Director: Kevin Carlin
Cast: Eric Bana, Robyn Butler, Stephen Curry, Bob Franklin, Rosalind Hammond, Dave O’Neil, Fred Rowan, Michael Veitch
Distributor: Shock
Classification: PG
Running Time: 245 Minutes

Before becoming bigger than any other Aussie actor, albeit through turning all green and angry, Eric Bana was a crown prince of Aussie comedy. His characters are legendary, from the bogan known as Poiter to Ray Martin, and the Eric Bana Sketch Show was his own vehicle to continue the great start he had in Full Frontal. Originally an hour long show, Channel 7 felt the Australian comedy loving viewers had too little of an attention span, and cut them down to half hour shows. Furthermore being on a commercial network were shown inconsistently and were cut in favour of adverts, sport and other assorted crap.

Given this whole double DVD runs for over 4 hours, Channel 7 were probably right about the attention span thing. Watching one or two episodes in a row is fine, but watching even one whole DVD in one sitting becomes a chore, and the viewer realises how unfunny sketch shows can be. Not saying that Bana is totally unfunny – there are some simply hilarious parts, such as Ray Martin’s interview with Arnold Shwarchenegger, and Groovy Pants Gus, but when watched in one continuous setting the jokes just seem repetitive, particularity Poiter’s interviews with “Aussie Icons”… mostly B-grade celebrities looking to boost their ‘stardom’.

There are some really good skits, and today’s Aussie skit shows could learn a little more about how to be clever AND funny from this series, although most of today’s comedy actors happen to appear in this show. The way each skit moves onto the next is very clever; for example, U2 may be parodied in one skit, and then the next skit starts with Eric in his car turning down the radio that is playing that U2 song. Although not entirely original, as Kenny Everett used to do a similar thing at times, it’s still executed quite well.

However, the skits suffer greatly from being about particular moments in time, and somehow just aren’t as funny as skits with the same characters that were (and still are) hilarious in Full Frontal / Fast Forward. Maybe it’s the writing, maybe it’s the direction, but it all seems rather flat, especially after the first DVD. Maybe if I had watched the DVD sporadically I would have found it funnier, but in one big, long continuous session it ranks as OK, but nothing great.

Special Features:
Photo Gallery
Fridge magnet

3/5 Stars