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Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete First Season

Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete First Season

List Price: $39.98
Your Price: $29.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Blurb for Curb
Review: Is there a funnier non-comedian than Larry David? A resounding no. How can one man get himself in so much trouble and not know how he got there? David is a master - a deft touch, a supercilous smile, a wig wag at Hollywood and tv. Satire at its very best. I can't wait for the second season on DVD,even though I have it on home taped VHS.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The show is great, but what about the DVD?
Review: Since anyone considering buying this DVD set is probably a fan of the show, I will focus not on a review of the show itself, but of the DVD release.
Packaging is nice enough - a cardboard slipcase with an amusing little sliding mechanism that is neat to look at and fun to play around with, but not quite as practical or durable as the standard plastic snap case. Still, points for originality. The front cover of the slipcase folds open to reveal a listing of each episode with a short synopsis, which I thought was a nice touch.
I suppose it's what's inside that counts though, and what you get is 2 discs with the 10 episodes from season 1, and not a whole lot more. Of course, part of the reason to get this is to have the shows, which are, of course, wonderfully smart and funny, just like they were on TV. For some, simply having a hard copy of all the shows will make this worthwhile. However, having been spoiled rotten by several other top notch DVD releases as of late, I have come to expect a little something extra. The inclusion of the one hour special that gave rise to the show is nice, but is more of a necessity than a "special feature", just like the inclusion of, say, episode 8, could not be considered a special feature. Other than that, we get a commentary on Episode 1 and an interview with LD conducted by Bob Costas.
Initially I was disappointed to see that commentary was only given for a single epsiode, but that one commentary was so dry and boring that I was hardly left wanting more. It consists of Larry, Cheryl, Jeff, and director Robert B. Weide basically laughing at the show as they watch and patting each other on the back for a job well done. Very few insightful comments, interesting anecdotes or useful information.
The interview (30 min) fares better. We get some interesting tidbits about the show and Larry's personal life. There are, however, some fairly annoying moments where Costas, very obviously a fan, tries to emulate the tone of the show. At one point Larry mentions that often people in his company tell him they "feel like they're on the show". Costas' too-enthusiastic "I know!" response suggests that the interview might have been better conducted by someone able to resist the urge to engage in star-struck play acting with their favorite comedy hero. David's reaction to all of this, however, the smug looks and resigned sighs of someone who's clearly experienced this phenomenon a few times too many, is priceless.
The best parts of the interview involve discussions about how the show is made. This is, unfortunately, also quite frustrating, as it reveals just how great this set could have been. We learn that each scene is shot several times over, and very often each time is different. Since the show is improvised, production seems to take a shotgun approach, allowing several takes for actors to try different tihngs, then culling from these the best moments. This of course hints at the vast library of outtakes and bloopers that surely exist, but sadly were not included in this package. For me one of the most enjoyable aspects of this show is the natural, conversational flow of the dialog and the genuine reactions of the characters, all of which is a result of the improvisation process. Outtakes would have been appreciated not only for their entertainment value, but for the insight they would have provided into how the shows are developped using this highly innovative and successful approach.
Despite its shortcomings (particularly the glaring omission of any outtakes, an obvious thing to include from a show where the actors make up dialog on the spot), fans looking to collect the shows will likely want to pick this up. If you're hoping for a pile of extras, you won't find it here, but perhaps releases of future seasons will be more generous, especially considering that the extra disc space occupied here by the one hour special will be free for the taking in future releases.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A GREAT show
Review: I think that CYE is probly the FUNNIEST show by FAR on TV. I cry on some of the episodes because their so ridicously funny! There is some suggestive stuff in the 3rd and 12th episodes but overall it is a relatively 'clean' show. I would HIGHLY recommend spending the [money] on it because I watch it over and over and dont get tired of it. Also, the box is awesome the way it slides out both DVD's on two little trays... very nice.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: There's no curbing my enthusiasm!!
Review: Just got my long awaited DVD of CYE - The Complete First Season. The half hour interview with the hitherto reclusive Larry David is sensational, and the one hour original 'mockumentary' of CYE had me laughing all through and wanting more of it. For a guy who is a reluctant non-trained actor, Larry carries his role off wonderfully. And the chance to see some of the Seinfeld cast and writers (e.g. Larry Charles) is a feast for me.

OK, so all we need now HBO is the rest of the CYE Seasons on DVD.
(Oh, and while you're at it, the rest of the LARRY SANDERS SHOW too, please, please, p-l-e-a-s-e).

Final thought: Is eveyone named Larry a natural comedian?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Original, Hilarious, Ladies and Gentlemen "Mr. Larry David"
Review: I love this DVD. Honestly I can not wait for the other series to hit amazon.com. I finished watching the whole first season in 2 nights. You just want more and more! Originality is the success of Mr. Larry David. Something that is not seen anymore in TV Shows. Purchase this set, you wont' be sorry!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Just ok
Review: I got this DVD when it came out right away because I loved Seinfeld so much I thought I'd like this too. There are funny moments, but inbetween those moments it is slow and boring. Larry is not that funny...he is almost annoying, and not in the George C. kind of way. I would not buy this unless you had nothing else to watch.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Poor Man's Seinfeld
Review: Seinfeld was supposedly a show about nothing, which is partly what made it so funny. The four main characters were involved in humorously exaggerated observations, situations, and experiences that often occur in everyday life.

This was a successful formula, so Larry David thought he'd use it for his own show, Curb Your Enthusiasm. The problem is, Larry David's observations, situations, and experiences aren't funny; they're annoying. Larry David makes a big dumb stink about every little thing, like a shirt or a fork. Every ten seconds, we have to hear him complain about something else and it comes across as being calculated and forced.

When the characters in Seinfeld would talk about dating, the postal service, etc., it was genuinely funny. When Larry David nitpicks nonsense like eating utensils or birthdays, it's irritating.

Perhaps worst of all is Larry David's unbelievably poor acting. He has absolutely no comedic timing or charisma whatsoever. He comes across as being some crotchety old guy with a stiff neck, which *could* actually be funny, but it just isn't with him.

If your idea of amazing comedy is an old bald guy studdering and constantly throwing his hands in the air in disgust, then by all means, watch Curb Your Enthusiasm and buy this set of DVD's.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: So good!
Review: Elaborately pannaed, and hilariously timed, Curb Your Enthusiasm picks up where Seinfeld left off, with a little HBO color humor in-between. There has been contreversy that this, after just a few years out, is coming to dvd, and Seinfeld, more liked than this, more seen than this, and older than this isn't. People, just be glad "Curb" is on DVD. Yes, I wish Seinfeld was, but count your blessings.

Episodes from Season 1:

The Pants Tent: From the first episode, Larrys satire gets him in hot water.
Ted and Mary: A good early one, with bowling shoes, an angry salesman, and a Paul Simon concert.
I haven't seen the third episode.
The Bracelet: Funny one with a great ending. Richard Lewis co-stars.
I haven't seen the fifth episode.
The Wire: A part 2, if you will, to "The Bracelet."
Aamco: Larry borrows car from friend-messes it up-friend knows mechanic-Larry uses him-lary doesn't invite him to a social funtion, etc.
Beloved Aunt: Larry, to be kind, prints a memorial ad for an aunt who has passed away. When it gets misprinted, hilarious things happen.
Afirmitive Action: Larrys sarcasms and silliniess is taken seriously, and isn't well-recieved, to say the least. I did'nt care for it too much.
I didn't see the tenth, and last episode.

Thank you for taking the time to read my review and feel free to leave me a helpful/not helpful feedback. God Bless USA!

Bring on season 2!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "The House That Jerry Seinfeld Built"
Review: Brilliant cable TV sitcom starring Seinfeld co-creator Larry David shows LA for the rathole that it is...A total and utter nightmare. The show is biting, funny, distubing and sometimes quite irritating but very true to the way many film industry people in California lead their lives. And for better or worse the show is spot on in that respect. Great acting (though most of it appears to be improvised) by everyone involved.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: there's no seinfeld without larry david
Review: this man is a genius and both shows he's produced so far have been hilarious. if only seinfeld could get on dvd...


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