"IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA: THE COMPLETE 4th SEASON"
DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
| MOVIE: ***** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: ***1/2 (out of 5 stars) STARRING Charlie Day as CHARLIE Rob McElhenney as MAC Glenn Howerton as DENNIS Kaitlin Olson as SWEET DEE Danny DeVito as FRANK Not Rated Studio: 20th Century Fox Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
The wretched crew from Paddy’s bar in Philadelphia are back for a new season of misadventures. This time around, the gang loses all sense of morality and virtue (if they ever had any to begin with) by tackling such topical issues as the gas crisis, death, heart attacks and pooping the bed. There is no shame, and there is no humility. “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” goes above and beyond to offend anyone who is willing to watch... and that should be everyone.
WHAT I LIKED
There are only a few shows in the history of television that should be regulated by the FDA because of their addicting nature, and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is one of them. It started rough, came on strong after an episode or two, stumbled in the second season and finally caught a brilliant stride in season three.
Now in season four (with season five currently airing on FX every Thursday night), the characters have become the worst caricatures of themselves. They are such colossal idiots that it’s decadently wonderful to watch their best-laid plans blow up in their faces. They’ve lost IQ points from season one to season four, and the result is hilarious.
The key to a series like this is to give no redeeming quality to any of the main characters, then give each one their own story and wait for the world to end. Like “South Park,” this series revels in its political incorrectness, and it skewers some sacred cows. Taking digs at popular television shows like “America’s Next Top Model” and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” we are reminded that even well-meaning shows can have a dark side.
If you don’t believe me, just check out the blurb from the cover box: “Whether it’s Dee and Charlie’s flirtation with cannibalism, Frank’s glory-hold fixation or Mac’s raucous reenactment of Dennis’s over-the-top sexual memoirs, nothing is sacred for these dysfunctional misfits as they hilariously destroy all possible boundaries of good taste.”
Wow. I bet you never thought you’d read that on the back of a DVD for a show from a major network. God bless FX and its edgy programming schedule. Series like this, the now-cancelled “The Shield” and “Sons of Anarchy” are making networks like HBO look like Nickelodeon.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
My only complaint about this series has nothing to do with the content (although I could do with a bit more McPoyle in the season). Rather, it’s about the length of the show’s run. With only twelve episodes, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is far too short. I wish some of these awesome cable programs would get longer seasons ordered to mirror the big four broadcast networks.
DVD FEATURES
The special features on this set is pretty slim, offering only a blooper reel and a reenactment of the memoirs, “Dennis Reynolds: An Erotic Life.”
The money shot in the bonus features menu is “The Nightman Cometh... Live Performance!” in which the gang perform Charlie’s stage debut to a live audience. It’s funny enough, but I’d just rather go back and watch the season finale again because it’s such a genius show. Sing along with me now: “Dayman! Ah-hah! Fighter of the Nightman! Ah-hah! Champion of the sun!...”
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
People who love politically incorrect humor and are not easily offended.
