THE PLOT THUS FAR
Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad, Mr. Show) pairs up with Los Angeles group The Birthday Boys for this sketch comedy series from Executive Producer Ben Stiller. The roots of rock and roll, the pressures of watching TV, the dangers of taking your dad to the prom The Birthday Boys embraces a refreshing perspective on our shared experience. With a nod to the absurd yet intelligent humor of Monty Python, Mr. Show, and Kids in the Hall, each episode spins a new story from familiar cultural touchstones and the less-explored corners of everyday life. Produced by Red Hour Films and Abso Lutely Productions, the show marks the national television debut of The Birthday Boys (Jefferson Dutton, David Ferguson, Mike Hanford, Tim Kalpakis, Matt Kowalick, Mike Mitchell, Chris VanArtsdalen).
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“The Birthday Boys” is a weird experiment in sketch comedy. After all, how many other shows are setup as a comedy troupe being led around the nose by an older comedian? That being said, they need it. Most of the show is in desperate need of a tight edit and a better focus. If that wasn’t enough, half of the the material falls into that recent Season 1 dullard trap that plagues most modern troupes.
IFC is trying to steal focus away from FXX and Comedy Central. Honestly, it’s working for the most part. It’s just that I can’t say that the material is going to win over a ton of fans. The material plays funny, but a little bit too highbrow. Even I was getting a bit of intellectual whiplash from a lot of the jokes. But, the show is supposed to be about everyday life, right? Get a focus, people.
The DVD comes with commentaries, featurettes, bonus videos and promos as the special features. The A/V Quality is clean enough for standard definition. The transfer lacks any major punch-up. Still, the Dolby 2.0 surround track captures what it needs. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to the curious.
RELEASE DATE: 08/05/2014