Reviewer's Bias*
Loves: Comedy
Likes: One-person shows, Tracey Ullman
Dislikes: "Tracey Takes On..."
Hates:

The Show
For most viewers, Tracey Ullman is best loved for having been the first home for "The Simpsons," back when she hosted her sketch show on Fox. Sure, she's done plenty more in her career besides providing a few minutes of cartoons for a few weeks, but she's never really enjoyed mainstream popularity. It could be her oddball cast of characters, which ranged from the ridiculous to the disturbing, or it could just be the peculiar nature of British comedy. Either way, she's been rather successful for a personality on the fringes of entertainment.

Having found a new home for her talents on HBO, she put together a stage biography special, working with TV veteran Linda Mendoza ("One Night Stand," "The Bernie Mac Show"). The special opens with Ullman singing her hit song "They Don't Know," which may surprise those who only know her from her comedy shows. It certainly surprised the audience, who sit stone-faced during the very catchy pop hit.

The song is a rather appropriate choice, as most of what makes up this special will be unknown to viewers. Starting with her childhood, Ullman uses song, dance and her uniquely aggressive comedic presence to tell her life story, which isn't exactly rife with drama, but which allows her to do the things that have made her famous.

Helped by a small cast of actors/dancers, her story, including her early experiences with show business right through her HBO series, is told on a somewhat stark stage, with some simple video displays punctuating her tales, some occasional props, and a light-up star that plays into the story. Ullman works the show with such confidence, using very minor costume changes and a diverse group of wigs to transform herself and travel into the past. The physical changes may be small, but Ullman's ability to mimic anyone turns them into full-fledged characters.

Myself, I enjoy Ullman, but couldn't get into the costume and make-up heavy work she's done in "Tracey Takes On..." I think it may be the lack of Tracey in the characters. Being able to see the woman beneath a pair of oversized glasses or fake hair, makes it just funnier, something she proves in this show, as she discusses the inspiration for many of her characters, slipping into the voices and bits with astounding ease.

In a way, taking in this special is like watching a condensed season of her series, which, to me, is a blessing. For those who enjoy biographical stage shows, this is the right amount and right venue for watching Ullman.

The DVD
Packed in a standard keepcase with an insert that lists the chapter stops, this one-disc release features a static, full-frame main menu with options to play the 75 minute special or select scenes. The scene selection menu is a text list of choices, and there are no subtitle or language options. The show is closed captioned.

The Quality
Presented in full-frame format, the video is crisp and clear, with nice color. There's a touch of softness to the proceedings, but it's the kind of softness seen with stage lighting, not a problem with the transfer. The level of detail is good, especially noticeable in the hair in Ullman's wigs. It's a fine presentation.

The audio, a Dolby Digital 2.0 mix, isn't aggressive or particularly dynamic, but it does a nice job of making a strong soundfield by putting music enhancement and crowd noise in the surround speakers, and keeping Ullman in the center channel. Ullman's levels fluctuate a bit, but its not a frequent occurrence.

The Extras
There are no extras of any kind on this DVD.

The Bottom Line
If you don't like Tracey Ullman, there's no chance you'll like this special, as it is basically a concentrated dose of her. If you like one-person on-stage memoirs done with style and humor, as well as Ullman, then the show will be an entertaining time. The DVD has nothing going on in terms of extras, but has a nice level of quality. If you're a big fan, you may want to own it, but most will be happy with a rental.

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*The Reviewer's Bias section is an attempt to help readers use the review to its best effect. By knowing where the reviewer's biases lie on the film's subject matter, one can read the review with the right mindset.