From the Land Down Under comes a worthy counterpart to the UK Top Gear!
Me being a die-hard Top Gear fan for years, I was naturally intrigued by the Australian show, mostly because I remember the epic Ashes challenge from 2011, where Jezza, Hamster and Captain Slow took on their counterparts from the Land Down Under. It was typical, unforgettable Top Gear excellence, but it was the presence and personality of Shane Jacobson, Steve Pizzati and Ewen Page that made me want to find out more about them and their own show.
So after purchasing the first Top Gear Australia DVD (released exclusively in Australia back in 2011), I finally got a taste of what their show is like. This is a two-disc set containing three-episodes from their own show, as well as the full-uncut version of the Ashes challenge (a 75-minute special, no less!). The feature-length version of the Ashes is all the more-fascinating than the UK broadcast, mainly for shedding more light into the backgrounds of Shane, Steve and Ewen, what ELSE they were up to whilst in the UK (namely a terrifying trip round Knowsley Safari Park, and a fascinating dive into Britain's car industry), as well as the showdown with Jeremy, Richard and James.
The first three episodes of Top Gear Australia is more of a mixed bag, due to content, pacing and the constraints of commercial breaks on Nine. A lot of the humour here feels too staged, forced and unnatural, and you get the impression that the three Australian presenters struggled to find their groove at times. The 'Star in a Car' segments come across more as filler than anything else (perhaps due to the unfamiliarity with the Australian celebrities), and out of all three presenters, Shane Jacobson clearly feels most comfortable on-camera, with his personality and great wit/knowledge making him the most endearing of the trio.
However, Top Gear Australia DOES have its moments, namely the stellar 'Great Australian Adventure' (a 1000km road-trip across the Great Outback), the exhilarating Race to the Sky hill climb in New Zealand, some great 'V8 to the Rescue' segments, fab car reviews by Steve Pizatti, and Ewen Page taking a professional rally car out for a drive in public.
Is it as good as Top Gear UK? NO. While I like the Australia show and think it's a good show, Top Gear is meant to be something GREAT that I LOVE. And I think that's what hurt Top Gear Australia in the long run, that it couldn't be on a par with its parent show. And that is a real shame, because Top Gear Australia (having watched the series now), had a lot of promise and certainly didn't deserve cancellation.
The persecution this show received from fans was unfair, because despite Top Gear Australia's shortcomings, Shane, Steve & Ewen clearly understood what Top Gear is all about; MUCH MORE than Top Gear US! So while this DVD isn't exactly essential for UK fans, it's certainly a great curiosity for completists/historians, with satisfying insights into Australia's own motoring contributions to the world.
This two-disc set doesn't come with any extras, but it's nevertheless something I'd recommend. It's a much better DVD than things like 'Apocalypse, 'At the Movies', 'The Perfect Road Trip' or the rubbish India Special. And it's a great companion to the other DVD release of Top Gear Australia. Give it a try. You maybe pleasantly surprised!Read full review
