Andy Andrews – The Seven Decisions (Self
Help Special Interest)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+(CD: B-) Extras:
C+ Main Program: C+ CD: C+
I am always suspicious of any of the titles coming out of
the self-help field are always suspicious to me. To be blunt, most of these people are often of the airhead and
idiot con artist variety, trying to tell you everything will be fine and to
feel good for no good reason. In the
1980s, they became all the more popular when naïve optimism was being used as a
substitute for civil rights, jobs and a better future. One of the interesting exceptions is Andy
Andrews. He is not full of it and his
new DVD/CD set The Seven Decisions offers guidelines of possible ideas
of how to rethink one’s life.
He is not as preachy or overbearing as a Dr. Phil, nor
does he come across as a know-it-all.
Instead, he is very easy going, positive without forcing it and smoothly
forthright in explaining the steps (which we will not reveal at this time) in
which you can let go certain things or rethink them for success. Of course, you do not have to actually agree
with all of them and none of the people in his field should be taken as
offering absolutes. After all,
psychiatrists and psychologists should never be taken too seriously, so someone
offering self-help advice that you would not get as deeply involved with and
the programs should be considered with ironic distance at least.
I can say that the ideas are better than usual, though
this idea of just disowning the past completely to move on is a bad idea and
anyone who Forrest Gumps their way through anything (pretends history or their
life does not affect them) will pay a high price no self-help guide seems to
ever consider. The hype on Andrews
talks about four presidents, Bob Hope and corporate big wigs turning to him,
but that too should be taken with a grain of salt. Instead, if you are in the market for such material, this is one
of your better bets.
The DVD is in 1.33 X 1 analog professional NTSC video and
is passable. Andrews gives a long stage
performance waxing poetic on funny events that the audience is supposed to
learn something from. The Dolby Digital
2.0 Stereo is simple at best, while the CD has PCM 2.0 16Bit/44.1kHz sound and
only runs 25 minutes, but specifically explains these seven steps. It too is simple stereo. Extras include bio text on the host, a taped
Q&A session with his audience, the CD and Andrew’s F-16 story. You may not find these stories gutbustingly
funny, but they are interesting when they are not outright hilarious. The Seven Decisions cannot hurt you
if you take it for what it is.
- Nicholas Sheffo
