Reviewed by Adam Boult
Stars Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May, the Stig, some Germans
UK certification E | UK RRP £19.99 | Runtime 235 minutes | Directed by Chris Donovan
The irrepressably gung-ho Jeremy Clarkson, celebrated accident victim Richard Hammond and James "The Other One" May embark on an entertaining series of motoring challenges in this selection culled from recent series of BBC's Top Gear.
If you've ever seen even 30 seconds of the programme, you'll know what to expect: elaborate stunts and unneccessary crashes in a variety of cars and locations, blokey pretend-bickering, lightweight digs at political correctness and a leathery, paunchy, Partridge-esque celebration of manhood. Best of the challenges in this set is a 400 mile race across Japan, with a Nissan-driving Clarkson competing against Hammond and May as they negotiate the country's hyper-efficient but endlessly confusing public transport system. Worst is a staged competition against a rival trio of presenters from a German motoring show; the Top Gear team arrive in Spitfires, setting an uncomfortably jingoistic tone that Clarkson perpetuates with endless references to the war.
However, even when at its most insufferable Top Gear is always watchable, its flaws tempered by the presenters' infectious enthusiasm, and the sense that everyone involved is cheerfully aware of how ridiculous it all is. Even the most determined Clarkson-hater will find something to enjoy here, as the producers are apparently determined to make him look increasingly set-upon with each new challenge (see "driving down a bumpy road with a basket of eggs balanced over your head"). At this rate, future series will hopefully see Clarkson reduced to driving around the M25 in a hatchback full of angry wasps as Hammond and May try to drop watermelons on him from pedestrian bridges. This will be hugely entertaining.
EXTRAS *** A bonus disc of extras featuring an extended Top Gear Awards, in-car footage with the Stig, a feature on the show's "cool wall", an extended interview with London mayor Boris Johnson, and a look at the presenters as they fly Spitfires.