 | |
List Price: $29.98 | | Label: National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
Salesrank: 257
Released: August 16, 2005 |
| Our Price: $8.98 |
| Used Price: $8.73 |
|
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
In this hilarious and faster-paced adaptation of the popular British comedy series, Steve Carell is Michael Scott, the egotistical, insensitive and almost supernaturally incompetent regional manager of the Dunder Mifflin paper supply company. Michael sees himself as the office funnyman, a fount of business wisdom and his employees' cool friend. He has no clue that his staff merely tolerates his inappropriate behavior because he signs their paychecks. Michael acts as the obnoxious tour guide for an omni-present documentary crew who unflinchingly capture his many shortcomings along with Dunder Mifflin's petty workplace politics, simmering romances and side-splittingly awkward moments.
Description of The Office - Season One:
The British sitcom The Office has the most devoted following this side of Monty Python, so an American remake seemed doomed. Amazingly, the remake actually finds its own enjoyable version of the original's uncanny comedy of embarrassment. Office manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell, The Daily Show, The 40 Year-Old Virgin) believes he's the beloved leader of the Scranton, Pennsylvania, branch of a paper products company--but his relentless and painfully forced efforts at comedy creep out everyone around him, including paranoid Dwight (Rainn Wilson, who had a memorable recurring role on Six Feet Under), nervous receptionist Pam (Jenna Fischer, LolliLove), and aimless salesman Jim (John Krasinski, A New Wave), who's smitten with the already engaged Pam. The pilot episode suffers from closely replicating the British pilot, but after that The Office finds its own footing, turning diversity training, an office birthday party, and a basketball game into excruciating yet hypnotically funny rituals of humiliation. Carell, though clearly talented, can't match Ricky Gervais' unique performance as the aggressively needy British manager (it's hard to imagine that anyone could); as a result, the supporting roles become more prominent, and Wilson, Fischer, and Krasinski quickly create a rapport that matches and may even exceed that of their British counterparts. Be sure to watch the deleted scenes; remarkably, they're as good as the material that made it on the air in this six-episode season. --Bret Fetzer
The Office - Season One Reviews:
Best TV Show 
2009-11-10 - One of the best TV comedy shows ever, next to friends. First season is short and not as funny as the later seasons.
Growing Pains 
2009-10-28 - Here we have the first few episodes of what is now my favorite comedy on TV. But, as with most TV shows we are in the "Groundwork Paradox". When they make a sequel to a great movie, invariably it pales in comparison and is a second rate work (there are a few exceptions). With TV the reverse is often true. In the first season or two of most TV shows you can see the writers and producers feeling out the characters and seeing what works and what doesn't. This is especially true here in the first season of the office. While the episodes Health Care and the Alliance are great, the other episodes fall flat as we are left wondering what to make of the consistently clueless Michael Scott, the tireless sycophant Dwight K Schrute, the relentlessly aloof Jim Halpert and the rest of the staff.
You do not need to see this season to enjoy the others, but it does lay a nice groundwork for the coming episodes. Just be prepared to be shocked and amazed (not necessarily in a good way) by the actions of Michael Scott.
T
The Office is hilarious!
2009-10-06 - I loved how the series started. It's so funny & it has a lot of dry humor. I also loved how fast it arrived at my door!!
Not very impressed.. 
2009-09-22 - I realize many have raved about this show. What can I say? I ordered season 1 and thought it would be great. The first episode had a funny moment or two but that was it. The 2nd episode same thing. About 1 funny moment. Third episode, again, about 1 funny moment.
It's a real shame because I had heard so many good things about this show, I'd already purchased seasons 2, 3 and 4 on sale at the video store.
Sheesh.. I sure hope the show gets better. But after a peek at an episode from season 5, it doesn't appear to have changed a bit. So.. Just a word of warning to the wise shopper. Try watching an episode or two first before ordering entire seasons. Otherwise, you might be sorry.
I just returned from the video store where I got my $ back for seasons 2, 3 and 4 which fortunately, I had not yet opened.
This might help:
However you felt about 'Waiting for Guffman' is how you'll probably feel about this series. Super dry, awkward humor. It's so much like a real office, it's painful and not very funny.
I also liken this series to 'Weeds'. That's about the only other series so far that just never really worked for me. I watched a season or two and decided it wasn't getting better. The characters were flat, etc. This is pretty much the same reaction I'm having to 'The Office.'
I can see how this would appeal to a bully, someone who likes to pick on the office nerd and such. But that's so 100 years ago, don't cha think!? ;)
Good introduction to what becomes a terrific show
2009-09-12 - 6 episodes
SPECIAL FEATURES
1. Deleted scenes
2. Five episode commentaries
Total Viewing Time: 300 minutes
Aside from the "Pilot" episode, the remainder of season one of The Office is all original to the US version of the show. Personally, I never saw the British version, so I don't really have a problem with the "Pilot" episode, but episodes written specifically for the UDS version are far superior. With only six episodes, it's hard to judge the show, but it's easy to see how much potential The Office has - and will succeed with future seasons - but for now, this is a good taste test for an introduction.
None of the episodes here are great, but most are pretty good or have a few classic scenes. Everyone seems to love "Diversity Day" but I found "Basketball" to be the best episode of the set.
For special features, all we get are deleted scenes and five commentaries - two different commentaries on the "Pilot" episodes. Having Steve Carell in some of the commentaries is great (as of season 5's DVD set he has not done one since) and hearing just how much fun everyone has together really makes you enjoy the show even more. The deleted scenes are also wonderful, and there is an hour of scenes here - with each episode having some to enjoy.
Some will see the price for this set and think it's a bit expensive for six episodes, but if you're a collector like me and you want the complete series, then season one is necessary. And there are some great moments to be found. Season two is when the show really finds its footing and contains some classic episodes, but season one is where we get to see the beginnings of a truly wonderful show.
8.1 THE SHOW ITSELF
8.8 VISUALS
7.5 SOUND
6.0 PACKAGING
8.3 EXTRAS
7.7/10 FINAL VERDICT
