Fresh Fields – Set One (1984/Acorn Media DVD Set) + Huge – The Complete Series (2010/Shout! Factory DVD Set)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C/C+     Extras: C-/C     Episodes: C+/C

 

 

In what would be one of his last great commercial success, the great character actor Anton Rodgers (Zodiac, Old Curiosity Shop) played William Fields in the hit sitcom Fresh Fields, a man happily married for a very long time to his wife Hester (Julia McKenzie of The Two Ronnies, Cranford and a recent Jane Marple) who is just as happy to be with him.  It is about their relationship and tenacity to stay together and be happy no matter what, still active after all these years.

 

This Set 1 2-DVD collection includes the first two seasons (or series) of the show and though it is not the funniest show I have ever seen, I like the leads, they have chemistry and you totally believe they have been married for 25+ years.  In all this, I am surprised this did not make it to the States much.  These are two actors in fine form and those who enjoy Britcoms in particular will want to see the show.

 

Then there is Hairspray actress Nikki Blonsky, whose latest project is the TV series comedy Huge, about overweight kids trying to survive in a world of looksism as they try to have self-esteem.  Unfortunately, the show did not work and ended after several episodes.  Thus, here is the Complete Series DVD set to see what did and did not work.  To its credit, the show has some good ideas, but it dopes not know how to implement them and follows the tired approach of every other safe, dull teen comedy.  The makers should have watched Daria again.  Now you can see for yourself.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image in Fields was shot on analog PAL video and is soft, showing its age and having other flaws like video noise, video banding, PAL cross color, some faded color (other color looks good) and maybe a little tape damage.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono also seems a generation down, but is not awful.  Text on the actors are the only extras.  The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image on Huge is amazingly not any better, with motion blur, softness and poor color throughout in what is a bad HD shoot throughout.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is trying to stretch out the stereo sound in ways it should not and the result is a weak presentation throughout.  Extras include a Blooper Reel, 2 Music Videos, a few featurettes and some audio commentaries on select episodes.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo