If You See God, Tell Him (1993) User Reviews

Dark, asburdist satire on consumerism - a totally forgotten gem!

[fishermensmell · 8/10 · 25 January 2022]

Excellent series satirising early-90s marketing and consumer culture. At times I felt I was watching a mirror of One Foot in the Grave: whereas Victor Meldrew rails against modernity, Richard Brier's character - through a whack to the head - comes to embrace it wholeheartedly. This results in him acting upon the advice and slogans of every piece of advertising he sees. This darkly absurdist approach is perfect for shining a comedic light on the superficiality of much of modern life.

Briers' character could easily become grating over the course of an episode, but is handled perfectly by the veteran actor and is instead a benign, sympathetic figure playing wonderfully against Adrian Edmonson's more caustic and jaded character.

There's a real ferocity behind the writing - a genuine anger and disgust at the depersonalizing effects of consumerism - that really spills out overtly in Edmonson's courtroom diatribe in the final episode. But the rest of the time it's there, a passive-aggressive sardonicism simmering away in nearly every line of dialogue.

Of course, it's all still relevant today - probably moreso - and this totally forgotten gem deserves far greater acknowledgement. Seek it out!

I remember being very impressed by this dark and unusual comedy series.

[okanomiaki · 9 November 2004]

I remember being very impressed by this. It confounded expectations in a number of ways. At first glance it appeared to be a standard Richard Briers cosy comedy but it soon became apparent that it was something far darker and stranger, and featured an unusually understated performance from Ade Edmondson. The main gist of the plot, as I remember it, was that Godfrey Spry (Richard Briers) suffers some kind of head injury which causes him to believe, completely, everything he sees and hears in advertisements. Many dark, comic moments ensue. I've wanted to see this again but TV repeats and DVD/video releases evade me. I'm sure a repeated screening would reveal this to be a forgotten cult classic.

A Classic Forgotten

[Bantaar · 10/10 · 28 May 2011]

This is what ought to have been a classic satire. The story isn't very important: Gordon Spry, an elderly man (Richard Briers) gets a brain injury which causes him to believe everything he's told.

The point is that nobody cares about him -- not really -- and so, he's only told anything at all by TV commercials. And, as he believes everything that TV commercials tell him, numerous (and wickedly, even harshly, funny) scenes ensue.

The satire is bleak and merciless, even for the BBC, if extremely well-made. It probably came too close for comfort for the general audience, and was quickly forgotten.

A little known gem of haunting British comedy

[seb-137 · 10/10 · 12 September 2006]

This is very black comedy which leaves an indelible impression on the viewer. It is so powerful because of its impeccable attention to detail in the way it satirises contemporary advertising and the chasm between the glossy fantasy worlds they paint and the sad painful world inhabited by ordinary people. The casting of Bryers as the Pollyanna-ish protagonist is spot on, as his usual chirpy persona is given a new sinister twist by the catastrophic outcomes of his well meant intentions - like Tom Good accidentally launching bird flu on the unsuspecting citizens of Surbiton. Edmondson plays a similar character to Angus Deayton in 'One Foot in the Grave': permanently exasperated with Bryers but ultimately sympathetic that he is just a victim of an unfair world against which he has no defences.

Truly only entertaining for those who think rock breeding is a viable hobby

[Pizzaowner · 5/10 · 13 November 2014]

A previous reviewer called this 'Dark & unusual'.....I think Dumb and continuing even dumber is more accurate. I had seen my first GREAT Britcom in the mid 70's with Richard Briers and Felicity Kendall.....no need to tell you what it was but unfortunately lately I have had the chance to see and view ( albeit many years after the fact which SHOULD affect the lasting comedic capacity of comedy ) but I was NOT prepared for the sad and colourless performances of stars I once held in great esteem. Felicity has made a few clunkers as well as Penelope Keith but poor Richard.....thus far I have not seen a single comedy that is even funny given the times they were made in never mind today. This starts out on a bad footing with tragedy and misfortune following him everywhere and we hope that somehow....some inner capacity will save him but the plots get lamer and lamer and no plausible explanation is given for his continued survival with his family. The 'comedy' consists almost exclusively of watching him stumble...figuratively and literally through the lackluster plots doing nothing entertaining and changing nothing through the series. To make things even more painful the episodes are not the usual 20-22 minutes but 40 and with a 5 minute re-0hash of his life at the commencement of each one.....thank God there were only 4. Unless you are a die-hard Briers fan, give it a miss or perhaps if you ARE a lover of Mr Briers......give it a miss and remember him as Tom Good.....and the lovely Barbara.

Genius

[deadmanjones · 8 March 2003]

What I remember of a program shown a decade ago is that it was a hilarious yet (in its finale) moving modern retelling of Don Quixote. It was slated at the time, and has gone unrecognised ever since. This is well overdue for a reshowing or a DVD release.

Clever, funny and tinged with sadness

[Mickeyluv · 18 April 2003]

This was a classic piece of comedy, take a look round at the current state of British sitcom. Richard Briers was brilliant as the hapless Godfrey Spry. Four episodes only, this could have been legendary given half a chance. Definetly needs a re-run or DVD.