Funny Picture: Reeves & Mortimer

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Reeves & Mortimer

Vic Reeves (real name James "Jim" Roderick Moir) and Bob Mortimer, more commonly known simply as Vic and Bob or Reeves and Mortimer, are a British comedy double act. They have written and starred in several comedy programmes on British television from 1990.

Reeves & Mortimer's unique comedy combines surreal, often inexplicable, visually and verbally inventive material which often verges on the downright bizarre with traditional comedy double act staples such as violent, cartoonish slapstick (a frequent occurrence is the duo engaging in escalating fights with large frying pans, baseball bats, hammers etc...), witty, often very silly banter (usually at their trademark, prop-strewn desk) and purposefully corny, rapid-fire jokes.

It is all infused with an anarchic energy and a deliberate, knowingly exaggerated "edge" to the performance. Their act is more versatile than many double acts who rely on the straight man/funny man dynamic. Often Mortimer will be the exasperated foil to Reeves' eccentric buffoon, or Reeves will play blankly bemused or annoyed to a manic or hyperactive Mortimer.

They forged a status for themselves as "the alternatives to alternative comedy" in the late 80s and early 90s, and to this day inhabit a comedic universe all of their own, while still managing to exert a massive influence on British comedy.

In a 2005 poll The Comedian's Comedian, The duo were voted the 9th greatest comedy act ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.
Text harvested from Vic and Bob - Wikipedia

They have been involved in a number of projects over the years but the funniest, in my opinion, has been The Smell Of Reeves And Mortimer from which all these clips are taken.