THE PLOT THUS FAR
Set in Pittsburgh’s renowned Abby Lee Dance Company, owned and operated by notoriously demanding and passionate instructor Abby Lee Miller, the series follows children’s early steps on the road to stardom, and their doting mothers who are there for every rehearsal, performance and bow…all under the discerning eye of Miller. Seeing the highs and lows surrounding competition season delivers an intriguing and dramatic look at the cast’s frantic pursuit of the ultimate National Dance title.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Dance Moms” was a thing that I didn’t know existed until a random joke on “30 Rock”. After watching this DVD release, I hit a wall with my appreciation for older people being mean to children. We can talk about tough love or how kids need to know that the world doesn’t play by their rules. What we have is a rather obese woman screaming at kids and dressing them up like they’re going to have a tea party at Roman Polanski’s house. Naturally, the show is a hit.
The first season focuses on one simple idea. An instructor who places high expectations on someone relative to their abilities and doesn’t tolerate mistakes is strict. Abby bases her approval around the place her team takes in a competition and blows up when they lose to someone she wanted to beat. Sometimes, it’s pretty funny to watch and then it gets gut-wrenchingly bad. Still, that’s the whole show. Like it or not, that’s the entire show.
The DVD comes with a featurette and unaired footage. The Dolby 2.0 Stereo track is pretty strong, but it lacks any back channel support. The transfer is decent for standard definition, but it fails to impress. That being said, it works for a basic cable TV on DVD presentation. In the end, I’d recommend a rental.
RELEASE DATE: 08/07/2012
