"The Elegant Gentleman's Guide to Knife Fighting is a surreal stroll into the creative minds of some of Australia's most exciting and newest comedy writers and directors. The show aspires to take sketch comedy in a different direction. With longer-form scenes, less traditional material, and a surprising cast, it's at times random, often ridiculous and occasionally surreal.  Produced by the award-winning Jungleboys and the creators of 'Review with Myles Barlow' and 'A Moody Christmas,' 'The Elegant Gentleman's Guide to Knife Fighting' creates a brand new uncharted space for sketch comedy in Australia.'

It was great to see some great sketch comedy back on our screens in 2013. The Elegant Gentleman's Guide To Knife Fighting (what a mouthful!) does a great job at bringing the sketch style of comedy back to a new age of people. But it wasn't without its controversies.

With longer form scenes and less traditional material, it is at times random, often ridiculous and occasionally surreal. Based on the experimental online comedy site of the same name, the series has attracted a formidable line-up of the country's finest comedic and dramatic actors.

Sketches such as the Amish IT man and OH&S supervisor on the set of adult movies have entertained audiences over the country throughout the airing of the series on ABC1 earlier in the year, as well as becoming online hits on YouTube.

Featuring an amazing line-up of onscreen talent, this series stars Patrick Brammall (A Moody Christmas), Phil Lloyd (Review with Myles Barlow), Damon Herriman (Breaking Bad), Georgina Haig (Fringe), Darren Gilshenan (Top of the Lake) and Dave Eastgate (Problems).

One of the more controversial sketches featured an Al Qaeda-like man who had taken control over an aeroplane filled with families and business people. A young boy passenger asks if he could go into the cockpit of the plane to see how everything works - he hopes to grow up and be a pilot. The terrorists allow him to take control of the aeroplane as he aims straight for a stadium. Luckily, the credits roll just before impact. This caused mix reviews on the series as a whole online after the airing of the episode. I even took to Facebook to announce my unsettled feeling with the sketch as I felt it was just not fit for broadcast.

Other than that single sketch, the rest of the series was quite enjoyable (I'll never hear the surname Smithston the same again!). And the DVD is a great way of ensuring that the show is not lost forever in the archives of the ABC. Including some hilarious bloopers and unseen sketches as special features on this release, this is a must for any fans of the show. For those who've not seen the program before, think of a sketch show like Fast Forward or Full Frontal, extend the sketches and give them a dark comedy makeover. There you'll have Elegant Gentleman!

Fancy yourself the lucky type? Visit our GIVEAWAYS section and follow the links for a chance to win 1 of 3 copies of Elegant Gentleman on DVD!

★★★☆☆
The Elegant Gentleman's Guide To Knife Fighting can be purchased on DVD NOW!