"IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA: SEASONS 1 & 2"
DVD Review
by Rachel Buccicone
| MOVIE: **** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: ****1/2 (out of 5 stars) STARRING Charlie Day as CHARLIE KELLY Rob McElhenney as MAC Glenn Howerton as DENNIS REYNOLDS Kaitlin Olson as DEE REYNOLDS Danny DeVito as FRANK REYNOLDS Not Rated Studio: 20th Century Fox Created by Rob McElhenney Back to DVD Review Home |  |
If you’re in search of an entirely original television series about absolute nonsense, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is your perfect match.
Charlie (Charlie Day), Mac (Rob McElhenney), and Dennis (Glenn Howerton) all own Paddy’s bar. Dennis’ sister Sweet Dee (Kaitlin Olson) works as a waitress and the show centers around their non-adventures. Paddy’s is a less-than-profitable bar in Philadelphia, so the first season features several episodes that have the gang attempting to drive business into the bar. This includes both Paddy’s development into the number-one gay bar in Philly, and its stint as a place for underage consumption.
Anything morally wrong one can conceive of is executed by our main characters. Charlie feigns cancer, the gang plays crippled, they date minors, sleep with people they shouldn’t, and burn down a neighboring building. The relationships among the characters are also of importance. Dennis and Dee argue like juvenile siblings, Charlie and his dyslexia bring down the IQ of the group, and Mac rounds things out as a bit of a maniac.
Season two brought about change for “Always Sunny” as Danny DeVito joined the cast as Frank Reynolds, father to Dennis and Dee. While the whole reason the show has been granted a third season is because DeVito came in and saved it, the initial episodes in season two are disappointing compared to their predecessors. Once DeVito’s character gets settled into the plot, focus on our beloved characters continues to haul in the laughs.
The words “vain”, and “lazy” only begin to describe these horrible people. This show is politically incorrect and an example of how NOT to live one’s life, but that’s the point. This show is hilarious because it’s so off the wall and detached from the real world.
The Charlie character seems to slightly dominate the plotlines and rightly so. The actor Charlie Day (“Third Watch” [TV]) is hilarious as his character of the same name. He uses his short stature and slightly funny look to his advantage as the more pathetic and desperate of the characters. His crush on “The Waitress” who works at the coffee shop across the street from the pub is used frequently to further plot lines to the enjoyment of all.
Glenn Howerton (“Two Weeks”) as Dennis represents the group as the truly handsome one and therefore most severely vain one, while Kaitlin Olson (“The Riches” [TV]) as his sister Dee brings femininity and the additional negative characteristics that can be associated with her sex. DeVito’s Frank comes in as the lowly, perverted father who has been kicked out by his wealthy wife and has chosen to slum it by sharing Charlie’s couch…with Charlie.
The DVD is chock full of bonus features. Additional scenes from the original pilot are there for your viewing pleasure plus audio commentary by the cast on select episodes. A “Sunny Side Up” featurette shows the making of the show, while the Fox Movie Channel Presents “Making A Scene: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is also available. Check out “The Gang’s F*#!s Up” outtakes and Kaitlin’s audition.
It’s hard to say what type of person would enjoy “Always Sunny”. It is off-the-wall humor and purposely offensive to no end. Frankly, this show is funny enough to deserve that everyone at least give it a try. Obviously, Danny DeVito saw something worthy in “Always Sunny” and while his participation is not the reason to watch this show, his faith in the project shows its promise.
Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Full Frame (1.33:1). English Language Track. English, Spanish and French Subtitles.
