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My Name Is Earl - Series 3 - Complete [2007]


RRP: £34.99
Our Price: £24.94 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

So strong and simple was the original premise to My Name Is Earl that it’s a surprise to few it’s managed to fuel three straight seasons of the show and counting. Earl, played magnificently by Jason Lee, is on a continuing mission to make things up with every person he’s ever managed to upset or offend, and it’s to the credit of the writers that they continue to mind this in quite such inspired fashion.

Which makes it puzzling as to why the third season of My Name Is Earl takes, for long periods, a different direction. Instead of working on his list of karma, Earl instead finds himself in more traditional sit-com scenarios. It’s a not entirely successful gamble, with particularly the coma segue missing the mark.

That’s not to say, however, that My Name Is Earl doesn’t work, because some of the writing in this third series is as good as anything the show has delivered before, with a plethora of belly-laughs to look forward to. And you can’t help but admire the boldness in some of the thinking here. It may not be the strongest season of the show to date, but it is nonetheless arguably the most interesting. --Jon Foster



My Shame Is Earl...
Review date: 2008-10-31 Rating: 6 out of 10

It's such a shame that this series, bar a couple of episodes failed to live up to the high standards of 1 and 2. Completely agree with the reviewer whose first impulse was to buy this then realised that it wouldn't be watched and would be money wasted. Shame about the writers strike...shame about the prison and coma themes running too long. Understandably, most shows need some kind of re-inventing, and fresh character arcs to keep the interest up. I loved this show but sadly it feels that Earls creative sponge has been wrung dry. Although I would love for them to prove me wrong. Maybe doing a 4th series knowing before time it will be the last, could help the writers and producers end Earl with a high quality big bang.

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Reviews


What! No Commentaries!?
Review date: 2008-10-26 Rating: 6 out of 10

One of the best things about the season one and two box set were the commentaries and I was shocked to get this one and learn that there were no cast and crew commentaries, I was gutted. There is a gag reel which is ok, and a really unfunny 'commentary' by Mr Turtle. There is also a documentary about the creation of some of the minor characters in the series, and an interview with the cast which is really interesting.
I think the makers wanted to take the show in a new direction, while Earl in prison is ok, it does go on a bit too long and then Earl in a coma should of been over in a couple of episodes.
They do make up for it in the last four episodes which sees Earl's wife go evil and some of the best performances from Randy. Plus I was so happy to see Kenny finally find true love!
Altogether not the best season yet, but I'm glad they're keeping it fresh and it leads nicely into season 4 with Earl doing what he does best. This is a great feel good show!

Mixed feelings
Review date: 2008-10-24 Rating: 6 out of 10

When I first noticed that this box set was out, my initial impulse was to buy it, but then I thought "why?". I bought both the previous box sets after watching the episodes on TV because it's something that you can just put in the player and watch to cheer yourself up if you're having a bad day. But even though my set will now be incomplete, I haven't bought series three because I have seen all the episodes already on TV and don't really want to come back to them. I'd rather just watch the series 1 and 2 episodes again when they were about the list and didn't plod along.

I found series 3 to be just a series of unfunny jokes in unfunny situations, the low point being Randy laughing uncontrolably at a disabled brother and sister (who he and Earl tipped out of their wheelchairs as children) when they tell him what a randy dog did to them as they were lying helplessly on the ground.

As if there wasn't enough to complain about, there are some continuity errors so obvious that it's almost as if the writers don't care that most people will notice them - Catalina's arrival in America is shown differently and Nescobar Aloplop speaks perfect English in the flashbacks to pre-list "Old Earl".

Sadly, I've gone from "must buy the boxset" to "can't be bothered anymore" in just the one series, and my score of 3 stars reflects that - I don't hate it but I don't love it like I used to. I'll keep watching it on TV and I hope it picks up in Season 4, but chances are that as I'm not buying this box set I won't buy any more that come afterwards.

Substandard for Earl but still better than current UK sitcoms
Review date: 2008-09-26 Rating: 6 out of 10

Got to agree with the other reviewers here. This was a BIG mistake of the writers and producers having Earl banged up. I mean, the central theme of the series was the list. Without it and it's just like any other US sitcom except replace smug good looking New Yorkers whatever with southern trailer park trash. Fortunately things pick up once Earl discovers Billie's not the girl for him after all. However, that's just a handful of episodes out of 20 plus. Even so, a sub-standard series of MNIE is still better than any current and recent UK sitcoms hence the 3 stars.

Does anybody remember the writers strike?
Review date: 2008-09-16 Rating: 6 out of 10

All of the the comments so far are valid ... this is the weaker sibling of a truly ground breaking sitcom that was from the start a breathe of fresh air. But ... remember the writers strike in Hollywood earlier this year? it had a truly stifling effect on this and many other shows. Continuity was lost as was the essential essence of the Earl success ... the list!

I must admit that I haven't seen all of this series (because of the strike) but the early episodes were ok, not brilliantly crafted, but ok. It can be forgiven I feel, but the writers are gonna have to pull out all the stops if they plan to make series 4!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Ethan Suplee
Louis T. Moyle
Noah Crawford
Jaime Pressly
Jason Lee

Creators:
Jason Lee (Primary Contributor)
Louis T. Moyle (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
EAN: 5039036038461
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 4
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-10-20
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 557 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2007

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