I had the pleasure of seeing one of my favourite all-time comedians live in Halifax almost two years ago. The master of the puns and one of most hilarious stand-ups of all time, I saw Tim Vine doing the first leg of his Joke-amotive tour live, mere days before I was admitted to hospital... but I don't think the events were connected.
Happily the tour has now been released on DVD and it was natural for me to ask for a copy for Christmas, and a copy I got!
Featuring a main set of just over an hout, it's pretty much standard fare here from Tim, in that he delivers pun after pun, interspersed with some eccentric and random props that naturally lead to more jokes, and a long line in off-the-wall songs, some crazy, some really funny.
Naturally if you hate one-liners and puns then there's nothing to change your mind here as it's pretty much more of the same from his last three DVDs but if you, like me, love his style and quick-fire delivery then the material on offer here is just as good as ever.
Though relatively short compared to other acts at sixty-five minutes it's just the right length for the style of jokes and there are many you'll be telling to your friends. And what was equally refreshing was that, coming two years after I saw them on stage, I'd forgotten many of the puns so it was new to me.
It's also noteworthy to mention how good the set is - which wasn't used when I saw him live - and testament to the eye for detail of the show. (Let's not talk about the use of gaffa tape on the props though!)
Alongside the main set there are plenty of extras which, compared to most comedy DVDs on the market where you're lucky to get anything more than a chapter menu as extras (Milton Jones I'm looking at you!), is a refreshing change. In fact, Tim Vine DVDs have always been good when it comes to extras.
Even if those extras are a little surreal. And when I say little I mean a lottle.
On this release we get Vine singing and pretending to be the King on stage in 'Blonde Elvis' and two of his self-penned short films from previous years: 'Strumming Carter', telling the story of a country and western singer brought out of retirement for a charity gig; and 'He Jumps In Fields', a mock Mid-western story about a man trying to stop his mother selling off the field he likes to jump around him. Both films have their funny moments but are rather unusual in their topics and style, and the acting and filming remains basic and amateur as defines when they were filmed, but they add to their charm. Think early student productions.
On top of these we get an insightful thirty-minute look at Vine on tour with his support and manager, and a couple of additional sketches not shown in the main feature including the popular box song and the return of Flag Hippo.
And if that's not enough Vine brings you a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the whole act.
Overall a fantastic fourth set from the pun-master and well worth picking up and watching for some hilarious and family friendly humour, with a good eye for detail on the DVD extras even if much of that content is head-scratchingly unusual.
Even if you just watch it for the main act you won't be disappointed.
8.5/10
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