It has been a couple of years since review materials were sent for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. During that time, Fox has dropped the Blu-ray releases for many of its television programs, and this program, now in its tenth season, has been one of the casualties. No matter, the knuckleheaded shenanigans at Paddy’s Pub continue unabated in this latest ten-episode season of the show even if the DVD release is fairly barebones without the commentaries and behind-the-scenes featurettes that distinguished earlier season sets.
Studio: Fox
Distributed By: N/A
Video Resolution and Encode: 480P/MPEG-2
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: English 5.1 DD
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Rating: TV-MA
Run Time: 3 Hr. 47 Min.
Package Includes: DVD
Amaray case with leafDisc Type: DVD-9 (dual layer)
Region: 1
Release Date: 01/05/2016
MSRP: $29.98
The Production Rating: 3.5/5
Siblings Dennis (Glenn Howerton) and Dee (Kaitlin Olson), their father Frank (Danny DeVito), and buddies Charlie (Charlie Day) and Mac (Rob McElhenney) are off on another season of wacky adventures, everything from getting the pub ready for a health inspection (which is really a tour de force for actor Charlie Day) to trying to save Mac’s father (Gregory Scott Cummins) from a lethal injection. Among the other hilarious plots the group gets mixed up with this season are the nitwits appearing together as a family unit on the game show Family Fight (almost as hilariously memorable as Oscar and Felix appearing on Password in a classic episode of The Odd Couple), the gang trying to chug beers on a cross country flight to beat Wade Boggs’ record consumption mark of seventy (guest starring, of course, Wade Boggs), and the group going their separate ways to see if their lives are more interesting apart (leading to a once-in-a-lifetime encounter between Dee and Charlie). There are a few misses: the season finale as Dennis manipulates Charlie and Mac to thinking they’re in a cult isn’t as funny as some other season finales and a stab at group dating goes naturally awry in predictable fashion.
As always, the improvisation of the five regulars works quite well within the confines of these often ridiculous stories, and even Danny DeVito, sometimes guilty of wearing out his welcome, is easier to take this season (especially in the season’s penultimate episode where continual blood withdrawals leave him catatonic for long stretches of the show). Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton are this season’s MVPs on the performance end with Charlie claiming the episode “Charlie Work” and Glenn stealing the show on “The Gang Goes on Family Fight” and the season finale. Kaitlin Olson and her stunt double must also receive a round of applause for the slapstick shenanigans in a Chinese fish factory in one of the season's funniest episodes.
Here are the ten episodes contained on two DVDs in the season ten set:
1 – The Gang Beats Boggs
2 – The Gang Group Dates
3 – Psycho Pete Returns
4 – Charlie Work
5 – The Gang Spies Like U.S.
6 – The Gang Misses the Boat
7 – Mac Kills His Dad
8 – The Gang Goes on Family Fight
9 – Frank Retires
10 – Ass Kickers United: Mac and Charlie Join a Cult
Video Rating: 4.5/5 3D Rating: NA
The 1.78:1 television aspect ratio is presented in anamorphic widescreen. Sharpness throughout is quite exemplary for standard definition video during the run of the season. Colors are stable and consistently hued, and flesh tones are natural and appealing. Apart from some moiré to be seen during several episodes in tight line structures, there are no other visual artifacts to spoil the visual presentation. Each episode has been divided into 5 chapters.
Audio Rating: 3.5/5
The Dolby Digital 5.1 sound mix is more stereophonic than surround in nature. The rear channels capture some echoes of the music which offers an ironically lush sound to the crass and classless endeavors of these nincompoops. Ambient sounds don’t get much attention in the surround sound mix. Dialogue has been professionally recorded and has been placed firmly in the center channel.
Special Features Rating: 1/5
Gag Reel (5:43): shows the extent of improvisation going on during this show’s production.
Promo Trailers: Fox cable dramas, Archer, The Strain.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Moronic comedy can be good for one’s constitution every once in a while, and even though this season isn’t always up to the best of the episodes during the show’s long run, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia offers both inanity and wit in a season ten set that’s easy to watch and enjoy.
Reviewed By: Matt Hough
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