ...get them all.