ONE TREE HILL: THE COMPLETE SEVENTH SEASON
(not rated)
MOVIE: *** (out of 5)
DVD EXPERIENCE: **1/2 (out of 5)
BY KEVIN CARR
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
So far removed from high school, the characters from Tree Hill are seeing a lot of changes. We’ve lost Chad Michael Murphy and we’ve gained a new slate of hot, young twentysomethings. The kids are all grown and working in the music industry, Hollywood and the fashion industry. Drama continues as Nathan is facing a scandal that could end his NBA career, Haley has a family tragedy on her hands, Brooke is fighting with her lover and has competition with a new girl and Dan gets a new lease on life with some fame attached.
WHAT I LIKED
I never watched the earlier seasons of “One Tree Hill,” and I’m really not in the demographic of the standard CW viewer. However, “One Tree Hill” tends to be one of the better constructed series of teen (now twentysomething) angst. At least that angst involves real problems like death, pregnancy scares, corporate cutthroat struggles and money… not just whining about who really likes whom.
However, I’ll admit as a red-blooded American male that the eye candy factor on “One Tree Hill” is not to be denied. There are plenty of new and beautiful faces (and bodies, often clad in lace underwear) populating the new season. Including guest spots by people like India de Beauford, “One Tree Hill” is nothing, if pleasant to watch.
But I also like the characters. They’re dealing with real problems, and while it can be frustrating to watch beautiful people with rich persons’ problems, the drama doesn’t really seem forced. And there’s also a heart to the show that sucks you into caring for the characters, at least a little bit.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Even though “One Tree Hill” hides behind a slick production and beautiful people, it remains to be an angst-filled show about grown up teenagers from the earlier seasons. That’s not a big surprise to anyone, considering it’s one of CW’s longest running shows. But it does fit into that stereotype a lot, even with older characters. But other than the standard complaints one might have with a teen soap opera that has grown up into its twenties, there’s not a lot to dislike about the series.
DVD FEATURES
The five-disc DVD set comes with unaired scenes and commentary on select episodes. There’s also a gag reel and three featurettes: “Return to Camp One Tree Hill” which looks at the new blood in the cast, “Spring Break with One Tree Hill” which follows two contest winners who got to participate in the show and “OTH: The Director’s Debut” which puts a spotlight on Sophia Bush in her first stab at directing the show.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Twentysomethings who used to be filled with teen angst.