Portlandia - Season Four (2014/IFC/VSC DVD set)

Picture: B Sound: B Extras: D Episodes: B+

Portlandia is, in my opinion, one of the best sketch comedy shows out there now. Starring Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live) and Carrie Brownstein (Wild Flag, Sleater-Kinney vocalist/guitarist) who both expertly star in these ten all new episodes that parody social behavior, opposite intentions, awkward moments, and over the top situations. Highlights in this Season Four set are the skits Pride Parade, The Celery Salesman, Dave and Kath, two of the town's most uptight residents who decide to give relaxing a try; Spyke and his girlfriend, Iris, who struggle through a hard time at a bad Thai restaurant; and Nina and Lance, who recover from the trauma of a deceased pet.

Unlike Comedy Central's Key and Peele, each skit is nicely crafted and doesn't go on longer than it needs to. Portlandia also has INCREDIBLE cameos featuring in this season: Tunde Adebimpe (TV On The Radio), Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys), Vanessa Bayer (Saturday Night Live), Kirsten Dunst (Spider-Man), Joshua Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), singer-songwriter k.d. lang, Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver), Silas Weir Mitchell (Grimm), Michael Nesmith (The Monkees), Mark Proksch (The Office), Maya Rudolph (The Way, Way Back, Bridesmaids), columnist Dan Savage, Nick Swardson (Reno 911!), jazz duo Tuck and Patti, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and Olivia Wilde (Tron Legacy, House)!

Fan favorites back from previous seasons include Ed Begley Jr. (Arrested Development, Pineapple Express), Annie Clark (St. Vincent), Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park), Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley, Franklin & Bash), Jason Sudeikis (Eastbound & Down) and director Gus Van Sant (Promised Land, Milk). Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks) also returns as Portlandia's clueless but lovable Mayor (whose Parents give him allowances).

The show features top-notch direction and cinematography and is shot entirely on location in Portland, Oregon which is pretty cool. For a DVD presentation, the image and sound are pretty sharp - capturing the 16 X 9/1.78 X 1 standard definition image and lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track. Total running time for Season Four is 242 minutes.

The discs come in a very cool paper-thin case with very cool artwork and disc art.

Unfortunately there aren't any extras on the release, but we have reviewed all three previous seasons elsewhere on this site.

- James Harland Lockhart V

https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv