Justice7147's TV Reviews

In a time of absolute CRAP on TV (see ANY reality show), what we have here is a breath of fresh air. Those who say this show is a Get Smart crossed with whatever show wasn't around when Get Smart originally aired, doesn't understand Get Smart for what IT really was and probably only knows Mel Brooks from The Producers on Broadway (and doesn't know who Buck Henry is at all). Chuck is nothing like Get Smart. Chuck is also not pretending to be 24 nor is it pretending to be Moonlighting or Scarecrow and Mrs. King (an even LESS believeable show) . It is simply a piece of escapism that asks you to suspend belief in realism and just go along for a 60 minute ride with 3 archtypes and thier improbable adventures. No good guy gets hurt, no bad guys get graphically "whacked", no one is responsible for property damage and NOBODY with a paying job actually works at it. It's FUN. That's all. The characters are likeable and the actors do a nice job fleshing them out. Fortunately it handles the sexual tension lightly and even has a nice family touch with Chucks relationship with his sister. There is a lot to like here. Does it break new ground? No. Does it re-write the rules of comedy? No. Does it reflect real life situations? No. Does it entertain? YES. Yes it does ... and it does it without heavy handed social commentary, it does it without graphic sex and it does it without making you wince and herd the kids out of the room. It does exactly what it is meant to do. Entertain. So viewers let go, sit back and enjoy a program that is clever and campy without being cloying. With the current state of TV programming, you can do A LOT worse than Chuck.

I originally wasn't sure I'd like a program that blatantly parodies a classic 60's cartoon series like Johnny Quest but I watched a couple of episodes anyway. I must admit I was curious when I saw that Dr. Venture looked like an enemic Benton Quest and that Brock Sampson looked like Race Bannon on steroids. I watched ... I was hooked. I immediately went out and purchased the DVD collections. Obviously you know you're onto something good when you have scenes consistently scewer (in a smart way) the program it borrows so heavily from. When we see a character (who would have been one of the Quests Lizard Men form the Sargasso Sea) finding a grown Johnny Quest in his fathers diving bell experiencing the DT's from pain killer addiction, you know you're on to something smart. The great thing about the Venture Brothers is that you, as a viewer, get the feeling that the creators watched the same cartoons and read the same comics YOU did growing up. The show borrows freely from programs and characters that came before. Prime example? Ice Station - Impossible - a great send up of the Fantastic Four. Also, the character names in this series are worth the price of admission ... Molotov Cocktease, Master Billy Quizboy, Mr. White (an albino), Byron Orpheus - Necromancer (who appears to be Dr. Strange's skinny older brother) and Phantom Limb (who, oddly enough, looks just like the classic comic PHANTOM - without the arms and legs of course) are merely the tip of the iceberg. How often will you see an incredibly hot femme fatale (Dr. Girlfriend) with a Victorias Secret wardrobe, the voice of a plumber from Brooklyn and, it is rumored, certain female body parts taken from a member of the ape family?

Do yourself a favor and watch 2 or 3 episodes ... AND when, not if, you pick up the DVD's make sure to watch the bonus A Very Venture Christmas episode as it's a dead ringer for every bad Christmas party you've ever been to (except for the ancient demon doing a bad dog impression and attempting to hump the host - you're not going to see THAT very often). Special kudos to Master Billy Momma's Little Water Baby Quizboy and Mr. White for hitting on the underage and understandably uninterested Triana Orpheus .. art apparently DOES immitate life.

We can only hope that the creators of the Venture Brothers and Adult Swim will continue to produce and promote this well made program. Hats off to all those involved with this project - PLEASE keep up the good work!

Personal favorites include: Tag Sale - You're It! and Eeny, Meeny, Miney - Magic!!!