ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Delight Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Maziun I can't say I'm a big fan of Benny Hill. I do however like him and his sense of humor. There's a big difference between Benny Hill and Adam Sandler. Both don't use sophisticated humor , yet Hill never was so vulgar like Sandler. His comedy was always lighthearted , cartoonish in style , but always enjoyable. In some ways he continued humor that was evident in silent era movies. Benny Hill was a classic comedian and I doubt that even the most stuck up person haven't laughed at least once at one of Hill's jokes.What we have here isn't really a movie , but more of a collection of jokes from "The Benny Hill show". It's similar to Monty Python's "And now for something completely different". There is no plot here , just longer or shorter jokes. The whole movie is short ( not even 1 hour 30 minutes) and fast paced.I'm not quite short is this is really the best of. The level of the jokes is uneven. Some jokes are rather unfunny and boring – The musical in boutique , the Chinese guy at airport , boring song "Garden of love" , "Passengers of love" , The life of Maurice Dribbe… The jokes also have tendency to repeat themselves . I mean how many times does Hill dress up as woman here ?Thankfully most of the jokes are good. Some even are brilliant – parody of TV commercials , parody of interview with French movie director , training in the gym , evening with Tommy Tupper or the hospital bit.For every fan of Benny Hill it's a must see. Those who are mildly interested in Hill or just looking for good comedy should check it out too. I give it 7/10.

ShadeGrenade British cinemas in the '70's were full of features based on popular television sitcoms such as 'Bless This House', 'Please Sir!', and, of course 'On The Buses'. When Benny Hill was asked by Thames to make a movie, he opted for a compilation of his top-rated sketch show. He had probably been inspired by 'Ten From Your Show Of Shows' which had been released the year before to great success.Unlike the Monty Python film 'And Now For Something Completely Different', 'The Best Of Benny Hill' showcased the original television sketches, not a single item was remade for the big screen.These included 'Tribute To The Lower Tidmarsh Ambulance Brigade', 'Garden Of Love', 'The Short Life Of Maurice Dribble', 'The Messenger', and 'Wishing Well' amongst others.Benny's old gang - Bob Todd and Jackie Wright - are in evidence, and the wonderful Patricia Hayes appears in several items.I saw this in the seaside resort of Tenby in South Wales and it perfectly rounded off an afternoon of fish and chips, crazy golf, sun and candy floss. Despite the fact that the material was directly taken from television, no-one felt cheated or left the theatre in a mood other than happy.My only complaint was that in the transference to the big screen, the picture quality had noticeably deteriorated, giving the movie a washed-out look.Fellow reviewer Theo Robertson wonders why the 'Sale Of The Half-Century' sketch was not used. Benny had yet to come up with the idea. 'Hill's Angels' were not formed until 1980. The movie's success led to Thames making similar compilations for I.T.V., these would be mainly be screened on Bank Holidays. Network has released all of Benny's early Thames work on D.V.D. now, so I could not really recommend purchasing this. Besides, the picture quality on 'The Annuals' is far better. Funniest moment - 'Tuppertime', Benny's spoof on 'Dee Time' ( a popular '60's B.B.C. chat show starring Simon Dee ). Over the course of the sketch, Benny's 'Tommy Tupper' struggles to interview a bored, pipe-smoking Henry McGee, the country's oldest man, an inebriated actress, and a vicar ( Michael Sharvell-Martin ) who has gone on air with his flies undone!

bob the moo In a collection of the best jokes, characters and sketches from several series of his television series, Benny Hill presents his usual brand of humour. Dressed as a woman he delivers all types of innuendo and confusion, his attempts at serious acting are frustrated by costars, is in an old film that is badly edited, is a doctor in a rather unusual hospital and many other hilarious sketches.When I look back to the comedy from the UK in the 1970's too often I see it being infested with a crude sexual humour that can be seen in the downward slide of the Carry On series, the Confessions Of series, On The Buses and plenty of other comedies that rely on shapely young ladies, "dirty old men" and innuendo in place of real wit or imagination. Thinking back with hindsight over the comedies that I watched that influenced the sense of humour I have today, it tends to be stuff like Woody Allen, Spike Milligan, the Goons, Morecambe and Wise and perhaps the likes of Frankie Howerd – the humour I like tends towards the acerbic, cynical, darker and perhaps even a little tragic; sadly few of these words spring to mind when one is discussing Benny Hill. For that reason I must admit that I laughed only two or three times during this "Best Of" compilation.It is also telling that when I think of Benny Hill, nothing really comes to mind other than THAT music and the speeded up saucy chase sequences. Typically this show has a few such sequences and they are basic and as unfunny as I remember them to be – showing little in the way of unique touch or imagination. However there are a few moments where Hill does show imagination that does go beyond saucy postcard antics and show a genuine creative touch – many of these are actually quite funny and almost made the film worth watching. Overall though many viewers will find this to be mostly badly dated seaside postcard humour although enough of the humour works for non-fans to enjoy, although for my money Benny Hill doesn't really stand out among the crowd of comedians who influenced me as I was growing up.

aesgaard41 In 1974,Benny Hill,the Crowned King of British Comedy heard that one of his comic allies had peiced together all of their best stuff to run in theaters.Not to be outdone,Benny did the same thing and was a big success.Having conquered stage and the small screen,it was inevitable that his success would spread to movies.The Best Of Benny Hill contains much of his trademark humor from making men look like idiots to his sophisticated lectures mangling and contorting the English language.Anyone who can call Benny dirty old man hasn't seen him do an Irish accent and completely befuddle and confuse Henry McGee, the straightman's straightman.He's on this tape too along with Bob Todd, little Jackie Wright and all of the beautiful Hill's Angels.This tape is a must for pure die-hard Benny Hill fans !