In this 5 time Emmy®-winning comedy’s hilarious second season, Michael Bluth, once again determined to be free of his dysfunctional family, packs up the car and his son George-Michael and heads for Arizona. But he’s soon pulled over by the police who tell him that his father, George Sr., has broken out of prison. Due to the company’s shady business deal with Iraq, Michael could face prison time, so he returns home to clear his name even as George Sr. secretly flees to Mexico, Tobias decides to be an understudy for the Blue Man Group, and Lucille begins a torrid affair with her husband’s twin brother, Oscar. Arrested Development Season 3 will begin airing this fall on FOX.The axe of cancellation dangled perilously over Arrested Development during its second season, but the award-winning comedy fought against fate to deliver a hilarious if scattershot 18 episodes (reduced from the original show order of 22), and stayed alive for the beginning of a third season. Most likely, the creators and actors knew the clock was ticking down, so they didn’t hesitate to throw their all into these manic, hilarious episodes, which have only the thinnest of plot arcs but an electrifying energy that makes them hard to resist. Some of the story antics were more of the same: good son Michael (Jason Bateman) tries to keep his company afloat, but is often foiled by older brother Gob (Will Arnett); the precarious marriage of Lindsay (Portia de Rossi) and Tobias (David Cross) undergoes a trial separation; and young George-Michael (Michael Cera) fights his attraction to his cousin Maeby (Alia Shawkat). Other show developments, though, were new and stunningly, uproariously bizarre: Buster (Tony Hale) joins the army, but later finds his hand bitten off by a seal (yes, a real seal), and Oscar (Jeffrey Tambor), the hippie brother of jailed George Sr. (also Tambor), rekindles an affair with sister-in-law Lucille (Jessica Walter), which may have resulted in Buster’s conception years ago.
Jokes flew fast and furious, as did guest stars–Ben Stiller, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Christine Taylor, Thomas Jane, Ed Begley Jr., Ione Skye, and Zach Braff among them–making it hard to keep straight who was doing what and why. No matter, as each of the episodes was in and of itself was a perfect gem of comedy, strung together by sharp writing and fantastic performances. In addition to the regular cast, both Liza Minnelli, reprising her role as “Lucille Two,” and Martin Short, as an, um, eccentric family friend, deserve special mention, with the episode both appeared in, “Ready, Aim, Marry Me,” a frenetic exercise in slapstick farce. Typical examples of the show’s offbeat humor were found in “Afternoon Delight,” in which various members of the Bluth family discover the true meaning of the ’70s ballad, “Meet the Veals,” wherein the Bluths encounter the conservative parents of George Michael’s girlfriend, and “Motherboy XXX,” surrounding an unsettling mother-son traditional dance. The entire cast cohered perfectly through this season, and their give and take provided a perfect balance among the actors, all of whom were even better than the previous year. However, it’s Bateman who should be singled out as the show’s anchor, mixing dry sarcasm with impeccable comic timing. Despite plummeting ratings, Arrested Development didn’t just keep its head above water, it swam with grace and hilarity. –Mark Englehart
Buy “Arrested Development – Season Two” For Only $12.00
May 27, 2008
#1
This show is totaly lame. I watched it waiting for the same ingenious writing I’ve seen in The Office or Curb Your Enthusiasm, because the show rips off the style of those shows, but it’s not there. Don’t let this show’s mind numbing stupidity lull you into thinking that it’s worth waisting you time on.
go to hell
May 27, 2008
#2
I’m sure this DVD will be hilarious, but I have to remove TWO STARS because of the release date. The 3rd season begins Sept. 19th, but those of us who missed the show’s second season now have to wait a month before we can catch up, and go into the third season without knowing everything about the second. Boo! Bad form, Fox!
May 28, 2008
#3
Having missed the shows initial telecast and being exposed only to the recent online accolades, I thought I was fortunate to catch the second season set on sale for $10.00 – and thank God, only $10.00 .
There’s much in the show that should have been funny – situations, dialogue, ironic commentary by Howard.
But… it just wasn’t funny.
It’s not just that there isn’t a single likeable character – and I mean likeable even in the way, say, Daniel Day-Lewis is likeable in “There Will Be Blood” –
It’s not just that ironic commentary shoots by while the action is still taking place leaving no time to absorb what’s so ironic – or that it’s often hackneyed and cliche’d –
It’s not just that the pacing was putting me to sleep despite the speed of Howards quips –
To be fair, I’m not certain what the problem is. I’m crazy about 30 Rock, Seinfeld, the Sarah Silverman Show, and Malcolm in the Middle. But I get the impression that A) folks who think David Cross is the alpha and omega of comedy are the majority of fans of AD (I have no regard for Mr. Cross, sorry) and B)the critics who graced this show with their praise were somehow, somewise sucking up to Ron Howard.
Howard makes some great American films. This show just isn’t the funniest thing he’s been involved in.
Maybe it’s just me – but if it isn’t, then this show is an over-hyped bore. Meanwhile, my $10 copy of AD season 2 will remain viewed once until my next yardsale.
Ho Hum. – J
May 28, 2008
#4
Groundbreaking… hysterical. I was at a coffee shop yesterday behind a woman talking to someone on her cell phone. She seemed really intimate with the other party and she was making lovie-dovie type talk. Now, I don’t love people who talk on their cell phones, but whatever, it wasn’t ruining my world. I just wanted my coffee and some mints. When a dude came up and put his arm around her, even going so far as to put his hand in her jeans pocket. The tone of her voice changed to a more businesslike one, and she quickly ended the call. Now, a logical person would assume that this person was cheating — either with the guy with her hand in her pocket or the person on the phone. I swear people are duplicitous by nature. I love Arrested Deevelopment!
May 28, 2008
#5
I thought Season 1 of this show was the most hilarious thing I’d ever seen on TV. Never had I sat on my couch and actually laughed out loud at a TV show. Unfortunately, Season 2 is not QUITE that funny. The jokes seem a little more crude and something just falls short. It’s still a lot funnier than a lot of what I’ve seen on TV and several cuts (or seal-bites perhaps) above other shows but it simply doesn’t live up to the first season, which is one of the reasons I have to regretfully remove one star.
Another reason is because not all of the promised extras are actually included. The packaging promises “Campaign videos from the ‘Immaculate Election’ episode” but after looking in the Special Features section of all three discs, I didn’t find them. Maybe they’re an easter egg? I was extremely disappointed by not finding them, because I think that’s one of the funniest episodes in the season and would have liked to see those videos. (A third reason, albeit a minor one, is the packaging itself — having to remove the entire boxed set from a slipcover before getting to the individual discs is pretty annoying.)
And my final reason is that a lot of things are dropped with no explanation or warning. What ever happened to Anyung? He just disappeared and none of the characters ever mention him anymore. What the heck is THAT about? It’s even more baffling than when they abruptly replaced Marta last season with another (far less attractive) actress. Things like that happen a few times (I don’t want to give too much away but you’ll see if you watch.) and they also introduce major things with no real explanation. Gob is Steve Holt’s father??? Hello, when are we going to hear more about THAT?
In spite of the problems, several episodes stand out and still made me laugh out loud, including “Immaculate Election”, “Good Grief”, “Sword of Destiny” and “Meet the Veals”. There’s a lot to love about this season — Tobias’ stint in the Blue Man Group (and the streaks he leaves around the model home for episodes afterward), all the clues leading up to Buster’s accident, Ben Stiller’s cameo appearance as Tony Wonder, Franklin the puppet and all the Liza Minelli scenes, just to name a few. Zach Braff and Christine Taylor also make appearances, and Carl Weathers pops up as well. Hopefully the show won’t become entirely dependant on its guest stars for humor as it ages, a la “Will & Grace.”
Bottom line: still better than any other comedy currently on television, even if it ISN’T funnier than last season. Well worth the price of the DVD set (only $30!) even if it doesn’t have all its promised extras. Four happy yellow stars — even if they aren’t really that happy.