Perfect Strangers: The Complete First and Second
Seasons (Warner DVDs)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C Episodes: B
The Odd Couple, Lucy and Ethel, and any of the
other wide ranging opposite pairings that have been put on television in the last
50 plus years all have used the same formula and by 1986’s Perfect Strangers, nothing was new.
This reviewer remembers this series from back in the day and has fond
memories laughing along. After over two
decades since its premiere this reviewer still finds the idiotic stylings of
the series fun and entertaining. Is it
the best piece of television to ever air? No, far from; but if it can still
bring a smile to the viewers’ face that says something. Surely the God awful sweaters Larry wears are
annoying and sure Balki’s jokes can be seen from a mile away, but there is
still an essence of classic comedy there that manages to pull in a strong
audience. The series lasted a total of
eight seasons (running 1986 – 1993) and with a strong fan base left a lasting
impact on television; such an impact that even Lucille Ball listed the series
among her favorite shows before her passing.
The basic
premise of Perfect Strangers was
that a Wisconsin man named Larry had finally moved to Chicago to grab life by
the horns and become a Photo Journalist.
Meanwhile on the other side of the world Larry’s long lost relative
(though no one knew he was missing), Balki, moved from his homeland of Mypos to
America, to find the ‘American Dream.’
To make things short, Balki finds Larry and convinces Larry to let him
move in. Balki soon finds a job with
Larry at an antique store and comedy ensues.
The setup for the series is much like a Laurel and Hardy or Abbot and
Costello venture, in which Larry is always the straight man and Balki is the
bumbling ‘idiot.’ What makes the series
even better is Balki’s perception of American life, most of which he has
obtained from pop-culture stereotypes.
Balki is always enlisting Larry’s help to figure out many new American
dilemmas he encounters; but in the end Larry is just as inept, if not more,
than Balki.
Surprisingly
(or maybe not) the series Perfect Strangers was overseen by the same people who
created past buddy hits like Mork and
Mindy and Laverne and Shirley.
The
technical features on the first Two Seasons in this 4-Disc set are by no means
impressive and often feel more like an analog VHS transfer than a DVD. The picture is presented in its original 1.33
X 1 aspect ratio and has many color issues.
Beyond the fact that the flamboyant colors of the 1980’s are bad enough,
the picture presentation in this set is equally bad due to blindingly bright
colors and an overall picture softness issue.
The sound is presented as a lackluster Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo that is
adequate at best and has an excessive audience effect, with blasting laughter
infiltrating many scenes. The extras are
minimal and boring only offering fans a single featurette entitled ‘Dance of Joy: Merry Montage of Balki and
Larry’s Signature Two-Step Throughout the Show’s First Two Seasons.’ Besides having the longest extra title this
reviewer has ever seen, this single extra feature is pointless, has no
commentary, and is useless to fans. The
extra is a simple conglomeration of clips from the first two seasons that make
no sense and would have been better skipped.
Overall, the technical features are very disappointing.
Seeing as
how this series has basically disappeared from the face of television, this is
a must have for fans. One could presume
if you don’t buy this set there is no other way you will be seeing these
episodes. Is that because the series is
bad or horribly dated? No, this reviewer
would just say with the array of good and bad TV that is on today, people have
just forgot about Larry and Balki. Now if
only the studio would fix up the picture, sound and extras, this reviewer could
do ‘The Dance of Joy.’
- Michael P Dougherty II
