Title:  Cromartie High School vol 3 - Sailin' Fools UK distributor: ADV Films BBFC Certificate: PG Suggested Retail Price (SRP): £19.99 Episodes: 15 - 20 (of 26) Audio Options: English 5.1; Japanese 2.0 Subtitles: English Reviewer:  Tom (Webmaster)

Volume 1 was average, yet volume 2 was genius.  Volume 2 was so laugh-out loud funny that vol 3 has a lot to live up to. 
 

Volume 3 of Cromartie manages to up the bizarreness of the previous volumes even more, which is a remarkable feat considering how outlandish those volumes were.  Aliens, seals, ventriloquists, hairpieces and more Freddie are all included and the bizarreness keeps coming and coming in full flow.  The opening episode revolves around 'netiquette' and is quite slow moving but is run alongside another story where Kamiyama attempts to stop his fellow pupils arriving late.  These seemingly normal situations have hilarious outcomes that will keep you watching. 

Teenage Nervous Breakdown
 

Once the first episode is out of the way the brilliant absurdity keeps coming with episodes that are more unpredictable then ever before.  An episode featuring Freddie taking a part in the TV show Pootan is a particular highlight and is Cromartie on top form.  Other highlights include the excellent Boss Championship (watch to find out who is the baddest badass) and the reprogramming of Mechazawa.  These events push Cromartie beyond bizarre. 
 

Trouble

You would have decided whether you love or hate Cromartie by now (there is no in-between) and will just need to know if volume 3 is any good.  I would say it definitely is good but does not really add anything new but instead continues the great comedy that volume 2 established.  The events in volume 3 reach such craziness though it is hard to think that volume 4 could beat it.  That said though, Cromartie has already established itself as a comedy classic despite the shaky start.  Completely unique and refreshingly different and still trying new ideas this far into the series, Cromartie should be able to go even further for the next, final volume. 
 

Extras

Much the same as the previous volumes but that is no bad thing.  Contains credit-free versions of the opening and closing sequences as well as a very handy cultural notes and comments sections, which explains the obscure cultural references of the show.  Also contains original Japanese adverts for the DVDs, CDs and the PS2 game. 

The DVD also contain an excellent booklet which interviews, character profiles and more cultural explanations.  This booklet is the best yet, offering profiles on some more obscure characters as well as explaining some very random cameos.  Great fun. 

Ratings

Feature Extras  
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