Arrested Development: The Complete Series (Seasons 1-3 Bundle)

I bought the box set based on the critics love for this show (a big mistake!). I should have paid more attention to the fact that it was cancelled after 3 seasons and struggled to find an audience during those first three years (I repeat: the audiences didn't take to it after 3 whole years! ) . Everything about this show is lead-footed. The punch lines can be guessed at minutes before they are said; the plots are contrived, unlikely, and tedious even to think about nevermind to watch; the acting is from the silent movie over-the-top school of mugging. The whole show comes across like a lame comedy sketch put on by the local PTA. Ron Howard's narration repeatedly states the obvious if you were half-awake the previous few minutes of the show. The characters aren't real people: they're so one-dimensional and one-note that they make stick figures look like Shakespeare's Hamlet. This show's comedy strategy seems to have been been: well, we don't have anything witty to say, so let's just throw everything we can at the audience and pray that something will tickle their funnybone.I watched each episode with the growing realization that the show was a bomb, and that if there were people who thought that the Beverly Hillbillies and Gilligan's Island were hilarious, it wasn't surprising that in a world with 7 billion people, this dreadfully unfunny show would also find a small group who would yuk it up - to the bewilderment of the rest of us.Terrible. Don't waste your money as I did!

All of the discs I received were functional. The packaging consists of a cardboard sleeve/box two standard-sized DVD cases, each containing several discs on plastic leaves; I know that some people don't like the leaves, but they work for me and I found them sturdy enough to hold up under sane, non-abusive, normal use. Contrary to the impression that I got from the product description, this contains not only the original three seasons, but also the later fourth season. I expected to receive just the original three, but it was a bonus to have the fourth included even though I didn't really care to have it, and knowing that it is included might make a difference if you do want it - no need to buy it separately.

My God, this is an awful series. There's not a realistic character in it, everybody acts like a complete idiot and absolutely nothing is real. In other words, it's GREAT.All performances are impeccably and the series' ability to engage the viewer emotionally as well as keeping him laughing is fantastic. It takes awhile to get into "Arrested Development", so don't give up when you're baffled by the first few episodes. The series has a unique rhythm and style that will capture your heart and get into your head to the point that you'll be craving more.This is a series about family devotion in the weirdest way possible. The hero lives in a model home in the middle of nowhere with walls made of cardboard. His son is in love with his cousin, who is the daughter of a money-hungry dingbat and a goofy former psychiatrist who longs to become an actor. The hero's dad is in jail for fraud, and his mother has an off-and-on love affair with dad's twin hippie brother. Absolutely nothing makes sense, but it WORKS.I would recommend "Arrested Development" to anyone whose sense of humor doesn't have a laugh track. Had a bad day? Watch "Arrested Development". Everybody on the show's had a worse time than you.

In the wake of the "Enron" scandal and others like it, it was amazing that such an unfunny subject could be made so hilarious. The Bluth family, in spite of the advertising to the contrary, has hardly "lost everything". What they have lost is the ability to charge their personal living expenses to the company after the company founder and head of the family, George Bluth, is arrested and charged with embezzlement and fraud. They still have one poorly constructed model home - with nothing but sand surrounding it - plus the Bluth Development company, which actually is a legitimate business, it just hasn't been run that way up until now. They also have Michael, the only family member with a conscience and a work ethic, who works to keep the family and the company together in his father's absence. However, for the spoiled Bluths, losing access to the company jet and cars, having their country club membership downgraded to a pool membership, and having to share the roomy yet shoddily constructed model home as living quarters has them all acting like they're stranded on Gilligan's Island.The results are 53 episodes of great comedy. There are sight gags and inside jokes galore, making this series perfect for DVD where you can watch over and over until you catch everything. After you watch this you'll never again see The Blue Man Group, model homes, Mrs. Doubtfire, cut-off shorts, Michael Moore, or the phrases "Mission Accomplished" and "Justice is Blind" without thinking of this show and laughing.It may have not had stellar ratings, but it was funny and fresh up to the end. It really makes me question the reasoning of the Fox Network suits. Honestly, "The Simpsons" completely ran out of steam back in 1997, and yet almost ten years later they're still on the air, but Fox couldn't let this show finish out a complete third season?As for the DVD's themselves, I will have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed with the extra features. There were a few good interviews, but most of the extra features consisted of deleted scenes that were not as funny as the scenes included in the actual show. One particular extra feature on season one just had the actors talking over the entire episode of "Beef Consumme", which, quite frankly, I found to be annoying. So buy this set for the excellent comedy, but don't expect anything special from the extra features.

Prompt shipping. This was a gift for a family member. They have voiced no complaints.This is NOT a box set but 3 separate DVDs. I was assuming it was the box set. Oddly, when received, all 3 cases were rattling when moved as if the discs were broken. They were all off their mounts but no damage fortunately.

finally ahead of the curve on this one. awesome series. glad its back. the world is now a better place to live in

We are enjoying watching Arrested Development and have just started season 2. It came highly recommended to us.The product arrived in a timely manner in great shape. Thumbs up!

何となくおもしろそうだったので購入したアメリカのコメディ。はじめの１０話ほどを見終わって、久しぶりに肌に合った番組だと実感している。ありえないほどの変わり者の集まりのなか、一人まともなマイケル・・・・ここが話を面白くし、長続きさせるコツ。（でも第三シーズンで終了し、その６年後の２０１３年まで新作は作られなかったけど）そう、まともなマイケルがいるから変人だけが出てくるどこかのドラマとは違い、リアリティーが出るのだ。って、リアリティーなんてロッシの美しさだけだけど。例えば娘の誕生日会をしたのはいいけれど、双子の息子のことを忘れた、っていう話を聞いて「いけてる！」と思う人はぜひ購入を。はい、自分はそういうダメな人間なのだ。そんなわけでバカバカしいコメディー好きにはこたえられないＤＶＤ。ちなみにロッシの美しさを再認識するとともに、生まれて初めて、レズビアンになりたいと思った。