DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
| MOVIE: ***** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: **** (out of 5 stars) STARRING Zach Braff as DR. JOHN “J.D.” DORIAN Sarah Chalke as DR. ELLIOT REID Donald Faison as DR. CHRIS TURK Ken Jenkins as DR. BOB KELSO John C. McGinley as DR. PERRY COX Judy Reyes as CARLA ESPINOSA TV-14 Studio: Touchstone Television Created by: Bill Lawrence Back to DVD Review Home |
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“Scrubs” came my way the same way that many great television shows do - from the studios in a DVD set. It’s not that I was living in a cave, unaware of a television show called “Scrubs.” I just never had time to watch it. Especially recently, I don’t tune to television very often. There’s usually a stack of DVDs to review two feet high, so how can I have time to actually watch the broadcasts.
Fortunately, “Scrubs” found its way into that review pile. I know it’s well into a solid series run, but when I first popped the discs into my DVD player, this was my first exposure to the show. And I’m glad I’m finally getting to see it.
In many ways, I think “Scrubs” is more realistic than other medical shows like “E.R.” Shows like “E.R.” get so wrapped up in their drama, and they are so detemined to be serious television. But what they don’t realize is that most of our lives aren’t really that serious. Sure, there are serious things happening, but humor is an essential part of life.
Who hasn’t dealt with the dark side of the human condition by making a joke? You don’t see this on shows like “E.R.” In a way, “Scrubs” took the model we saw in “St. Elsewhere” so many years ago and perfected it. Especially when you’re dealing with the hardest subjects like death and disease, humor is essential. Anyone who has known a doctor as a friend understands their need for a good laugh.
We’ve seen shows before that bend the reality. We’ve seen the shows that use sound effects to punctuate movement and emotion as they would with a soundtrack. Part of what made shows like “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose” and “Ally McBeal” work so well was their smart use of these techniques. However, none of these series can hold a candle to “Scrubs.” It was as if all of these reality-bending shows were made just to pave the way for “Scrubs.”
The consultants for “Scrubs” help make the show work. They’ve brought to light real instances in hospitals. These aren’t the true stories that they use to make TV movies of the week. Instead, these are the stories that the public would rer not hear. They’re the stories of how doctors deal with their hangovers, or have their own petty rivalries among themselves. When you’re going into surgery, you don’t want to think of your surgeon as a human, but as a god. However, that doesn’t stop them from actually being human.
In order to bring a lightheartedness to a medical show, “Scrubs” leans heavily on an espeically talented cast. While star Zach Braff is used as the poster child for the show, he’s only a small piece of the puzzle. Braff’s comic nature, while spot-on, would be nothing without his co-stars.
Of course praise has been heaped on John C. McGinley for his brilliant work as J.D.’s reluctant mentor Dr. Cox. McGinley constantly throws curve balls at the audience by being alternately abrasive and supportive. Not only does he get some of the most hilarious lines, but he’s also got some of the most touching moments in the entire series.
But the rest of the cast, including Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison and Judy Reyes, round out the show and give it a lot of heart. “Scrubs” is arguably one of the best cast shows on television.
This three-disc set has a nice selection of special features, including several commentaries by creator Bill Lawrence and selected cast members. There’s also a featurette on the actors talking about the casting process, as well as the cast and crew reflecting on their favorite moments in teh show. Some of the deleted scenes were good, but the real fun comes from the outtakes, which is hilarious with this cast.
Specifications: Dolby Digital Surround Sound. Full frame (1.33:1). English language subtitles for the hearing impaired.
