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Arrested Development: Season One
 
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Arrested Development: Season One

Jason Bateman (Actor), Michael Cera (Actor), Anthony Russo (Director), Greg Mottola (Director) | Rated: Unrated | Format: DVD
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)

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Winner of the Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy its first year out, 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. Holding the Bluths together just barely is son Michael Bluth (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 harbors a secret crush on his cousin (Alia Shawkat). A peerless ensemble led by the brilliant Bateman (who ever 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, even HBO--but once you buy in to the Bluths' innumerable dysfunctions, you'll be laughing your head off for hours.--Mark Englehart

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Customer Reviews

15 Reviews
5 star:
 (14)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars I have made a huge mistake..., Sep 15 2004
By 
"eghan6" (Cambridge, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Arrested Development: Season One (DVD)
The world of half-hour televised comedy needed a good shot in the arm. It came in the form of the Bluth family. If you have grown weary of the idiosyncratic behaviour of the run of the mill sitcom families as seen on Raymond, King of Queens, Yes Dear, 8 Simple Rules, My Wife and Kids and so on then Arrested Development will feel like a fresh pallete of family disfunction.

I am a fan of the single-camera comedy productions but Arrested leans more to the witty and circumstantial comedy that was seen on the innnovator of single-camera comedy, The Larry Sanders Show. Curb Your Enthusiasm is getting a good run for its money as the events unfolding for the Bluth Family saga provide some of the most original and comedic writing this year -- on any show.

The key...characterization. There is no single character that demands the spotlight as they all possess foibles that avail them ample recognition. GOB, the entertainer; always aware that the camera is on him and so he feels obligated to become his own dramatic sequence, culling inspiration from dated and hackneyed dramatic devices. He may easily be the funniest of the "normal" characters on the show. Then there's Buster; sheer commitment to timidity is all I can say about this actor. Buster's panic attacks and faux bravados serve as great physical comedy to GOB's verbal comedy. George Sr., the source of the disfunction is well-played by Emmy-nominated Geoffrey Tambor as his vices and complacency know no bounds. And Michael, the straight-man to everyone else is underrated as it is through his eyes do we see the absurdity that is the Bluth family.

Now the stories, great episodes include Pilot, Bringing Up Buster, Let 'Em Eat Cake, and well the other 19 episodes that I won't mention here because this series is just that a series. It does not rely on stand-alone episodes and one-off humour. This is an intelligent show for the educated viewer and this DVD is definitely worth a purchase as we may be looking at the heir the Gary Schandling throne.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Proof that the sit-com is not dead!, Sep 21 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Arrested Development: Season One (DVD)
There's been a lot of hand-wringing about the situation comedy's fall from grace. Well, it's a bit early to write the obituary for the sit-com. Arrested Development is here and it is the funniest sit-coms in recent years. Most comedies are entirely predictable: you can see the jokes coming a mile away. Arrested Development is one of the few shows on TV that can genuinely surprise you. People do the unexpected. And it's hilarious. The show is built around the most colourful array of characters on any show on TV and they are perfectly cast. I thinkt he reason the show did not do better is that it gets funnier the mroe you watch it. Because the episodes build on each other and the characters' actions are funnier the more you get to know them, it definitely rewards loyal viewers more than the channel surfer. That makes DVD the perfect format for watching this show. If you missed it in its first run, buy it now. You won't be sorry.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars This show is PERFECT!, Sep 26 2005
By 
Kevin Deluca "KDakota630" (London, ON) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Arrested Development: Season One (DVD)
There's not a ton to add that others haven't already written, but this show truly is a gem. It was supposed to have been cancelled after season one but winning the Emmy for best new comedy series probably gave it a bit of a reprive. I believe it was supposed to have been cancelled after season two, but luckily again, Fox renewed it. I'm not sure what they're commitment to the show is, but hopefully they'll keep it around. I believe DVD sales have been good, so maybe they won't screw up and and cancel it only to have to put it back on the air like Family Guy (another outstanding show).

The only potential drawback to Arrested Development would be that you have to pay attention. The jokes and set-ups come fairly quickly and if you're not watching, you'll miss them.

This is, however, the best original sitcom to come around for a LONG time, and it easily one of the best, PERIOD.

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