DVD Review: The Office: Special Edition Box Set

The grim reality is that I would probably have to do something dangerously illegal if David Brent (Ricky Gervais) were my boss.

Brent is the central character in The Office, the British comedy series that has been copied in the United States and other countries. It is 10 years since The Office first aired on British screens and made millions cringe as they watched Brent's workplace antics.

Brent is the boss who knows it all, who is the most clever man in the office, who is hilarious, talented and incredibly thoughtful to his staff. At least, that's what Brent thinks.

In reality he is a self-indulgent pain in the backside. You get an overwhelming urge to jump through the television and smack him across the face as he struts his stuff in the paper merchants division he manages.

Gervais and fellow writer Stephen Merchant have captured the essence of an obnoxious boss.

They have also beautifully portrayed some of the other atypical office employees - the sycophantic assistant manager Gareth Keenan (Mackenzie Crook), the disgruntled worker Tim Canterbury (Martin Freeman) and the frustrated office secretary Dawn Tinsley (Lucy Davis).

This special boxed set captures all 14 episodes over the three-year run of the series.

There are also plenty of extras where the cast talk about what went on behind the scenes.

In all, there are 12 hours of classic comedy entertainment from a man who has to make you laugh. If not, you'd cry.

The Office: Special Edition Box Set

(M), Roadshow Entertainment

Stars: 3.5/5