TV review: House of Fools, series two, episode one
Rumours of its demise were greatly exaggerated; House of Fools returned for a second series tonight, serving up more of the impenitent tomfoolery and silliness we’ve come to expect from British Comedy’s premier purveyors of idiocy.
In the opening episode of Vic and Bob’s off the wall sitcom, the duo attempt to ready contrary Erik for a blind date at a bistro, owned by deranged neighbor Julie. It’s also a big night for the pair themselves, as their newly formed band hurtle toward their big debut.
The musical harmony doesn’t last long however, as the pals’ typical petulance and egotism causes friction. The only thing not causing friction, in fact, is Erik’s date night outfit. Largely because he isn’t wearing one.
It’s mostly a case of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it here, with running jokes, familiar obtuse characters and consistently anarchic farce making up the bulk of The Erik Affair. There is one new face however, as Erik meets his match in an equally robotic Norwegian woman.
One of the show’s stand-out components are its top drawer visual gags; slapstick, decidedly rubbish effects and ghastly props all compound to fantastic, timeless effect. On the downside, though, after this week you’ll never look at Owen Wilson in the same way again.
Matt Berry’s virulent Beef continues his reign as the show’s most colourful character, in more ways than one, but most of the show’s belly laughs come courtesy of the charmingly unpredictable Bosh, whose ever-increasing strangeness sees him spouting a bizarre array of accents. Why? Because he can.
House of Fools is a show that doesn’t field questions, or play up to the zeitgeist. And it’s all the better for it. Vic and Bob have never lost their knack for combining the surreal and the physical, and continue to create freewheeling comedy you rarely find anywhere else in television.
Besides, there’s something quietly joyous about watching two middle-aged men who can’t help but smirk at their own fart jokes.
House of Fools airs Mondays at 10pm on BBC Two.
