Tracey Ullman’s State Of The Union (first set/Eagle DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: D Episodes: C+
Without a
doubt, Tracey Ullman is a very talented woman and her comic talent in
particular is still underrated after all these years. Her various appearances are more hit than
miss and one of the more recent successes was her cable TV skit series Tracey Ullman’s State Of The Union, now
available with five episodes that deserve revisiting.
On the
show, she plays a variety of real life people and other characters that make
for often compelling and funny viewing.
Her real-life targets include Arianna Huffington, Renee Zellweger,
Campbell Brown, Rita Cosby, Dina Lohan, Cameron Diaz, Helen Mirren, Suzanne
Sommers, Andy Rooney, Sandra Beckham and even David Beckham. But she does so much with them, spoofs them
in subtle ways others would miss and is often saying something about them. She has yet to find her peak, artistically or
commercially, but State Of The Union
deserves a second chance and you can never get enough Ullman.
The anamorphically
enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is a little soft, in part from being one of the
earliest such TV productions, but the copies are consistent and just watchable
enough, while the Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo mixes are a little better,
but also show their age. Extras include original
promos, character screen tests with optional Ullman commentary, designs for the
show, outtakes and bloopers.
- Nicholas Sheffo
