Product Details

• Actors: Dawn French, Gary Waldhorn, James Fleet, Emma Chambers, Trevor Peacock
• Format: Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: BBC Video
• VHS Release Date: July 7, 2000
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004WG3E
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #271,415 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic British Comedy at its Best!, October 11, 2001

By 

Tiggah "the Anglophile" (Calgary, Alberta Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Vicar of Dibley, Vol. 2 - My Congregation & Other Animals [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is the second volume in this side-splittingly funny 1990s British comedy. Those who've enjoyed the first volume (and it really is best to watch this series from the beginning) will love this volume just as much, as the humour continues along the same vein.

Dawn French plays Geraldine Granger, the new vicar, who seems to be the only sane person in the charming little village of Dibley. In this volume, the vicar continues to prove that she is eminently capable of providing for the needs of the parish, much to the chagrin of the pompous, self-serving David Horton. The vicar also continues, wherever possible, to get the better of David. The balance of this assorted and eccentric cast of characters consists of the ditsy and naive verger, Alice Tinker, and her intellectual equal, Hugo Horton (David's son); Frank, the village council's incompetent secretary; Owen, a rustic farmer with his own distinct brand of farmyard humour; the dithering Jim; and last but not least, Letitia Cropley, a geriatric nymphomaniac and "Dibley poisoner."

This video consists of three 30-minute episodes. Briefly, in "The Weather and the Window," the church window is damaged in a storm and the vicar must somehow raise the money to pay for its replacement. "Election" has David Horton campaigning to keep his seat as District Councillor; this time, however, he's up against a little competition--from the vicar. Finally, in "Animals," the vicar has the novel and unorthodox idea of holding a blessing for the animals of the parish. This last episode (as many an animal lover will no doubt agree) is truly the most beautiful of all; it is certainly my own personal favourite.

In conclusion, this is classic British comedy at its best. Along with the hilarity, there is also a real tenderness that pops up from time to time--moreso in this volume than in the first. It's without a doubt one of the best series (British or otherwise) that I've ever seen. Extremely highly recommended!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars animal blessing gets top billing, February 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Vicar of Dibley, Vol. 2 - My Congregation & Other Animals [VHS] (VHS Tape)

We three pastors of a large church sit in front of the VCR in my office from time to time and howl our heads off over the Rev. Geraldine. I've seen the episode about the animal blessing on British Comedy Network, and am ordering it tonight for the benefit of my confreres. Of course we have to have it, since we began our own Blessing of the Animals several years ago, and the Vicar of Dibley has done so well convincing her council to take on the same event. Ducks and sheep in church, and over the council's dead bodies, the very thing any congregation might worry over. Butit worked for Geraldine, and it worked for us. The Vicar of Dibley characters never grow stale, always continue to develop and the situations are precisely the ones that every pastor figures will show up in his/her congregation eventually. OK, it's a little risque, but that's why we're laughing so hard.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Lord, this is a funny show, August 20, 2001

By 

Paul Cerra - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Vicar of Dibley, Vol. 2 - My Congregation & Other Animals [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The Vicar of Dibley: Volume 2 contains episodes 4, 5, and 6 from the first season of the show. (Note: British television 'seasons' are often much shorter than their American counterparts. Instead of having nearly two dozen episodes, Vicar of Dibley's first season has only 6.) With writing by Richard Curtis ('Four Weddings and a Funeral', 'Bean', and the BBC's 'Blackadder') and the considerable comic talents of Dawn French, this series is well worth seeking out.

French stars as the new Vicar in the tiny village of Dibley. While French can anchor a show all by herself, what really makes this show wonderful is the ensemble cast. For example, the regular church meetings, a staple of every episode, usually provide some of the best moments. And even though you can get away with saying some wild things on British television that wouldn't be allowed in America, this series never becomes vulgar or profane.

British television also seems to be a lot more realistic than American programming. For example, the camera isn't limited to filming full-figured Dawn French from the waist up, nor is her character forced to spend screen time ruminating about how she "really should lose weight". Instead, everyone in the village admirers her, for reasons that are evident in these episodes. Her character has flaws and dreams just like any one else, but her weight is simply not an issue.

This is a very well-balanced show; religion doesn't keep it from being side-splittingly funny, but the jokes do not make fun of religion, either. I highly recommend the Vicar of Dibley.