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Arrested Development - The Complete Series (Seasons 1, 2, 3) | 
 enlarge | Actors: Jason Bateman, Portia De Rossi, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat
Category: DVD
List Price: $109.94
Buy New: $43.95
You Save: $65.99 (60%)
New (60) Used (8) from $43.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  423 reviews
Sales Rank: 182
Format: Ntsc
Number Of Items: 8
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.6 x 2.5
UPC: 024543410065
EAN: 0024543410065
ASIN: B000JJ3Y78
Theatrical Release Date: November 2, 2003
Release Date: November 14, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
pbSeason One:/b Winner of the Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy its first year out, iArrested Development/i is the kind of sitcom that gives you hope for television. A mockumentary-style exploration of the beleaguered Bluth family, it's one of those idiosyncratic shows that doesn't rely on a laugh track or a studio audience; it's shot more like a TV drama, albeit with an omniscient narrator (executive producer Ron Howard) overseeing the proceedings. Holding the Bluths together just barely is son Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman), the only normal guy in a family that's chock full of nuts. Hardworking and sensible, Michael's certain he's going to be given control of his family's Enron-style corporation upon the retirement of his father (Jeffrey Tambor). The fact that he's passed over instead for his mother (Jessica Walter) is only a blip when compared to his father's immediate arrest for dubious accounting practices, and the resulting freeze on the family's previously limitless wealth./p pBereft of money, and even less family love, the Bluths have to band together in their moment of need--not easy when everyone's looking out for number 1. In addition to his scabrous parents, Michael has to contend with his lothario older brother (Will Arnett), his basically useless younger brother (Tony Hale), his greedy twin sister (Portia DeRossi), and her sexually ambiguous husband (David Cross). Michael's only comrade in sanity is his son George Michael (Michael Cera), but then again, the teenage boy harbors a secret crush on his cousin (Alia Shawkat). A peerless ensemble led by the brilliant Bateman (who ever knew he could be this good?), all the actors are pitch-perfect in their roles, delivering the dryly funny, sometimes absurdist dialogue with the speed and flair of classic farce. The unusual tone of iArrested Development/i takes a bit of getting used to--it's far different from anything you'll see on TV, even HBO--but once you buy in to the Bluths' innumerable dysfunctions, you'll be laughing your head off for hours.--iMark Englehart/i /p pbSeason Two:/b The axe of cancellation dangled perilously over iArrested Development/i during its second season, but the award-winning comedy fought against fate to deliver a hilarious if scattershot 18 episodes (reduced from the original show order of 22), and stayed alive for the beginning of a third season. Most likely, the creators and actors knew the clock was ticking down, so they didn't hesitate to throw their all into these manic, hilarious episodes, which have only the thinnest of plot arcs but an electrifying energy that makes them hard to resist. Some of the story antics were more of the same: good son Michael (Jason Bateman) tries to keep his company afloat, but is often foiled by older brother Gob (Will Arnett); the precarious marriage of Lindsay (Portia de Rossi) and Tobias (David Cross) undergoes a trial separation; and young George-Michael (Michael Cera) fights his attraction to his cousin Maeby (Alia Shawkat). Other show developments, though, were new and stunningly, uproariously bizarre: Buster (Tony Hale) joins the army, but later finds his hand bitten off by a seal (yes, a real seal), and Oscar (Jeffrey Tambor), the hippie brother of jailed George Sr. (also Tambor), rekindles an affair with sister-in-law Lucille (Jessica Walter), which may have resulted in Buster's conception years ago./p pJokes flew fast and furious, as did guest stars--Ben Stiller, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Christine Taylor, Thomas Jane, Ed Begley Jr., Ione Skye, and Zach Braff among them--making it hard to keep straight who was doing what and why. No matter, as each of the episodes was in and of itself was a perfect gem of comedy, strung together by sharp writing and fantastic performances. In addition to the regular cast, both Liza Minnelli, reprising her role as "Lucille Two," and Martin Short, as an, um, eccentric family friend, deserve special mention, with the episode both appeared in, "Ready, Aim, Marry Me," a frenetic exercise in slapstick farce. Typical examples of the show's offbeat humor were found in "Afternoon Delight," in which various members of the Bluth family discover the true meaning of the '70s ballad, "Meet the Veals," wherein the Bluths encounter the conservative parents of George Michael's girlfriend, and "Motherboy XXX," surrounding an unsettling mother-son traditional dance. The entire cast cohered perfectly through this season, and their give and take provided a perfect balance among the actors, all of whom were even better than the previous year. However, it's Bateman who should be singled out as the show's anchor, mixing dry sarcasm with impeccable comic timing. Despite plummeting ratings, iArrested Development/i didn't just keep its head above water, it swam with grace and hilarity. --iMark Englehart/i/p pbSeason Three:/b iArrested Development/i--one of the greatest comedies in the history of television--went out in a blaze of glory. The truncated final season packed more biting humor per minute than ever before. In only 13 episodes, dozens of intertwining storylines spun in all directions: In addition to the overarching story about the fractious infighting of the Bluth family and the family's housing development company being investigated for treason in Iraq (a plot arc that comes to a dazzlingly surreal conclusion), the put-upon "good son" Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman, iTeen Wolf Too/i) pursues romance with a lovely British woman (Charlize Theron, iMonster/i) who turns out to be woefully inappropriate; swaggering magician Gob (Will Arnett, iMonster-In-Law/i) flees from his newly-discovered teenage son while still pandering for the affection of his self-absorbed father (Jeffrey Tambor, iThe Larry Sanders Show/i); flighty Lindsay (Portia de Rossi, iAlly McBeal/i) and her sexually blurry husband Tobias (David Cross, iMr. Show/i) both get the hots for the family's new lawyer, Bob Loblaw (Scott Baio, iCharles in Charge/i); and much, much more. It's difficult to describe what makes iArrested Development/i so brilliant. The ensemble is uniformly superb (Jessica Walter, as the family's boozing, scheming matriarch, is particularly devastating this season) and the surprising guest stars (including Andy Richter, James Lipton, Justine Bateman, and many others) are perfectly cast; the characters' abominable behavior defies conventional television notions of "likability", yet they only grow more endearing the more you watch; the humor embraces wild slapstick and sharp satire, often within a single scene; and the nimble documentary style allows for sly glancing references to jokes and scenes from long-past episodes, rewarding devoted fans. But the key is that, no matter how screwball iArrested Development/i becomes, the show offers a rich, textured, and wonderfully coherent world in which these characters feel genuine, a world completely unlike the flat, plastic simulacrum offered by the average sitcom. iArrested Development/i was true to itself to the end. Its followers will cherish it forever. --iBret Fetzer/i /p
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| Customer Reviews: Read 418 more reviews...
Now, lets just wait for the MOVIE VERSION January 8, 2009
Ordered the bundle because it was the deal of the day for $28. Couldn't pass it up. Gave it to my aunt so that she could enjoy one of the best shows.br /br /It arrived before Christmas. God bless the lightening delivery speed fo Amazon. br /br /br /Now lets get the feature film into production!
Good comedy. Fast paced. Excellent quality. January 8, 2009
I never watched this comedy when it was on. Went for the lightning deal. It's an excellent fast paced comedy. br /br /One person criticized the DVD. The quality on this DVD is outstanding. The reviewer must have other issues. Possibly a bad connection.
Fast shipping; product in good condition January 7, 2009
The price for three seasons is unbeatable; i got the super-saver shipping because it's over $25; it shipped very quickly to my house. took about one week, when it says it may take 2-3 weeks for super-saver shipping :]
One Of The Best Shows Never Seen January 7, 2009
Arrested Development is by far one of my all time favorite shows, and that is a bold statement but it is true. It is well worth the money to buy all the episodes. The writing is so clever. The Characters are all so easy to fall for. You tend to miss them when they are not in a scene. The only thing I must warn you about is that if you are going to start watching these episodes, make sure you have a ton of free time on your hands because you'll be instantly hooked and will end up watching episode after episode; and that, I believe, is how this show can be best enjoyed. This show deserves to be watched uninterrupted. This show is amazing and I really miss it. You definitely want to buy this set. You will not regret it!
The best show that isn't airing anymore! January 6, 2009
This show is up there with Seinfeld and the other great shows that you can watch over and over. You should watch it only from the beginning though to understand and appreciate it. Definatly buy it since it is totally worth it!
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