Manchild – The Complete First Season
Picture: B-
Sound: B- Extras: D Episodes: B-
A hit like Sex & The City is not so easy to
duplicate or imitate, especially with the restrictions of most TV
networks. The BBC, like British TV in
general, does have standards that fall between what U.S. broadcast and cable TV
is allowed to do, which is where Manchild (2002) comes in. It focuses on four older friends (Nigel
Havers, Ray Burdis, Don Warrington and Taster’s Choice Coffee “sophisticated
taste” lead actor Anthony Head) hitting middle age and deciding to do something
to make their lives exciting again.
Thus, they will do what they can to pull off a final cycles of what they
see as last hurrahs.
Even with most of them still married, it is time for some
extra-marital affairs, as if the relationships were working in the first
place. I enjoyed the Nick
Fisher/Richard Stoneman teleplays enough to keep watching, especially as this
show is not as populist and predictable as its female predecessor. Maybe it is because they are British and we
have not seen enough of this side of their lives, but I also think it is about
even more mature, older adults and that makes it both funnier and more
realistic.
This double DVD set features the first seven shows in the
series, but they do not have titles.
However, they take on all kinds of issues, obviously some of which are
risqué. When gender issues are
approached, there is no stupid humor and viewers will be happy to know nothing
is degrading either. This is well
handled and each show is under a half-hour, so they are more tightly scripted,
making them get to the points without muddying it up.
The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is not bad for
a TV series or for a show whose masters seem to be originating in the PAL
format. Despite some moments of
paleness, this is a rich and colorful picture considering it was made for TV,
but also has some slight detail trouble here and there going from PAL to NTSC. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and 5.1 AC-3
mixes are good for what they are, with the 5.1 having a slight edge over the
Pro Logic capable 2.0, but this is dialogue-based too, so expectations can only
be so big. The remake by former Roxy
Music lead singer Bryan Ferry’s version of Wilbert Harrison’s classic Let’s
Work Together is used (is that the original recording? Original music is credited to MCPS) is the
theme song for the show, intended for all its humor and irony. The only extras are a trailer for the show
on DVD and a stills gallery, but some previews for other Koch Lorber titles are
also here. Maybe we will get extras on
future season sets, but Manchild is an amusing and at least as fresh and
witty show as Sex & The City ever was, which is why you might want
to check into it.
- Nicholas sheffo
