Parker Lewis Can’t Lose – The Complete First Season (1990/Shout Factory DVD)

 

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

 

 

Some things just aren’t as great as you remember them.

 

For years now fans have been clamoring for Parker Lewis Can’t Lose to come out on DVD; in fact it was ranked right up there with The Wonder Years as the top demanded.  Well the day has finally come and Parker Lewis Can’t Lose: Season One is now available for all to enjoy on DVD…for the most part.

 

This was one of those series that I remembered on vaguely in terms of specifics.  The faces flashed in my brain, the theme music kind of hummed here and there, and I could almost remember the exact premise.  Where as the series was right on the tip of my tongue (or brain), I could still not make heads or tails of the series and only could sense it in pieces.  Needless to say I was very excited to sit down and take in all 26 episodes.

 

The series stars Corin Nemec as Parker Lewis who (a lot like John Hugh’s Ferris Bueller) is a smooth talker who can walk the walk and talk the talk; always squeezing by and avoiding disaster.  Parker’s gang consisted of badass Mickey and Jerry the geeky, yet lovable freshman.  The series bobs and weaves through high school as Parker Lewis gets himself into and out of some of the most interesting situations.  The cast works very well off each other; while Parker and his gang go one way they always seem to have some antagonist (mainly Musso and Frank) on their coattails that will ruin the day or just add on one more layer of complexity.  The series is very bouncy (cartoony even) and is quite fun.  The series was rather goofy, but it also had its awkward and cringe worthy moments as well where it had gotten too serious for its own good.  As long as it stuck to Parker getting into and out of trouble, it was all gravy.

 

The technical features on this 4-Disc, 26 Episode set are not the best and look a bit dated.  The picture is presented in its original full screen image, but looks horribly worn as if were not taken care of at all.  Throughout the presentation the viewer will notice a considerable amount of damage, debris, and all kinds of inconsistencies.  The colors are a bit bland and video noise in the darker sequences; but in all honesty after several episodes I stopped noticing and just got caught up in the show.  The sound quality is not as bad as the picture, but in its Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo there is not much that is impressive either.  For the most part everything is very clean with the music, sound effects, and dialogue projecting nicely; but it is certainly nothing to show off.

 

Surprisingly, whereas most older series have junky or thrown together extras, Parker Lewis Can’t Lose: Season One actually showcases a fair bit that is worth looking at.  First there are seven audio commentaries to listen to that feature many different people who could contribute to the series including but not limited to most of the main cast, music composer Denis McCarthy, director Bryan Spicer, and some of the producers.  The crew gives a very interesting account of what making the series was like including a variety of factoids and special moments with the cast you won’t find anywhere else.  The other extra on the set is a 30 minute featurette entitled The History of Coolness: A Look Back at Parker Lewis Can’t Lose; which plays like a short documentary on the series as it features a plethora of interviews from all those who took part in the series.  I found this featurette extremely interesting; when most older series won’t even give fans one good extra, Parker Lewis Can’t Lose is set apart by this awesome extra that gives fans exactly what they want.

 

In the end, it is not that the series is bad, but rather that it just has not aged well.  The jokes are hit or miss as many of the pop-culture references fly over your head and the combination of bad clothing, hair, and technology just make your head swim as you laugh at the thought that this was ever ‘cool.’  I am glad the series is on DVD and I hope there are more seasons to come (as we have 2 seasons left), because even with its downfalls the series is still extremely memorable and fun to watch.

 

 

-   Michael P. Dougherty II