Little Men – Set One & Two (Canadian TV)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Episodes: C+

 

 

There are so many feature film version of Louisa May Alcott’s book Little Women, the follow up book Little Men has been adapted less and is less known.  The same year a Canadian theatrical film version of the book hit theaters, a TV series version came to Canadian TV and the first eight episodes of the series are now available on DVD by BFS and the show is not bad family entertainment.

 

Jo (Michelle Rene Thomas) has established a boy’s school and is doing her best to make a better future for herself.  What follows is the usual soap opera of young boys and girls growing up, as well as if Jo can have a life on top of all the responsibilities she is taking on.  The series essentially wants to be a variant of Dr. Quinn – Medicine Woman, down to a reliable male lead who is Jo’s love interest and even look like the guy from the Jane Seymour series.  With that said, it does fall into the TV episode grind, but tries to be family friendly throughout.  Succeeding more than failing, it is family safe enough, though that is often predictable.  The episodes are an hour each and are two per DVD, while each set has two DVDs:

 

Set One:

1)     Changes

2)     Quarantine

3)     Thanksgiving

4)     Tough Crimes

Set Two:

5)     Emancipation

6)     The Christmas Angel

7)     Philanthropy

8)     Bluffing

 

 

The shows have the advantage of not being as sappy as the current American TV formula of such shows tends to be, which is a plus whereas this is based on literature that is classic enough.  The cast is capable, as is the writing and directing, but it should strictly be considered for the family/children’s market.  Also, Miss Thomas is better and more believable in the role than Winona Ryder, which has Miss Ryder essentially playing her usual “laced virginal sensitive” archetype.  Yawn.

 

The full frame image is not bad for a recently produced show, but does not offer any spectacular visuals or picture definition either.  Like most such TV shows, this is shot with flat lighting and close shots throughout.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo surprisingly has little to no Pro Logic surrounds to offer, which is odd for a newer show.  Both sets offer the same cast profiles, but Set One has the original novel accessible via DVD-ROM, while Set Two has a text biography on Alcott and a list of some of her books.  That works.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo