Family Guy presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold
Story
Picture:
B Sound: B- Extras: B Episodes: B
For the second single DVD release of the red hot Family
Guy, we get the more original and daring Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story. This is a straight to DVD
feature based on three never-before-seen episodes too shaky for TV broadcast
and that would include the freedom of cable.
It is so good, that it sets a new high standard for such DVD releases. Why should everything that is direct to the
format be money-machine garbage?
Considering its instant commercial success, it finally ups the ante and
we can only hope that holds.
Besides the great inner textual
references to other Pop culture and historical events at random and make them
as hilarious as anyone can, it takes the Stewie-based storylines and weaves
them together in consistently funny and witty ways. This includes the idea that Stewie is convinced for a while that
maybe Peter is not his father and just how thrilled and overjoyed he is
for that moment. That is because he
sees an adult that looks like him. Time
travel becomes a factor and the other family members don’t exactly sit this one
out. Instead, it is just the next
logical step of growth, progress and lunacy that makes the series an instant
classic. That includes pushing the
envelope on taboo issues and making that work, something most live action
feature films are miles away from. This
beats just a reissue of previous episodes in an unnecessary repackage. The episodes that would have been include Stewie
B Goode, Bango Was His Name Oh! and Stu & Stewie’s Excellent
Adventure.
The full frame 1.33 X 1 image is
as exceptional as the previous editions, with great color, definition and a
really clean transfer. No wonder people
love watching these over and over. As
for sound, this is the first time anything form the show has been
available in Dolby Digital 5.1, which is a bit better and more articulate that
the Dolby 2.0 Stereo with Pro Logic from the previous two box sets of the series
or the single The Freakin’ Sweet Collection releases reviewed elsewhere
on this site. So good that I wish it
were DTS, but besides the new & great audio commentary with MacFarlane and
many others involved with the show, the 5.1 mix is available with the option of
playing it back censored and uncensored.
With the censored version, you can tell what they are saying anyhow, but
it is a good option. Uncensored, it is
actually funnier and feels somehow more honest. Other extras include Animatic comparisons and a booklet inside
the DVD case about more Family Guy products.
Up next, we will cover the comeback season. Until then, a new season on TV and this Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story release will be more than enough until
then. In the meantime, Stewie continues
to his quest for world domination. His
DVD domination makes that plan more frighteningly possible. Don’t miss it!
- Nicholas Sheffo
