Lumsdal
Good , But It Is Overrated By Some
Listonixio
Fresh and Exciting
Lachlan Coulson
This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.
ansugeisler
Whether or not you live or have ever lived in a small town, this series has something to offer. It has a unique mix of real emotion, wacky slapstick, satirical bite and great characters. While that may sound paradoxical, it works. The characters are the great forte of the show; the viewer can relate to their very human fallacies, and even if they don't recognize themselves, they might recognize, say, a mother-in-law... One reason some may be rubbed to wrong way by it might be unresolved and immature attitudes towards grief, but that's their problem, really, and no one else's. The series revolves around women, but even being a man I had no problem relating, after all doesn't everything? In many ways it is better than Abfab, even though a comparison based on having some of the same people involved is obviously inane. They - are - different - shows! Unlike Abfab, it is refreshingly nonviolent, and succeeds in being truly warm, truly therapeutic and truly funny. And if you don't believe me, watch it and see for yourself. It is sad that the third season will be the last, alas I haven't seen it yet, but I hope it at least got to end in the natural, settled way it deserves.
kmatlack
I love this program. No, it isn't hilarious. It's touching, gently amusing and interesting. I've watched the entire series many times and every time I see it I'm more impressed with Jennifer Saunders' writing than the time before. I live in a very small US town and I have to say that small town/village life seems to fit a pattern no matter where you live. I recognized some of these women and the way of life.Some have complained that there are too many characters but I disagree. Each character develops at a nice leisurely pace as the series progresses so that by the end of the Christmas Panto we feel that we know these women quite well--and like them. I hope that this is the first of as many series as the characters can sustain and can hardly wait until Series 2.
nancymc123
After the first episode, which was disjointed and not funny, the show did a remarkable turnaround. My daughter and I watched all 6 shows of the 1st series, plus the Christmas show. The more the series went on, the more we liked it. As has been mentioned, it is not meant to be like AbFab. It is funny and heartwarming at the same time - a character driven show. Though at first it was disappointing to not see much of Jennifer Saunders on screen (she plays only a minor character), I found that I really enjoyed watching Sue Johnston (Sal Vine) and Pauline McLynn (Tippi Haddem)develop their characters. Dawn French as Rosie was endearing and hilarious. I am looking forward to Series 2.
geg_uk
.... and thank God for that!! I have heard nothing but bad things about Jam and Jerusalem but I think that it is excellent. It seems that anything that Jennifer Saunders does is compared against Absolutely Fabulous (which should have given up after the second series and was only kept alive for the lucrative BBC America audience) and I think it is a shame that many people do not seem to have given it a chance.This is not a laugh a minute and I do not think that was the intention. The characters are excellently written and are subtle. Unlike Absolutely Fabulous where the viewer learned that (s)he was dealing with an old tart and an aging hippy and their 'hilarious antics' after 10 minutes of the first episode (or indeed after the two minutes of the sketch from French and Saunders from which Ab Fab sprang) the characters in Jam and Jerusalem are more complex and will need at least one more series to come into their own, in much the same way that the characters of 'dinnerladies' took time to develop.People who want slap-stick, American, literal comedy should steer well clear of Jam and Jerusalem. Fans of French and Saunders and comedy that requires some thought on the part of the viewer will love it.
