Get a Life - The Complete Series DVD Review

[TJ]

Here are the surreal, twisted, gratuitously violent, hilarious misadventures of Chris Peterson - a 30-year-old paperboy with an ever-decreasing grasp on reality. Starring Chris Elliott (Eagleheart), Executive Produced by David Mirkin (The Simpsons) and created by Chris Elliott, Adam Resnick and David Mirkin, Get a Life has earned a rabid and disturbing cult following. Co-starring Bob Elliott, Robin Riker, Elinor Donahue, Sam Robards and Brian Doyle-Murray.

Read my review here:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/getalif...dvdreview.html

Please post any questions or comments about the set.

[MRPITT]

This is awesome

I read your review in its entirety, well done, thank you!

Here was the selling point for me

"it's great the episodes are uncut and contain all of the original music (including the classic theme song),"

[Samme]

I'm really looking forward to finally seeing this released, but it's crazy that Chris Elliott recorded all those commentaries years ago and they're not being used. Either one or both sides is stubborn to the point of being ridiculous.

[Latka Gravas]

I was a moderate fan of Get a Life when it was originally on. I did think it was funny, but it was on at strange times/days and I don't remember catching that many episodes. Plus, at the time I didn't have cable & even though I know this was a non-cable show, the picture on my set was so poor that I couldn't really appreciate the show at the time.

Back in the 200X's, I saw (but never bought) a couple of the sub-par DVD's that came out with a handful of episodes. But, the picture quality was sub-par and I really wanted the entire series.

So, I was happy when the Complete series DVD release finally came out in 2012 (better late than never). I didn't get the set until recently, however - due to the huge back-log of shows I still have to watch. I look forward to seeing this in the near future, however - I'm sure it will be hilarious.

[Latka Gravas]

I finally started watching the GAL Complete Series boxed set, that I got late last year. This is a truly hilarious, sick/demented/twisted & clever series. I'm amazed that this was a non-cable show. It's definitely ahead of it's time, and seems like it would have done better if it had come out on HBO (or a similar channel) in the late '90's/200X's. Glad that it lasted 2 seasons; even that was surprising, given how truly #$%@#%-up the show is - ha ha.

I heard that the reason it took so long to release the entire series on DVD was due to needing to secure all of the original music. If so, it was worth the wait, especially given that there are a lot of great pop/rock songs throughout the show - and, it definitely wouldn't have been the same without them.

I've seen all of the first season, and have started watching the second. General comments about the series:

-Very funny contrast between Chris' irresponsible life & his childhood friend Larry's "established, family man" life. Especially amusing is the blatant contempt/hatred that Chris & Sharon (Larry's wife) have for each other - hilarious.

- It's funny that CE "dies" horrific deaths so often throughout the series, and miraculously comes back to life - ha ha

-Chris Peterson's parents (played by CE's real-life father Bob Elliott, and Elinor Donahue) are great as well; their extremely sarcastic one-liners & obvious contempt for Chris is very transparent & amusing. It's also funny that they rarely change out of their bathrobes, even if it's the middle of the day/evening (emphasizing their retirement - ha ha).

Comments about some specific episodes:

-Much to Sharon's rage & chagrin, Chris gets the lead role in a bizarre play titled "Zoo animals on wheels"; this is about anthropomorphic zoo animals having adventures while wheeling around on roller skates - wow; what a $#%#@#-up & strange idea for a play....which is the whole point.

-Chris temporarily acquires a "super power", where he briefly "sees" future events (that all come true). Extremely funny, especially when he thinks his friend Larry is out to smother his wife - when they're actually just doing some harmless "role playing" - LOL.

-Due to violating a sacred Indian Burial ground, Chris & Larry switch places for roughly a day - literally. Extremely funny.

-The naive Chris goes off to the "big city" in search of adventure, and experiences a classic rags to riches...and back to rags story. Extremely funny sequences, and great use of stock?! footage.

[TV Guy]

The “Wallet Boy” episode in the “Big City” cracks me up.

I was disappointed with the second season, when the parents and best friend disappeared and Chris moved in above Brian Doyle Murray’s garage.

[Latka Gravas]

My technical review of the GAL Complete Series DVD set:

-Just OK picture quality (PQ). Some episodes are better than others. Overall better than a VHS rip, but not by much. However, while I would probably not say this for any other show...but, in this case, I don't mind. The sub-par PQ just emphasizes the intentionally low budget, cheap aspect of the show. Much of the series uses cheap set pieces that look like they're straight out of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, so the restoration doesn't need to look that great - ha ha. And, I don't think the source material was that great to begin with - so I doubt the PQ can look that much better than it does.

-As I mentioned in my last post, it's great that all (I think) of the original music is included - fantastic.

-Decent audio.

When I finish the series, I will post more.

[Cocoa8]

I am watching the first season now, I really liked it in the 90's.

[cloggedmind]

Knit one, pearl two.
Pearl Bailey, you bastard!

Oh, yeah. I beat him to death with a rake. Sorry, kid! That thing puked on me just once too often.

He's gonna make some mighty great samwiches!

What are you, some kinda Star Man or somethin'?!

Now, let's all dance to "Alley Cat"!!