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Arrested Development - Season 1

RRP: £34.99
Our Price: £12.45 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Arrested Development is the kind of sitcom that gives you hope for television. A mockumentary-style exploration of the beleaguered Bluth family, it's one of those idiosyncratic shows that doesn't rely on a laugh track or a studio audience; it's shot more like a TV drama, albeit with an omniscient narrator (executive producer Ron Howard) overseeing the proceedings. Barely holding the Bluths together is son Michael (Jason Bateman), the only normal guy in a family that's chock full of nuts. Hardworking and sensible, Michael's certain he's going to be given control of his family's Enron-style corporation upon the retirement of his father (Jeffrey Tambor). The fact that he's passed over instead for his mother (Jessica Walter) is only a blip when compared to his father's immediate arrest for dubious accounting practices, and the resulting freeze on the family's previously limitless wealth. Bereft of money, and even less family love, the Bluths have to band together in their moment of need--not easy when everyone's looking out for number 1. In addition to his scabrous parents, Michael has to contend with his lothario older brother (Will Arnett), his basically useless younger brother (Tony Hale), his greedy twin sister (Portia DeRossi), and her sexually ambiguous husband (David Cross). Michael's only comrade in sanity is his son George Michael (Michael Cera), but then again, the teenage boy harbours a secret crush on his cousin (Alia Shawkat). A peerless ensemble led by the brilliant Bateman (who knew he could be this good?), all the actors are pitch-perfect in their roles, delivering the dryly funny, sometimes absurdist dialogue with the speed and flair of classic farce. The unusual tone of Arrested Development takes a bit of getting used to--it's far different from anything you'll see on TV--but once you buy in to the Bluths' innumerable dysfunctions, you'll be laughing your head off for hours. --Mark Englehart

Fantastic - pure and utter joy
Review date: 2008-06-23 Rating: 10 out of 10

I stumbled upon this sitcom purely by accident as I walked into the room my brother was watching it in and it is without a doubt one of the best (if not the best) sitcom I have ever had the privilege of watching. The writing is clever, quick and incredibly witty. The characters themselves make this a family driven sitcom unlike any other. Each intertwine brilliantly with each other and their little quirks and moments of insanity work and gel together like the ingredients of a fine wine. Each episode brings its own brand of comedic hilarity and its intelligent writing will leave the viewer feeling joy and satisfaction. Stylistically it's very different to usual American sitcoms but all I say to that is please don't let that impinge your judgement. This is a smart, witty, intelligent and hilarious comedy that will appeal to everyone.

Reviews

Best show you've never seen
Review date: 2008-06-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

Watch it once and like it, feel a bit confused and maybe don't feel the comedy. Take a few weeks and watch it again abd you will be watching the greatest comedy in the world. Every character has depth and some of the greatest one liners in sit com history. Jeffry Tambor and David Cross shine through but there is not a weak performance. You need to listen carefully and watch carefully but it is brilliant. Don't give up cos you'll like it more and more.

What rubbish!
Review date: 2008-01-21 Rating: 2 out of 10

My boyfriend had raved about this programme for many months - I seemed to have been completely oblivious to this show when it was on tv first time round - and so it was with great anticipation and excitement that I sat down with his boxset to watch Season 1, Episode 1. OH MY GOSH - what a disappointment.

I honestly could only sit through about forty five mins of this garbage before wanting to poke my eye balls out with a pen. The acting was atrocious, the characters were phoney and the plot, well the plot seems to be non-existent. I believe it calls itself a comedy - there was absolutely nothing funny about this show.

I would wholeheartedly recommend you not to waste your time!

Intelligent Perfection
Review date: 2007-11-18 Rating: 10 out of 10

We like to think that the Americans can only do sappy, cliched situation comedy and for the most part we're right! However, when they get it right they show us a thing or two and this maybe the best example of how they can do it right.

Having suffered from a lack of support from Fox and poor scheduling from the BBC over here it remains an undiscovered gem for many. The joke quota is so high that if one joke doesn't tickle you there will be another along almost immediately. DVD is the best medium to watch as repeat viewings are a necessity since set ups to jokes are being made up-to three episodes before the punch-line and after watching the whole three series five times myself I am still amazed to find new jokes tucked away.

Quite simply a great characters portraited by a superb cast, bolstered by great cameos and even better writing make this the best and certainly most underrated comedy in years.

Unique, Intelligent, and Irreverent -- no wonder it didn't last..
Review date: 2007-09-22 Rating: 10 out of 10

Arrested Development was one of those rare television shows that truly broke the mold, and in doing so, created a genre unto itself. Similar to 'The Office', the cinematography led you to believe you were watching hidden cameras showing you people behaving as they normally do -- quite different from the staged look and laugh tracks that usually accompany sitcoms. The dialogue, while sometimes a bit contrived, rewards the intelligent viewer who is paying close attention (similar to 'Scrubs' in this regard). Furthermore, unlike the other programs that were accompanying this show on Fox's Sunday night lineup (Family Guy, Simpsons, etc.), you could not attain the full enjoyment from this show by just sitting down and catching any half-hour episode. I started watching toward the end of the first season, and since going back and catching up, it's amazing how much more of the dialogue takes on new (and hilarious) meaning..

While it's a shame this show didn't survive any longer, I highly recommend grabbing the DVD set, starting from the first episode, and enjoying this great show. Review by Robert H. Goretsky of Hoboken, NJ

Product Details/Specifications

Actor(s):
Michael Cera
Portia De Rossi
Alia Shawkat
Jason Bateman
Will Arnett

Recording label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
EAN: 5039036019699
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 3
Format: Box set, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2005-03-21
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 529 minutes
Language: Swedish (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Brand: Generic

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Arrested Development - Season 1

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