A Fine Romance

It's intriguing to me that many of the really good programmes were made in the 70s and 80s. This is a comfortable and funny situation comedy which grows on one like the rambling roses that the landscape gardener would add to his plans. One starts watching, thinking will it be worth it, I haven't seen it for years, and then click! suddenly it reveals its comedy wickedly and hooks you right in there. I can't see any fault in Judi Dench in Comedy - she manages Shakespeare's comedies OK.

If you don't need guns and gossip, this is for you.

Footnote, I had no idea they were supposed to be 37 and 43. I agree, why pretend to be younger? It works very well with ignorance.

This is a delightful British comedy about two people who are too shy and insecure to reveal their true feelings to one another. It's a treat to see Judi Dench a bit earlier in her career. She also gives us a preview to her character in "As Time Goes By". It's a pity that they made so few episodes of this charming series.

Whoever wrote "boring" must have been of the wrong age group. I'm 53 and I just loved all the movies (I bought the whole series) because I can relate to it. I loved the one liners! Michael Williams is spectacularly funny - a man without a clue!!

I got the whole set - I know that Amazon.com carries it - it's worth it!!! I also plan on getting the "Good Neighbors" complete set, "To The Manor Born" and "Vicar of Dibley". I LOVE English comedy!

This is one of those TV series you remember fondly from earlier days, due to its two stars and the gentle humour which honestly reflects the actions of two awkward people, each looking for companionship and never expecting to find it. Mike and Laura are made for each other in the eyes of their friends; it really is that obvious, but not to themselves, of course.

Viewers of 'As Time Goes By' may find the show less fun. Perhaps that's due to the late 70s and early 80s being a strange period, especially for those of us who managed to survive it without any scars! I've seen ATGB from beginning to end a number of times and am sure it was partly done as Judi's tribute to Michael. He's one of my three favourite actors, right up there with James Bolam and Alun Armstrong.

Some people have commented on the shortness of the series, but it was and still is common practice in England to produce seasons of less than 10 episodes per year, in order to maintain quality control over the content.

"A Fine Romance" *is* a charming, low-key show with delightful and appealing characters and performances. We first started watching it on video during a pledge-drive Britcom dry spell on our local PBS station and were hooked with the very first episode. The unfolding relationship between Laura and Mike is sweetly humorous, and the performances of Judi Dench and Michael Williams create completely engaging characters. You really feel for them and their awkwardness and wish them well in their efforts to forge a life together.

As other reviewers have said, this is definitely not a show with an American sensibility, and that accounts for so much of its charm and appeal. The principals are beyond the blush of youth, something rarely seen Stateside, at least in a non-family-centered show. The episodes are often character rather than "situation" driven, and even the situations generally reveal something of the characters; thus, many of the silly, overused devices of the American sitcom are mercifully absent.

In sum, a mild-mannered and well-written show beautifully pulled together by all involved.