"THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER: VOLUME FIVE"
DVD Review by Kevin Carr
MOVIE: *** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: ** (out of 5 stars)
I have never said that the series “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” is a purely realistic show, but it does deal with realistic issues. One of the things that I have commended it for over the years is that it targets real emotions and feelings in the younger generation but doesn’t sugar-coat things. It does come across as trite and often overly dramatic. The writing isn’t terribly strong, but if you go with it, the show will take you places. Volume Five of the DVD continues with this, offering directions for some of the characters that you don’t often see in stories of teenage pregnancies. This string of episodes finds another pregnancy as well as some of the would-be fathers trying to grow up and get a job. It’s a fair continuation of the series and lets the drama sail.
The DVD set comes with four behind-the-scenes featurettes: “On Set with Director Anson Williams” (that’s Potsy from “Happy Days,” people, so it takes that into perspective), “On Set Fist Bumps with Joey and Matthew,” “On Set with Shailene” and “On Set with Luke”
"THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER: VOLUME SIX"
DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
MOVIE: *** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: * (out of 5 stars)
By the time you reach the sixth volume of a show’s DVD sets, the words “American Teenager” in the title needs to be changed. Indeed, few of the kids are teenagers now in the series, and they’ve grown up before the viewer’s eyes. “The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Volume Six” still deals with teen issues, and the subject of pre-marital sex and pregnancy is still seen throughout. However, this show has moved into more adult areas, including marriage and living alone as young adults. The character of Amy returns and is as emotionally brittle as ever, though Shailene Woodley has grown to own the role. The drama is stepped up with real tragedy in this run, and the focus on the parents has dwindled now that the kids are getting older. In fact, this season breathes some new life into the show and has wrenched it out of high school, like many other long-running teen drama shows have.
This DVD set has no special features, which is not unheard of for a sixth volume. Hardcore fans of the show can find a sheet of iPhone decals inside, though, which offers a minor extra bonus.
