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Life on Mars wallows in glorious 1970s fashion and music as it follows Sam Tyler (Jason O'Mara), a police detective who gets hit by a car in 2008 and wakes up in the same spot in 1973. The local police precinct, headed by Lieutenant Gene Hunt (Harvey Keitel, who fits seamlessly into the period surroundings), is expecting Tyler, but Tyler doesn't know why or how he's there--or why he's receiving messages from his previous life, as well as mysterious phone calls from the beyond. Life on Mars blends this science-fiction premise with story lines that would fit in some classic '70s cop show, but Tyler's future knowledge (and his past life) are essential to solving every case, even if it features a missing rock star groupie or a murdered newspaper columnist. Many episodes focus on the mystery surrounding Sam, including meeting his own mother, father, and childhood self, as well as tiny robots, strange men on TV screens, and a hippie chick who speaks in ambiguous koans. The supporting cast includes Michael Imperioli (rocking a serious '70s 'stache) and Gretchen Mol (fetching in Farrah Fawcett wings); guest stars range from Wallace Shawn to Gina Gershon to an uncredited Whoopi Goldberg.
It's regrettable that, in adapting the original British version of Life on Mars, the producers replaced its understated focus with swagger and overstatement; a fantastical premise is more persuasive if the moment-to-moment story makes sense--regrettably, the narrative logic here owes as much to 1970s cop shows as does the production design. Everyone twinkles to excess, wooing the audience and undercutting any sense of grit. The cast is a charismatic bunch who don't need to spend so much time with rueful smiles and approving looks. The producers knew they'd been canceled in time to resolve the mysteries in the final episode, which diverges significantly from the British version. Also included are a number of cheerful audio commentaries and featurettes, including a tour of the set with '70s icon Lee Majors. --Bret Fetzer
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Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
1973 ended way too soon,
By TNR (Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Life on Mars: The Complete Series (DVD)
I had no interest in watching this show. I had seen an episode out of curiosity, but dismissed it because I really didn't get it. I was not a fan. But I bought the DVD set as a gift for a friend and the longer it sat there, the more curious I became because she liked it so much. So I popped it open and watched the first episode... and I was hooked! It only took a couple of days to watch the entire series (17 episodes) which is too bad because it definitely left me wanting more.The cast has great chemistry and the episodes were quirky, but what do you expect from a show based in 1973? There is lots of comedy and "in" jokes about 2008 and as a viewer you have the added challenge of trying to figure out, along with the main character Sam, just how he landed in 1973 and how he was going to get back to his own time. The soundtrack music was (dare I say) groovy and so was the wardrobe. And though I was only a kid in the 70s, I don't remember that era being as gritty as the series depicts? But I was a kid, what did I know? My only problem with this show is that it ended way too soon and the final summation episode left a lot to be desired. In other words, I hated the final episode. Now maybe if this show had been produced in the 70s, it would've had more time to discover its audience and not have had its plug pulled after 17 episodes. I highly recommend it for a fun (fast) trip through the past.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Sub-par remake and a lost opportunity,
By Gabby "Gabby" (Birmingham, Warwickshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Life on Mars: The Complete Series (DVD)
For those who don't know (although most likely will by now) this is one of those shows that the Americans in their infinite wisdom chose to remake from a successful British series of the same name. I would immediately urge everyone to seek out the DVD's of this superb BBC two season show first, before spending money on this. I'd even go so far as to say you should buy the sequel DVD's "Ashes to Ashes" before parting with your money here.So, what is "Life On Mars"? In a nutshell, a cop from 2008 (in this case in New York) has an accident and wakes up in 1973 New York. Is he mad, in a coma, or has he really travelled back in time?! This US remake has a slow start, and the first couple of episodes are really setting the scene. It borrows freely from the storylines of the British version, although it somehow manages to water them down too. However, there are some later storylines which are just as good as anything the British show managed plus a couple of different plot twists to really keep you guessing. Unfortunately it was too little too late for this show, and the network cancelled it after giving it a mid-season reprieve. What then resulted was a rushed finale which completely ruined the entire series. Sure, it tied up the loose ends, but when you find out what's going on, you really wonder why you invested so many hours previously watching the other episodes. Note well that the close of the British version is NOT the same as this, and is left suitably open ended as well. This US version completely shuts down any possibility of a 2nd season whilst kicking in the nuts with a pathetically stupid ending. Characters and acting in Life on Mars are good - everyone pulls their weight, but Harvey Keitel's characterisation of Gene Hunt is nothing on Philip Glenister's hard boiled cop, and he doesn't get enough screen time to warrant being classified as a major character. Gene Hunt IS the linchpin of Life on Mars, and in the US they completely missed this fact, making him a secondary character to the seemingly ever present Ray Carling. In the UK, these roles are essentially reversed. So, three stars for a good effort up to a point, but really, the ending is not worth it. I suggest watching all but the final episode and leaving it at that!
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love on Mars,
By
This review is from: Life on Mars: The Complete Series (DVD)
Great series! Couldn't believe it ran for only one season. Takes you back to a whole other era! The music is fantastic (70's), the characters are well developed, and makes you believe that one could travel back in time. The filming is in a sepia tone to replicate the old television police action dramas. Jason O'Mara, Michael Imperioli, and Harvey Keitel are a wonderful combination. A very entertaining series. Highly recommended.
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