It is only a few weeks to Christmas, and Kath (Jane Turner) and 'spunk rat' hubby Kel (Glenn Robbins) have just returned from a Da Vinci Code Tour in Europe. If the brief preparation time for Christmas wasn't enough pressure, Kim (Gina Riley) kicks out her husband Brett (Peter Rowsthorn), and Kath and Kel have been selected to be backing dancers for Michael Bublé and the Carols by Candlelight procession. Meanwhile, Kim's second-best friend, Sharon (Magda Szubanski) falls in love online, and is engaged to be married. While all of this is happening, Kel can't shake the feeling that he is being stalked through Fountain Lakes by a mysterious man in a hooded robe.

Kath & Kim's success always relied on its ability to not only poke fun at suburban Australia, but be an active participant of that popular culture. The danger is always going to be that you alienate that 'middle Australian' mentality, especially when one takes the piss out of those things that are important to middle Australia ("I want to get to Target really early to get my sticky tape before we go see Santa"). However, Australian audiences have shown that they are all too willing to poke fun at themselves. Comparisons to Absolutely Fabulous seem to flow thick and fast, but the similarities are only superficial ones. Both shows are adept at examining pop culture through the eyes of easy comedy targets (Ab Fab's 'society' types, Kath & Kim's 'Strine' mentality), and Da Kath & Kim Code has picked the biggest pop cultural landmark to parody this time around: Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. While the rest of us are sitting here wondering how a little mystery book that has borrowed from many sources came to be the biggest phenomenon since The Beatles, Riley and Turner turn their satirical eyes to the seemingly endless amount of merchandise on the market. The Da Vinci Code Bath Book for baby Eppony was a gem. Combine this with Kath's increasingly desperate fashion sense; the cracks about mobile phones; comments on John Howard's new workplace agreements; Brett's 'sideways' promotion at work and Sharon falling victim to an online scam, and Da Kath & Kim Code pretty much sums up life in the new Millennium. This feature is worth a second viewing just to catch all the references (such as my personal favourite, "Gee, put the phone down, Russell!")

The problem with any long-running show, especially one that has a heavy amount of catchphrases, is that it can get a little bit 'samey'. Fans of the show will have noticed a little bit of repetition in the third season, although it was still funnier than most things on Australian television. The choice to make a telemovie rather than an entire fourth season was a wise one, but even in this feature-length format, the joke is starting to wear a little thin. Even so, Da Kath & Kim Code still retains most of the wit and social commentary of the original three series, while maintaining the good humour of the series. Australian television comedy has rarely been given the chance to expand its horizons in this way, and it is good to see that when it is given the chance, it succeeds.

As with the series, Da Kath & Kim Code was shot on digital video and presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. This means that the picture is not only consistent with the series, but virtually flawless as well.

Naturally, the film is free of any film artefacts, but it is pleasing to see that it is free of any video artefacts as well. Colours are bright and vivid, with skin-tones and other shades looking naturalistic and clear. Detail is incredibly high, with black levels solid as a really solid thing.

Praise heavens for the age of digital television!

A subtitle track has also been provided on this disc, something that was lacking from previous Kath & Kim entries.

The special features have been split over two discs on this DVD. Although the box proclaims that Kath & Kim Live In London is the 'uncut full 30 minute version', I have classed this as a bonus feature, rather than as part of the main program (and you will soon see why).

Disc One

The "G'Day Leonardo" Tour (1:46) - This is an epilogue to the main story. Without giving away too much about the ending, it follows Kath and Kel as they start their own Da Vinci Code franchise.  It is a nice little coda to the main story, and despite being brief, it manages to pack in quite a few laughs.

How They Cracked the Code - Behind the Scenes of Da Kath & Kim Code (24:11) - This is the most substantial bonus feature on the first disc, and is the only one that deals directly with the making of the film. Given that this was the first foray into a Kath & Kim telemovie, I would have liked to have seen a lengthier doco, or even an audio commentary for that matter. However, this 'fly-on-the-slice-of-life' featurette packs in a lot of fun interviews, especially with the very complimentary guest stars, Michael Bublé and Barry Humphries.

Goofs (2:59) - This brief selection of outtakes proves that maintaining the characters doesn't always come as easy as it seems.

Barry Humphries at "the Buckingham" (3:52) - This little snippet sees Humphries going to the Buckingham motel in Melbourne and booking a hotel room. It is like a 'candid camera' sketch, as Humphries keeps making increasingly bizarre requests. Either the clerk was unaware of who he was, or a perfect professional because Humphries failed to ruffle his feathers before making a condescending remark and walking off into the sunset.

Deleted Scenes (2:13) - A brief collection of five deleted scenes, unaccompanied by any explanation. This either indicates very little was left out, or there is a pile of scenes out there somewhere waiting to be served up. None of these are especially exciting, different or unusual.

Kath & Kim & Bert (9:18) - Riley and Turner appear, in character, on GMA with Bert Newton. Although this amusing interview took place to promote the third season of the show - as evidenced by some of the comments made - it is a welcome addition to this DVD for Kath & Kim completists.

Disc Two

Although the cover to the DVD proudly proclaims Kath & Kim Live in London - Uncut: The Full 30 Minute Version, this is not a live special as I hoped it might be. Instead, we get a series of clips (running approximately 30 minutes) taken from various appearances around the UK. These include a funny stint at a wine festival (where the 7000-strong crowd seemed to be made up largely of Aussie ex-pats); a wine tasting (or a wine-skulling in the case of Riley); an interview on the BBC (in character) and an Australian A Current Affair story, which lifts much of the footage from the other London appearances. Disappointing given the hype the DVD box gives this feature, but still a great supplement by itself.

Rounding the set out are trailers for the Kath & Kim Series 1 - 3 box and The Wiggles - Series 1 (they make a guest appearance in this film, so I guess it makes sense).

This telemovie may not be quite up to the same standard as the early years of Kath & Kim, but I can't get away without saying "it's nice, it's different, it's unusual". Australian comedy needs more Kath & Kims and fewer carbon copy sketch shows and 'variety' performances such as Rove. Although this feature-length version of the series isn't entirely successful, it packs in several jokes per minutes, and it will still have you laughing merrily all the way till next Christmas.

The DVD's video and audio presentation is of an incredibly high standard, and while some of the extra content is a little misleading, there is a fair amount of it and of a high standard.

Recommended.