Plot: What’s it about?
Sam is a hard boiled detective, clad in a wrinkled suit and comfortable behind the wheel of his DeSoto. He has been down the road many times before, so his skills of detection are impressive. He doesn’t work alone however, as by his side is Max, a lagomorph with some serious hyperactivity issues. The two make an odd, unlikely partnership, but when the time comes to solve cases, few can do it like Sam and Max. As skilled as the two are, they sometimes need a hand and for Sam & Max, they turn to The Geek. She happens to reside in a dark, dank basement filled with cutting edge equipment of all kinds. So when asked to help, she is able to provide any kind of information her detective friends might require. Sam and Max investigate aliens, bigfoot, holiday hijinks, and all kinds of other off the wall cases, as only a six foot dog and a lagomorph can.
Sam & Max: Freelance Police started off as an underground comic book, but as time passed, the characters were able to build up fans and move into other avenues. The duo would star in some hilarious video games, then get their own television series, as part of the Fox Kids lineup. As expected, the transition to children’s show wasn’t a smooth one and much of what made Sam & Max so popular was stripped off for this series. The dialogue was dulled down to be more palatable for this audience, while other elements were wedged in to make sure all demographics were covered. In the end, this series fails to capture the spirit of the characters and that is a real shame. To be fair, the show does have some moments and provides some laughs, but as a fan of Sam & Max, I know this could have been so much better. Shout Factory’s release has all the episodes plus some bonus materials, so on their end, they’ve presented this series with care.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. This show isn’t as fresh as a daisy, but it looks good. The animation style has held up well, leaving us with crisp, colorful visuals that are fun to watch. The image is sharp, but has moments of softness. The colors are bright and bold, while contrast is always accurate. So all things considered, Sam & Max still look quite good.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio is basic, but effective. My main issue here is that the music is so brash, it can be a distraction. The music is just so loud and harsh at times, it really throws you off the material. Aside from that, the show sounds good, with clear voice work and solid sound effects. Not much else to talk about, very simple, but well done aside from the terrible music.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The best of the extras are some bonus animated shorts and an interview with creator Steve Purcell. The interview is rather brief, but still well worth a listen. You’ll also find a tour of the company that makes the Sam & Max games, a printable bible for the show, and a playable demo of Ice Station Santa.
