Given my love for actress Jessica Alba it only make sense that I take a few minutes to write about a delight in my life, entitled Good Luck Chuck.  This film has been out for almost a year now on the Blu-ray format and I am sure all my educated readers have already read their fair share of reviews on this title.  If you are in the majority right now you are probably already scratching your head at the high scores I have given to Good Luck Chuck.  If you have not seen this movie, then you are probably pondering is it really as good as he says it is?  Or you may be thinking is this reviewer so infatuated with the looks of Jessica Alba that he has completely gone against the grain of society in popular opinion?  Let me be the first to tell you there is more than meets the eye in this film, a phrase I am sure all you fan boys are quite familiar with.  I have to compare this movie directly with the likes of Bad Santa.  Here you have two very raunchy films at times, but strip away the exterior and devote yourself to the feature, and what you really have on the interior is a film warm in heart.  I know countless people who have given up midway through Bad Santa never even witnessing the lead character’s redeeming and loving qualities.  What appears rude, crude and vulgar on the surface proves to have a heart tugging, caring and warm interior.  A little patience goes a long way I always say.  Please give me a few moments of your time to further dissect Good Luck Chuck and prove there really is more to this film than just leading lady on the cover art.  Let’s begin, shall we?

Our story begins in 1985 where young Charlie Logan (Connor Price) enters a closet with a Goth girl named Anisha, while playing Seven Minutes in Heaven at a friend’s party.  Anisha’s aggressive behavior terrifies Charlie, who chooses to have no contact whatsoever with her.  Taken aback by Chuck’s brash resistance Anisha places a curse on him.  The curse placed upon Charlie entails that every woman he sleeps with will break up with him and then find her true love next, making him forever unhappy.  That’s pretty heavy stuff for a slapstick comedy thus far.

Fast forward twenty-two years later and we find Charlie (Dane Cook) running his own dentist practice in the same building as his best friend Stu (Dan Fogler), a plastic surgeon.  We will talk a bit later about the comedic genius of Dan Fogler.  Due to the curse, Charlie is unable to tell women he loves them because as soon as he does they breakup with him and they go on to find their true love.  On the flip side, this is also the case if Charlie does not tell them that he loves them too.  As you can see the curse clearly works on both sides of the court.  At one fateful wedding, obviously one of Charlie’s ex-flames, he is donned the name “Good Luck Chuck,” meaning every woman that sleeps with Charlie eventually goes on to find their soul mate and true happiness.  I guess for many guys this would probably be the American Dream for them as they will always have a line of women waiting to sleep with them, but in Charlie’s case he feels trapped because of the one woman he meets at this fateful wedding…enter Cam Wexler (Jessica Alba).  Cam, who runs a penguin habitat, is friendly and out going, but is cursed with a very bad case of clumsiness.  Cam, full aware of Charlie’s reputation, refuses his repeated and advances and invitations for dinner.

Despite the alleged rumors regarding Charlie’s sex life he is quite the catch, a young medical professional with an established dental practice, and it won’t be long until Cam finally breaks down and accepts his invitation to have dinner.  This is where the real conundrum begins.  How can Charlie be happy and loving to Cam when he has this curse to contend with that has not been proven wrong in the past twenty-years of his life?  This ultimately leads to zany, erratic and jealous behaviors by Charlie that results in the eventual loss of Cam.  Charlie ends up learning the hardest lesson that life sometimes teaches us.  Sometimes when you love something you have to let it go free.  When Charlie realizes this he is thrust into a world of misery and hurt knowing his one true love will find happiness with someone else.  Does our story stop there?  Of course it does not, but you need to invest in this movie to truly appreciate what a comedic and romantic gem this one is.  The payoff is well worth the price of admission in addition to a ream of gut busting laughs to be had along the way.  This my friends is the warm heart felt story of Good Luck Chuck, a movie that should not be judged solely by the ranting of critics who pan it for its vulgar comedic nature, but for blossoming love story it really is.

So let’s get back to talking about the comedic genius of Dan Fogler.  Having never seen the comedy of Dane Cook, I really do believe Good Luck Chuck would have flopped on the comedy front had it not been for the hilarious efforts put forth by Mr. Fogler.  Dan Fogler is the perfect comedic sidekick.  His actions, non-verbal cues and the comedic lines he delivered had the wife and I bursting out in tears, even after repeat viewings.  Let me expand on that last point real briefly.  Good Luck Chuck, much like the recent Judd Apatow movies, only gets better with repeat viewings.  You pick up on all the little one-liners that you missed in the initial viewings.  Movies like this appeal to me the most as it gives me added reason and excitement when it comes to the prospect of multiple viewings.  While it is not an Oscar deserving film by any stretch, it has become quite the guilty pleasure of mine.  I definitely got my money’s worth out the Blu-ray purchase of Good Luck Chuck, and I still am.

Video

Lionsgate brings Good Luck Chuck to the Blu-ray format with a 1080P AVC MPEG-4 video transfer presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio.  This is a very clean and pristine print with plenty of three-dimensional pop to behold.  The colors remain vivid throughout the feature like a lucid dream.  The black levels remain solid with no nuisances of grain, even in the darkest of scenes.  Perhaps, one of the most striking features of the video presentation is in the department of fine details.  For the most part, fine detail is prominent throughout the film, most notably in the face of Dane Cook.  Arguably, this may be where Hi-Definition purists may not want such striking detail as we can clearly see, throughout the film, the damage done to actor Dane Cook’s face from adolescent acne scars.  Unfortunately, due to the fine details I can even find room to complain about Jessica Alba too.  Oh no!  What did he say?  Jessica’s facial complexion is very oily throughout.  I remember sharing this insight with a co-worker when asked how I liked my initial viewing of the Good Luck Chuck Blu-ray release.  They thought this was hysterical, as they never heard anyone complain about Jessica Alba’s appearance before, but wait…there’s more.  Wait until you see the Hi-Definition appearance of Eleanor Skepple (Jodie Stewart).  I am not trying to be rude, but even I know I could never eat across the table from that.  Results like these make it very hard to complain because this is what the 1080P viewing audience wants…right?  Don’t we want the ability to see every imperfection, no matter how small, in the actors we love and adore?  Well, I think you get the point I am trying to drive home here.  The fine detail is a force to be reckoned with here, but that is not to say it can’t be done.  Notice I did not give the video a perfect score.  There are reasons for this.  We have a couple instances where heavy daylight scenes wreak havoc by exaggerating flesh tones and whites.  This problem also causes a handful of soft/fuzzy appearing shots.  All in all, the video is not perfect here, but for a romantic comedy you really cannot ask for more.

Audio

Lionsgate steps up and delivers an uncompressed PCM 7.1 surround track.  Wow!  A 7.1 surround audio track for a comedy film?  Maybe this going a bit overboard here, but don’t you want to hear all the little gross noises and nuisances that Good Luck Chuck has to offer in full High-Definition audio?  This audio track works nice in delivering a solid comedic presentation.  Like most comedy films, the rear channels are not utilized quite enough as they should, but the audio engineers get jiggy with a perfect dialogue track.  The dialogue mix is perfect like a fresh hot batch of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls out of the oven, as I never once had to strain to hear all the comedic lines I pick up on after repeat viewings.  The soundtrack really gets the feature cruising along with a quick pace at times, especially during the montage scenes.  What montage scenes?  Well you will just have to watch and find out.  All in all, I really believe this sound track serves it purpose for what it is originally crafted to accomplish…that is to make us laugh!

Special Features

On the surface Good Luck Chuck appears to have a wealthy amount of special features, but when examined closely we find there is little time to invest in here.  Sadly enough, the majority of the special features are presented only in Standard-Definition.  So without further ado below is a list of the special features you can expect to see on the Lionsgate Blu-ray release of Good Luck Chuck.

• Audio Commentary – The included audio commentary here contains participants Dane Cook, director Mark Helfrich, producer Mike Karz and screenwriter Josh Stolberg.
• Polymastia (SD) – This 5-minute featurette explores the secret of the triple-breasted woman in the movie and how her third breast was created using CGI.
• All About Penguins (SD) – A group of penguin experts sit down for 8-minutes to discuss the popularity of penguins in modern movies.
• Frank the Penguin Actor (SD) – This is a 3-minute documentary on Frank, the star penguin of the movie.
• Kama Sutra (SD) – This is a 3-minute look that explains how the sex montage came from an idea taken off of a poster for a 1970′s porn film.
• There are a total of seven featurettes, which include the four previously mentioned above.  The remaining three featurettes are entitled Eleanor Skepple, Good Luck Chuckles and Real-Life Chuck.
• High-Definition Sex Matrix (HD) – This is the only special feature that is presented in High-Definition and it includes excerpts from each position in the sex montage.
• Ad Libs (SD) – This is basically a glorified 8-minute outtakes featurette.
• Deleted Scenes / Extended Scenes / Alternate Scenes (SD) – This basically just what the title describes giving us a few deleted scenes, extended scenes and an alternate ending.
• Theatrical Trailers (HD) – The only other High-Definition part of the special features is the inclusion of trailers for Employee of the Month, Condemned, Crank and Lord of War.
• Personalized Bookmarks – This feature is pretty self-explanatory.
• Blu-Line Slider – The Blu-Line Slider allows you to jump to any scene instantly.  Isn’t this what chapters are for?

Final Thoughts

Good Luck Chuck is not going to appeal to the masses.  It is not going to win any awards or garner any special recognition.  It is what it is.  Don’t you hate that saying?  I hate that saying.  Good Luck Chuck is a guilty pleasure of mine, a comedy film I am proud to include in my top ten list of all-time comedies.  I know the majority of the people will disagree with that last statement, but I have the right to reserve judgment and ultimately make the call here.  If you are an Alba or a Dane Cook fan, then picking this Blu-ray up should happen without question, if it has not already.  If you want a little added comedic bonus, or maybe even know who Dan Fogler is, then I highly recommend this one.  If you just want eye candy, and I am not talking about Dane Cook’s acne scars or Eleanor Skepple, then you will find that here with the inclusion of Jessica Alba in the cast.  Underneath its raunchy exterior, Good Luck Chuck is a warm heart-felt comedy that is sure to win you over and will be well deserving of multiple viewings.  Please don’t forget about our furry friends, the penguins, who sometimes steal the show as well.  All in all, I highly recommend a purchase of Good Luck Chuck on Blu-ray (like what other format would you buy it on…duh) to add as a welcome addition to your already growing comedy collection.  I hope you enjoyed this review and movie as much as I truly enjoyed writing it and watching this film.

I hope you enjoyed my review of Lionsgate’s Good Luck Chuck Blu-ray release.  Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments below.  I look forward to receiving feedback from my readers.

Good Luck Chuck was released on Blu-ray January 15, 2008.  If you like what you read in the review above, then please show your support for our site by clicking the shopping cart link below to order and save with Amazon’s Everyday Lowest Price Guarantee.  Thanks!

I have to admit that when I heard Sly Stallone was coming out of retirement to make another Rambo flick I swear I almost fell out of my chair laughing. I mean who in their right mind at 60+ years old decides to revive a franchise based on a muscle bound action hero?? All I could picture was some old man with cane in hand fighting of gangs of old people at the local retirement home for the last piece of Jell-o…… Rambo: The Geriatric Adventure. With these low expectations I sat down for a viewing of the last Rambo flick Hollywood will ever make…

First thing I will admit was I was utterly wrong in my negative expectations of Rambo. Not only is this a film excellent, it’s actually better than any of the other 3 in the series. This chapter focuses on the dirty aspects of war, the memories that haunt the soldiers of death, the mercenaries that only know one thing in life, killing. Sylvester Stallone pulls this role off with ease; he makes you feel like he truly is John Rambo. Directing, writing and acting all remain very strong throughout the movie, it should be noted that Sly Stallone is at the helm as both a director and writer as well.

The story revolves are our Vietnam veteran John Rambo, and his ordeals that make up his lifetime. He has since withdrawn into a simple and secluded existence in Thailand, where he spends his time capturing snakes for local entertainers, and chauffeuring locals in his old PT boat. Shortly into the film a group of Christian human rights missionaries, led by Michael Burnett and Sarah Miller, approach Rambo with the desire to rent his boat to travel up the river to Burma. For over fifty years, Burma has been a war zone. The Karen people of the region, who consist of peasants and farmers, have endured brutally oppressive rule from the murderous Burmese military and have been struggling for survival every single day. After some inner contemplation, Rambo accepts the offer and takes Michael, Sarah, and the rest of the missionaries up the river. When the missionaries finally arrive at the Karen village, they find themselves part of a raid by the sadistic Major Pa Tee Tint and a slew of Burmese army men. A portion of the villagers and missionaries are tortured and viciously murdered, while Tint and his men hold the remainder captive. Concerned by their disappearance, the minister in charge of the mission gathers a group of mercenaries and pleas Rambo transport them with his boat, since he knows their last exact location. But Rambo can’t stay behind: he joins the team where he belongs; to liberate the survivors from the clutches of Major Tint in what may be one of his deadliest missions ever.

This installment is by far the most bloody and gory of all Rambo movies; in fact I can almost say it might be one of the most bloody action movies ever. The movie is rated R for strong graphic bloody violence, sexual assaults, grisly images and language. There is very strong torture and killing scenes so please understand this movie isn’t for everyone, and especially not children.

Video

Lionsgate has a history thus far of providing EXCELLENT Blu-ray transfers, Rambo is no exception. The movie is presented in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video (at 2.35:1), and this presentation is simple beautiful. Scenes are extremely detailed, plants and bushes are green and lush, rain and night scenes are stellar. I will even go as far as to say it’s a demo-worthy disc to put in when friends come over.

Rambo is a new release so it should be presented as such, I’m glad I can safely say it’s the eye candy I expected. Contrasts are amazing, blacks are dark black, and whites are bright white. Again the film moves back and forth between scenes of daylight and nighttime so the contrast is a key aspect in this film. Colors are also gorgeous, again also very important as the film moves through multiple jungle scenes. I must say I was blown away by the detail and colors of the trees and shrubbery, you can literally see each and every leaf. As I said above the film is ultra bloody, and as such the transfer uses very bright reds for blood. It might be a little over done, but overall it really puts the emphasis that this is a brutal war.

Audio

Again Lionsgate is known for strong audio presentations on their Blu’s. This transfer gets a full-blown DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 7.1 Surround track (48kHz/24-bit), and it’s fantastic.

Audio is ultra clear, ultra crisp; it’s simply life like in every aspect. Highs are high, lows are low, bullets sound amazing as they wiz past your head, and explosions thunder as they rock your subwoofer. If you ever wanted to hear what a 50-cal sounded like in person, this is the film for you, trust me.

As I stated above the audio track is 7.1, which is definitely a treat as so few discs utilize this technology. Each channel is clearly identifiable, and really immerses you in the surround 3-D thrill ride.

Special Features

All extras are presented in full 1080p.

• Audio Commentary - Sylvester Stallone comments on the Rambo saga as a whole. He looks back on the series and basically sums up that this is the last piece of Rambo’s story. It’s quite fitting that Stallone does the speech, since this has been his creative work since day one.
• Featurettes - six featurettes:
  • “It’s a Long Road: The Resurrection of an Icon” a back-story on the near 20-year development of Rambo.
  • “The Art of War: Completing Rambo” post-production notes
  • “A Score to Settle: The Music of Rambo” a look at the film’s score
  • “The Weaponry of Rambo” the weapons that define John Rambo
  • “A Hero’s Welcome: Release and Reception” film’s premiere and the opening weekend “Legacy of Despair: The Struggle in Burma” a look at the history and struggles in Burma

• Deleted Scenes – There are 4 deleted scenes which are pretty much not needed. They are used to further develop the inner persona of John Rambo.

• Theatrical Trailer - The film’s original trailer

• Digital Copy – Included is a free copy of the movie in SD for your iPod or computer.

The disc is also Bonus View (Profile 1.1) enabled, so there is a Picture-in-picture option with commentary throughout the film.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Rambo (2008) is a pretty fun action movie. While the killing and torture may turn some people away and quite honestly might make some people sick, it does really signify the history of war. Rambo says it best, ‘You know what you are. What you’re made of. War is in your blood. Don’t fight it. You didn’t kill for your country. You killed for yourself. God’s never gonna make that go away. When you’re pushed, killing’s as easy as breathing.’

The picture and sound is top notch, they are truly demo quality for both your TV and receiver. Extras are fairly deep and provide a few hours of extra play rotation. If this is indeed the last Rambo film, as it’s supposed to be, then this disc gives the franchise the final bow it deserves.

3:10 to Yuma makes its way onto Blu-ray disc, a remake of the 1957 film of the same name. Before I even knew what the film was about I was intrigued, as I have yet to watch a Christian Bale film I haven’t liked. Add the always entertaining Russell Crowe and this film has automatic potential. 3:10 to Yuma is directed by James Mangold (Walk The Line,Cop Land) which immediately gives it some credibility, but enough with the speculation, how does 3:10 to Yuma hold up?

Christian Bale (The Prestige) plays Dan Evans, a struggling rancher and Civil War veteran, left with a permanent limp. Ultimately Dan is a family man, but due to the unsuccessful nature of his livestock, he is in debt to the wrong kind of person. Which is where the movie begins, Dan is awaken to his barn in flames, set by two men working for Hollander, whom Dan owes money. The next morning while rounding his cattle Dan and his two sons run into the notorious outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe, American Gangster) who is using the cattle as a diversion while robbing a stagecoach. A firefight ensues and while retrieving the spoils Ben spots Dan and his children watching from the hills, but soon after realizes they aren?t a threat and cuts a deal with him in which Ben and his gang take their horses. Dan has bigger problems though, as he soon learns that Hollander plans to sell his land to the railroad, thus leaving him with no means to support his family. That is until he runs into Ben Wade once again and distracts him long enough for the railroad guards to arrest him. Dan decides that for $200 he will escort him to Contention where he will board the 3:10 train to Yuma. From here on out Dan and a group of mercenaries must face Ben?s gang, hostile Indians, and everyone in between while they forge their way through the desert in hopes of not only delivering Ben, but staying alive.

Initially, who could refrain from being intrigued by the combination of Christian Bale and Russell Crowe in a film, I know I couldn?t. But does the film actually deliver? Simply put, yes it does. 3:10 to Yuma is an instant classic and a must see for all western fans. Not only is the story engaging but cinematically this film is gorgeous, very well put together and truly captures the majesty of the American desert.

What I like best about this film is not the intense action scenes (which really are awesome) but the dialogue, the conversation between these two men who seem to have nothing in common. The characters are well written and complex, and as their adventure unfolds through the desert they will be put to the test of their morals.

Russell Crowe and Christian Bale totally sold me on this film, making it completely believable. Bale playing a character we can sympathize with, and Crowe as his antonym who although lacks a conscience isn?t near a psychopathic as his predecessor played by Ben Foster (Alpha Dog) who as well played a fantastic role. This movie is easily among the Top 10 of 2007 and a must see for fans of the genre or not.

Video

Presented in 1080p 2.40:1 and encoded in VC-1, 3:10 To Yuma comes to Blu-ray with some fantastic looking results. From the clearly seen stubble on Wades and Evans face, to the 3D looking pop delivered landscapes, everything here looks great.

The print itself is in perfect condition with no artifacts or scratches present during its duration. Dark shots hold up well with a strong looking color pallet and a minimal presence of grain. I have been waiting in anticipation for this movie to hit Blu-ray and Lionsgate certainly delivers.

Audio

Lionsgate has always been more than generous when it comes to packing an audio punch, 3:10 is no different. Equipped with a 5.1 Dolby Digital EX and a blistering 7.1 PCM track, there is no denying that this movie sounds terrific. From beginning to end this is one movie where you must have the volume cranked to truly hear its awesomeness. The crystal clear presentation has rich bass with a powerful sound stage which utilizes front and rear speakers effectively throughout.

From Gun shots to dynamite explosions, 3:10 has all you could want in an audio presentation. Lionsgate has delivered one of the best sounding track I have hear on Blu-ray.

Special Features

Lionsgate has included a bunch of worthwhile features with this disc. Fans of the film should definitely watch the Inside Yuma making of feature as it offers a lot of information on the films creation.

• Audio Commentary with Director James Manigold
• 3:10 to Score
• Sea to Shining Sea Documentary
• The Guns of Yuma
• Historical Timeline of the West
• Inside Yuma Making of Documentary
• An Epic Explored
• Outlaw Gangs and Posses Documentary
• Deleted Scenes

Final Thoughts

With a good mix of action, adventure, and drama 3:10 to Yuma gets a definite nod from me. The film is beautifully presented on Blu ray with expansive shots of the diverse desert that is the south west. From gun shots to clomping horses 3:10 to Yuma sounds brilliant; you are truly immersed into the action. I can easily suggest fans of the film to go pick up a copy right now, and if you haven?t yet seen it, I recommend you do.

Monty (Idris Elba, 28 Weeks Later) is a father struggling for custody of his three children. This has become of utmost importance to him especially since his ex wife is involved with a local drug dealer. He enlists the help of attorney Julia (Gabriel Union, Bad Boys 2) to get his children back. Of course sparks begin to fly between the two, and the children seem to take the backseat. I’ve seen this type of movie way too many times before, and I would be completely content if I didn’t have to again.

It’s a good thing I had no expectations of this one going into it, because otherwise I would have ended up being extremely disappointed. This movie is poorly played out, albeit pretty realistic in some aspects. But regardless I’m getting tired of these day to day struggle movies, they all end the same way, don’t expect anything different here. The acting in this movie was rather disappointing as well, including the one facial expression we are graced with from Gabriel Union throughout. The movie started off as a struggle for a man to get his kids back, but ended up being another horrific and predictable romance. But if you’re into these emotional types of movies about the struggle of Joe everyman, you might find this one worthwhile checking out.

Video

Presented in 1080p 1.85:1 aspect ratio and encoded in MPEG-4, the transfer makes watching this trash a lot more bearable. As with all recent releases from Lionsgate, Daddy’s Little Girls comes equipped with an impressive color palette, crisp detail and a clean print. While the use of color is good with each one looking vibrant, they do have a tendency of becoming oversaturated, most notably flesh tones. The print itself is in great condition with limited grain and no specking. Overall this is great looking transfer, proof that even uninspired junk will receive a quality transfer from Lionsgate.

Audio

Lionsgate has proven it knows how to create high quality tracks for its Blu-ray releases; Daddy’s Little Girls is no different. Presented in 7.1 PCM, the sound quality is topnotch for this release. Dialogue sounds crystal clear coming through the front channels, with no noticeable faults or balancing issues. Of course this track is front heavy but there are a few instances like the riot scene where the track picks up and utilizes all channels effectively.

It’s always nice to see the inclusion of a 7.1 PCM with any title, but Daddy’s Little Girls simple doesn’t utilize it. The quality of the remains high however and should definitely please fans. A 5.1 Dolby Digital EX track is also available for English and Spanish languages.

Special Features

Lionsgate has included an impressive package of features. If you are a fan of the movie than you will surely enjoy everyone as they provide either more footage or a behind the scenes look. Most features are presented in HD.

• Audio Commentary – Commentary by Writer/Director Tyler Perry
• Deleted/Extended Scenes – 17 deleted scenes that are even worse in quality than the ones that made it into the picture. We are also given an extended church sequences as well as 3 uncut scenes. Again, if you enjoyed this movie than I’m sure these will offer some entertainment.
• Gag Reels – Two unfunny gag reels.
• Touring the Sets – We are given various footage from the sets used in the film with commentary by Terry Perry himself.
• Introducing the McClain Sisters – A 6 minute interview with the McClain sisters, who play Monty’s daughters in the film.
• Inside Looks – An inside look at the riot and Aquarium scenes. We also get a look at the real life Oakland Cemetery which provides an worth while viewing.
• Tyler’s Team: Cast and Characters – A 14 minute praise by Perry as he discuses the actors and the characters they play.

Final Thoughts

Aside from the movie being a complete waste of time, the disc looked and sounded quite good. There are enough features here to keep fans interested, but the features themselves are nothing special. All and all this disc is a worthy purchase only to the hardcore fans out there. Otherwise you’d be safe to leave this one sitting on the shelf at your local video store.

Having just reviewed Weeds Season One on Blu-ray it struck some curiosity on how the following seasons might play out. Luckily I have the chance to check it out now and get myself all up to date before the slated August 13th season three premier.

The second season of Weeds follows much the same formula as the first, and in case you haven’t seen the first season I suggest you do so beforehand. But for your benefit I’ll quickly run over what you’ve missed. Nancy (Mary Louise Parker) has recently lost her husband and the only way she sees to raise her children in the affluent neighborhood they’ve become accustom too is by dealing weed. Most of her customers are parents, most notably the town councilman Doug Wilson (Kevin Nealon, Saturday Night Live). While dealing with problems at home and on the streets Nancy goes through life the best way she can, which is rather comedic for the rest of us.

Season Two picks up with Nancy getting in over her head with the narcotics business as she begins growing her own product. But with the help of several members of the community things seem to be playing out rather nicely, even with Nancy dating a DEA agent. Her son’s eventually find out just how their mother keeps paying the bills, and both deal with it in their own ways. But even that’s not the last of Nancy’s problems as Celia heads up an anti drug committee in the community, promising to make Agrestic a drug free community.

Season One seemed dark to me, but this season goes beyond that, especially for a show dubbed to be a comedy. But even so, it did provide quite a few laughs once again, and I really enjoyed the dramatic side of it. Ultimately I found this season to be on par with the first and with a climatic conclusion to the season I look forward to watching the third season. Of course this set is a worthy purchase for fans of the show, but as always use your discretion when making a purchase, and definitely check out the first season if you haven’t already.

Video

Presented in 1080p 1.78:1 aspect ratio and encoded in MPEG-4, Lionsgate has improved on much of what hindered season one, although there are a few issues keeping this from upper tier quality. The sun drenched suburban background again provides some eye candy, with crisp detailed exterior shots and extremely bright color. At time the contrast does seem a bit high, but flesh tones remain realistic rarely becoming orangey in hue. Zooey Deschanel, who has a supporting role this season provides for some nice eye candy. Close up shots of her face for instance provide a crystal clear look into her deep rich blue eyes. Like season one there are shots that look soft and contain grain but the frequency is much lower in comparison. Although there are still a few problems with the transfer, there is no denying that Weeds Season 2 looks great and provides a massive upgrade over the standard DVD release.

Audio

Lionsgate has a included a 7.1 PCM which sounds great but it isn’t exactly the best material to fully utilize such a track. For a TV show the track isn’t entirely focused in the front as one would expect. There is music as well as other subtle sound effects coming from the rear channels and sub many times throughout each episode. Dialogue it self sounds perfect, with clear and rich audio that blends perfectly with rich ambient effects and the occasional music track. The audio quality does sound better than the first season but like season one it lacks the material to take full use of track. Also included on the disc are a 5.1 Dolby Digital EX track and English/Spanish subtitles.

Special Features

Lionsgate has included all the features from the standard DVD release plus a new memory test which is exclusive to the Blu-ray release. Fans of the show will enjoy these features as they give a lot of information on the show. As a nice little bonus, most features are presented in HD.

• Audio Commentary – Commentary with cast and crew, including Mary-Louise Parker.
• MILF Gag Reel – 2 minutes of bloopers.
• Trivia Tracks – A trivia track that is available for 6 episodes. The track includes tidbits on the show as well as just everyday general information.
• Test Your Short Term Memory – A card memory game complete with Marijuana facts for every correct answer.
• Huskeroos Commercial – A 21 second Huskeroo commercial.
• 4 Exclusive Featurettes – One feature merely shows the “tools” of the trade with a series of photo stills while another displays the terminology used in the line of business. A 10 minute inside look Conrad’s grow op including an in depth look on how growing Marijuana works. Finally there is a 5 minute discussion on the 5 best type of bud.
• Little Boxes Montages – 4 different montages of the song Little Boxes totaling 4 minutes, none are really worth watching.
• “Jammin’ Nation” Extended Performance – A 5 minute extended version of Jammin’ Nation.

Final Thoughts
Weeds Season Two didn’t exceed Season One in laughter or quality; it did however manage to stay on par with it, which is still an impressive feat. The Blu-ray version provides a great video transfer as well as a great audio track which is enough to recommend this set for fans of the show. However, as I’ve said before, if you haven’t seen it before check it out on TV first.

Generally I don’t watch much on television, Weeds isn’t an exception but I will admit that having seen previews for it in the past, it did look rather interesting. Even though the biggest name I recognize from the cast list is Kevin Nealon, this dark comedy about marijuana and life in the suburbs looks to be promising.

Life in the California suburb of Agrestic isn’t as simplistic as you would expect, especially for the Botwin family who recently lost their husband and father Judah. His widow Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) has since started dealing marijuana in order to keep her comfortable lifestyle, as well as keeping her two son’s well being in mind. As the course of the show carries on Nancy has to deal with a vast array of problems ranging from competing drug dealers, her teenage son having sex, overbearing soccer moms of the neighborhood, and a brother in law who appears to be freeloading.

While the premise of Weeds appears comic at first impressions, but beyond the concept of a 40-year-old soccer mom being an affluent dealer, the show touches on some pretty serious issues. The majority of these issues don’t pertain directly to the dealing aspects, instead Weeds covers some serious issues like the depression of losing a loved one, image obsession, and other domestic issues. But of course ultimately the show never gets too serious, and handles even the darkest of matters with a touch of comedy.

Although I hardly ever laughed out loud at Weeds there were some pretty amusing episodes which had me chuckling frequently. In the end I did think this show would be a bit funnier, but the dramatic angle is still rather interesting and all and all I suggest you check it out, perhaps first on TV before you invest in a season on Blu-ray.

Video

Presented in a 1080p 1.78:1 aspect ratio and encoded in MPEG2, Weeds – Season One hits Blu-ray with some inconsistency. I can’t say that I have seen Weeds on TV, but I’m sure it looks quite a bit better on Blu-ray, most of the time that is. The detail is clearly seen in close up shots and the suburban green backdrops jump right off the screen. The flesh tones are just as impressive showcasing some very realistic looking hues. But the problem for me lies within the fact that it is rather inconsistent, at times it can look great but at other times very disappointing, with very apparent grain throughout the low lit scenes and extremely soft looking shots muting out all the nice detail. I was just surprised with how different the transfer looked in the different shots, but for a TV show, Weeds looked rather pretty in this release. If you can get past the inconsistencies there is more than enough here to keep you pleased.

Audio

Lionsgate brings us Weeds – Season One presented in 6.1 DTS HD and 5.1 Dolby Digital EX which both do a good job presenting the shows given material. As expected most of the audio will rely on the front channels, but there is however some pretty frequent background noise like birds chirping that will come out of the rear channels. This added a bit of depth to the otherwise straight forward audio track, the soundtrack making the most use out of the rear and sub channels. But in the end I was surprised with how well this track sounded considering it came from a TV show.

Special Features

Fans will be pleasantly surprised with the amount of features included with the Blu-ray release of Weeds. Most of what is included is worthwhile checking out, most of it is actually pretty funny.

• Audio Commentary – 6 Commentary tracks with a handful of cast and crew members including creator Jenji Kohan and actor Kevin Nealon.
• Suburban Shakedown – A 14 minute look at suburbia and its growth over the years as well as its influence on popular culture.
• ‘Smokey Snippets’ – 3 minutes of comments from the cast and crew
• ‘Smoke and Mirrors’: Original Marijuana Mockumentary – A behind the scenes look at Weeds and its style of comedy, 13 minutes in duration.
• Agrestic Herbal Recipes – A text feature that humorously showcases some recipes, you can guess of which sorts.
• Showtime Original Content – A trailer promoting the show, 4 minutes in duration. I didn’t gain anything from watching this one, judging from the name I had hoped it would be something juicer.
• Music Video – All too Much/More than a Friend music video that combines the music with scenes from the show.

Final Thoughts

The show itself is rather entertaining and unique, a rather entertaining dark comedy, but there just wasn’t enough really funny things going on for me to completely enjoy it. None the less it looks and sounds rather decent and includes a nice handful of features, so for fans, there is no doubt that this is a good purchase. Otherwise I’d suggest you check this show out on TV before making the purchase.

Special Features List

• Audio Commentary
• Suburban Shakedown
• Smokey Snippets
• Smoke and Mirrors
• Agrestic Herbal Recipes
• Showtime Original Content
• Music Video