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Mad About You - The Complete First Season
Columbia/Tri-Star // Unrated // October 29, 2002
List Price: $29.95 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The 6 time Emmy Award winning television series, "Mad About You" was one of the first TV series I can remember that dealt with the intricacies of functioning in a romantic relationship. Instead of polluting the shows with lots of unlikely slapstick scenarios we get a much more fundamental truth as a springboard for which the comedy has much more punch and originality to it. There is also a deep sense of real love and unflinching commitment between Paul and Jamie Buchman that underlines all of the neurotic exchanges between them that gives the show so much life. The chemistry between Helen Hunt (who plays Jamie Stemple Buchman) and Paul Reiser (Paul Buchman) is another huge reason for the shows successful run. Helen Hunt has always mesmerized me with her work and I place her on the top shelf of modern day acting talent. Paul Reiser also flows brilliantly as the Documentary filmmaker Paul Buchman.
The first season was a smash hit with me when it first aired because it dealt with simple issues from show to show in such interesting and original ways. You just couldn't help but find them entertaining so riddled with everyday issues we all deal with in our lives. Things like how your parents drive you nuts as an adult because they still push all your buttons and treat you like a child, or having neighbors who don't like you despite every effort to be nice to them. There is one episode (#113) that depicts the initial meeting of Paul and Jamie leading up to the start of their courtship. This episode should actually have been the pilot episode. I would love to have seen the first few dates in this relationship, but sadly the pilot opens with the couple already 5 months into their marriage and we only occasionally hear their courtship in other episodes.
The show made me laugh and cry in so many ways and for so many reasons. It really made me feel almost like part of the family. There are some memorable guest stars including Jerry Lewis and Steven Wright in an episode where they face off in some delightful comic situations. Richard Kind and Leila Kenzle play the close friends Fran and Mark Devanow and Anne Ramsay plays the wonderful narcissistic sister, Lisa Stemple. John Pankow joins the cast later in the season as Paul's cousin, Ira Buchman.
This DVD set includes 22 episodes on 2 discs keeping it nice and compact, but the packaging is that cheap carboard gatefold with the glued on plastic that comes apart after a bit of use and age. Shame on you Columbia Tristar for using this packaging.
VIDEO: Presented in original 1.33:1 full screen TV aspect ratio the picture looks only a little better than a good broadcast quality picture. Sharpness is muted quite a bit and detail is somewhat lacking.
AUDIO: Simple 2-channel stereo, the content doesn't require much in the way of sound, but the sound does deliver the intended material just fine. There are French and Spanish dubs included as well as English subtitles.
MENUS: The menu designs are static and typical of low budget production.
BONUS MATERIALS: Absolutely none.
Summary: Most romantic comedy feature films are not as good as "Mad About You". The adventure that comes after "Happily Ever After" is what we get to explore with Paul and Jamie Buchman. While most episodes stay on the comedy track, most all deal with very identifiable scenarios and plots. Often we are treated to more serious fare where emotions can run high and characters are tested. A perfect tag line to this show is that life can be found in the simple things. Oh and lets not forget the famous Buchman's dog, Murray (played by Maui the Dog). This series should have been given better DVD treatment and for this I give it only a recommended rating.
The first season was a smash hit with me when it first aired because it dealt with simple issues from show to show in such interesting and original ways. You just couldn't help but find them entertaining so riddled with everyday issues we all deal with in our lives. Things like how your parents drive you nuts as an adult because they still push all your buttons and treat you like a child, or having neighbors who don't like you despite every effort to be nice to them. There is one episode (#113) that depicts the initial meeting of Paul and Jamie leading up to the start of their courtship. This episode should actually have been the pilot episode. I would love to have seen the first few dates in this relationship, but sadly the pilot opens with the couple already 5 months into their marriage and we only occasionally hear their courtship in other episodes.
The show made me laugh and cry in so many ways and for so many reasons. It really made me feel almost like part of the family. There are some memorable guest stars including Jerry Lewis and Steven Wright in an episode where they face off in some delightful comic situations. Richard Kind and Leila Kenzle play the close friends Fran and Mark Devanow and Anne Ramsay plays the wonderful narcissistic sister, Lisa Stemple. John Pankow joins the cast later in the season as Paul's cousin, Ira Buchman.
This DVD set includes 22 episodes on 2 discs keeping it nice and compact, but the packaging is that cheap carboard gatefold with the glued on plastic that comes apart after a bit of use and age. Shame on you Columbia Tristar for using this packaging.
VIDEO: Presented in original 1.33:1 full screen TV aspect ratio the picture looks only a little better than a good broadcast quality picture. Sharpness is muted quite a bit and detail is somewhat lacking.
AUDIO: Simple 2-channel stereo, the content doesn't require much in the way of sound, but the sound does deliver the intended material just fine. There are French and Spanish dubs included as well as English subtitles.
MENUS: The menu designs are static and typical of low budget production.
BONUS MATERIALS: Absolutely none.
Summary: Most romantic comedy feature films are not as good as "Mad About You". The adventure that comes after "Happily Ever After" is what we get to explore with Paul and Jamie Buchman. While most episodes stay on the comedy track, most all deal with very identifiable scenarios and plots. Often we are treated to more serious fare where emotions can run high and characters are tested. A perfect tag line to this show is that life can be found in the simple things. Oh and lets not forget the famous Buchman's dog, Murray (played by Maui the Dog). This series should have been given better DVD treatment and for this I give it only a recommended rating.
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