TWO AND A HALF MEN: THE COMPLETE 7TH SEASON
(not rated)
MOVIE: **** (out of 5)
DVD EXPERIENCE: *1/2 (out of 5)
STARRING
Charlie Sheen as CHARLIE HARPER
Jon Cryer as ALAN HARPER
Angus T. Jones as JAKE HARPER
Conchata Ferrell as BERTA
Holland Taylor as EVELYN HARPER
Jennifer Bini Taylor as CHELSEA MELINI
Studio: Warner Bros.
BY KEVIN CARR
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
The Harper brothers continue their inappropriate shenanigans, living together in Malibu with Alan’s teenage son Jake. While Jake is starting to show an interest in girls, Charlie is dealing with the complications of being engaged to Chelsea. Meanwhile, Alan remarkably gets some tail as well, but he manages to torpedo those relationships as he wonders if his ex-wife’s new daughter is really his.
WHAT I LIKED
“Two and a Half Men” hit a stride several years ago, and they achieved this by not growing as a series. The characters, storylines and shenanigans are just as infantile and immature as they were in the first season. What works in this show is that while many shows fall into caricature, this series thrives on it.
I know that Charlie Sheen has had his ups and downs in life, but he still plays the character of Charlie Harper perfectly. And while some might be bothered by the addition of Chelsea to the cast as Charlie’s fiancée, and this could have gone disastrously wrong. But instead of falling into heartfelt and sweet storylines, their relationship became a vehicle for more comedy.
There are some classic episodes in this season, keeping the show fresh even among tabloid surprises and a series run beyond seven years. We are also treated to some great guest spots, including Stacey Keach as Chelsea’s father in an unresolved love connection, Annie Potts as Alan’s girlfriend’s promiscuous mom, Tricia Helfer as Chelsea’s best friend and temptation for Charlie as well as a reunion of Charlie’s former conquests.
Oh, and Jane Lynch as Charlie’s therapist is a brilliant character. Lynch is getting some great TV work between this and her antagonist role on “Glee.”
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
I’ll admit that “Two and a Half Men” is an incredibly misogynistic show and extremely immature. But that’s what makes it hilarious for me. I have grown to love this show for these very reasons. It may not be high class television, but it’s great television.
So lodge your complaints and turn up your noses. There’s a lot of things to bitch about with “Two and a Half Men,” but they fall on deaf ears when it comes to me.
DVD FEATURES
After season five’s special features, it’s hard to top the “CSI” crossover. And it is the seventh season, so by this point, the production crew has moved through much of the best behind-the-scenes ideas. At least there are a few good things on there.
There’s a gag reel that is pretty funny, running about ten minutes. The other special feature is “A Charlie Harper Ex Reunion” which includes interviews with a bunch of the actresses who play Charlie’s old girlfriends.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
People who like sit coms with inappropriate humor that gets back the censors