I just couldn't help it - Griff Rhys-Jones unfailingly irritated me and had done so for decades. Even when the topic itself was of considerable interest, G R-J's loud and braying voice seemed remorselessly deployed in a hunt for sparse emergent humour. Fundamentally not very interesting journeys and situations seemed ceaselessly whipped in order to extract a small portion of mirth to remind us all that he was a comedian. At times one had the suspicion that he felt as wretched as the viewer.
The problem, it became apparent from watching this documentary, was that this highly intelligent, winning, articulate and tactful man had accepted projects which it seems did not engage his interest or that much of his faculties. Not so with New York. So many different aspects of the city, so many different types of people, so many sometimes surprising hands on activities. Clearly New Yorkers of all types were at ease with him and found him engaging.
It could have been an easy stroll through just a quarter of the things, people and places covered; padded out to an hour. Instead it was a magic carpet ride around, over and under the city which neither rushed nor ever flagged in its remarkable journey. He was independent and discriminating but open-minded to all. No section overstayed its welcome nor lacked point, nor was overloaded or underloaded with facts. It is maybe the most deft and content-rich documentary I've yet seen.
The problem, it became apparent from watching this documentary, was that this highly intelligent, winning, articulate and tactful man had accepted projects which it seems did not engage his interest or that much of his faculties. Not so with New York. So many different aspects of the city, so many different types of people, so many sometimes surprising hands on activities. Clearly New Yorkers of all types were at ease with him and found him engaging.
It could have been an easy stroll through just a quarter of the things, people and places covered; padded out to an hour. Instead it was a magic carpet ride around, over and under the city which neither rushed nor ever flagged in its remarkable journey. He was independent and discriminating but open-minded to all. No section overstayed its welcome nor lacked point, nor was overloaded or underloaded with facts. It is maybe the most deft and content-rich documentary I've yet seen.