A glowing testament to the phenomenal power of word of mouth The Mighty Boosh, has over the last decade, transformed from a makeshift stage troupe performing to small crowds into an international sensation boasting a catalogue of five live stage shows, a series of radio plays, a hit television show and an upcoming feature film. Formed over a decade ago by principle members Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding, The Boosh was born out of a desire to recreate the anarchic comedy of The Goodies, an iconic early seventies television series specializing in offbeat sketch comedy, bizarre musical numbers, and overt surrealism. But rather than a series of self-contained sketches The Mighty Boosh takes the idea much further, expanding the notion of boundless whimsy to the world at large.
This second season leaves behind the “Zooniverse” that was the setting for season one and relocates itself to a flat in Dalston by way of forests, deserts, submarines, and the planet Xooberon. Still trying to gets their crappy band signed, dorky Howard Moon (Barret) and narcissistic hipster Vince Noir (Fielding) share the flat with ultra laid-back freelance shaman Naboo Randolf Roberdy Poberdy The Enigma (Naboo for short), and his ape familiar Bollo. The reckless misuse of Naboo’s magics, potions and trinkets often provides the catalyst for each episode's surrealist ramble.
A few tweaks to the format sees the Boosh ditch the customary direct-to-camera introductions prior to each episode, and the removal of this erases the nudge-nudge-wink-wink easy entry for the viewer. It also robs us of some priceless banter between Vince and Howard. This season also sees each episode play more along the lines of a cinematic genre, which gives rise to some spectacularly realized figments of the imagination augmented by cameos from Grade-A British talent.
Standout episodes this season include 'Call of the Yeti', a Deliverance style thriller in which Howard drags the gang camping to photograph the mysterious Yeti, while Vince tries to stave off the advances of a Grizzly Adams character by the name of Kodiak Jack, intent on giving Vince the "purdy mouth" treatment. "The Priest and the Beast" is a Mexploitation parody as Naboo councils Vince and Howard over their lack of musical talent with the story of the Bongo Brothers and their legendary romp through the desert in search of The New Sound. "Nanageddon" is a gothic horror fable that sees Vince and Howard looking to impress two goth girls with sorcery and accidentally summoning a demonic grandma. Nannageddon also features a sidesplitting turn from Richard Ayoade of The IT Crowd as a rival shaman with a grudge against Naboo (“He knows nothing of the crunch!”). All of which are peppered with some deliciously inventive musical numbers ranging from electro-jazz to heavy metal.
It’s nothing if not enticing, but it’s certainly not for everybody. It’s also not quite as odd as it sounds on paper and there is a calculated intelligence to the absurdity that keeps it from tripping over into pure self-indulgence. If everything is utterly fantastical and out of place then very quickly nothing is, and you find yourself relaxing into the rhythmic fantasy of it all. In the end there really is no middle ground with a show such as The Mighty Boosh. Either you’re willing to surrender yourself to it completely and let it take you where it will, or you’re not. If the idea of a loosely episodic comedy with next to no rules, boundaries, or structure where a shaman and a giant testicle with tentacle legs argue on a magic carpet about whether or not to ask directions from the moon strikes you as the kind of idea you can get behind then this is indeed the show for you.
DVD Bonus Features
A stand-alone disc packed with extras includes the series' original pilot for the uninitiated. There is also a behind the scenes featurette giving a glimpse into the show’s whacky psychology and the production design. There are suitably energetic commentaries on all six episodes by Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding. Also included are a series of deleted scenes, outtakes, and a photo gallery.
"The Mighty Boosh: The Complete Season 2" is on sale July 21, 2009 and is rated NR. Comedy, Television. Directed by Paul King. Written by Julian Barratt & Noel Fielding. Starring Dave Brown, Julian Barratt, Michael Fielding, Noel Fielding, Rich Fulcher.
