Plot: What’s it about?
Jay Sherman (voiced by Jon Lovitz) is overweight, oafish, balding, and opinionated. In other words, he is the perfect choice to be a film critic. So Sherman ventures to the cinema time and time again, to see what the screen brings. Out of a thousand films, Sherman would be hard pressed to name a dozen he liked, or even one that was a classic. He hates action movies, he hates westerns, he hates science fiction, he hates romantic comedies, he hates horror movies, in short he hates almost every movie he lays eyes on. Yet somehow, he manages to remain at his post and moan about the state of cinema. Sherman does seem to like pretentious arthouse films, but only if the movies are foreign. As he battles mediocre movies, Sherman also deals with his personal problems, which aren’t few in number. His marriage was a dismal failure, so he takes care of his son Marty and tries to be the best father he can. At the same time, Jay seeks out new relationships, but even the rare sexual encounter always turns out to be a disaster. Some women pity him enough to sleep with him, but they soon move on. Sherman also has his insane adoptive parents to deal with, though his sister is kind and sympathetic. Can Sherman somehow manage to overcome his massive flaws, so that he can find romance once again?
This was a show I never missed, as The Critic was hilarious and never pulled any punches, so the satire was always dead on. A cult audience found the series, but that wasn’t enough, as The Critic was canceled after two short seasons. In truth, I can understand why the show was axed, as the series was often imbalanced. I think more focus on movies would be have good, since the show is excellent when it deals with the movie business. Of course, the satiric film clips are often classic, but The Critic also has other ways to jab at the industry. The smaller touches are quite good, though not everyone would pick up on the content. In due fairness, The Critic mixes between obvious and obscure references, so no one should have been left out. I also like the episodes that deal with Jay Sherman’s internal battles as a critic. Now when the focus turns toward his son or romance, the result is often lackluster. His father is downright hilarious, but when things turn sentimental, The Critic sinks deep into the ocean. In other words, when The Critic hits the mark, we laugh without end, but when it misses, it misses in grand fashion. Even so, movie buffs should have a ball with all the in jokes and satires, to be sure. I am able to recommend this release to film buffs, but outside of that group, a rental is in order.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. The episodes look passable, but lack the refinements of other animated shows. The prints don’t have much debris or grain, but many of the episodes still have a worn presence. But I do remember the episodes weren’t that crisp back when first broadcast, so perhaps there is no reason for concern. The animation itself is rather simple and unmemorable, but it is well handled here. The colors don’t bound off the screen, but hues are bright and I saw no problems with contrast, either. So while unimpressive, this is about as good as The Critic will ever look.
Audio: How does it sound?
I don’t have a whole lot to discuss in this department, since the show’s audio is basic and so is this presentation. There is no real power or depth to mention, outside of the music, which has a little presence at times. The sound effects don’t amount to much, but all of the needed elements are on full showcase in these tracks. In other words, the background noises sound good, but don’t expect much beyond the basics. The real focus is on dialogue, so the clean and clear vocals found here are a welcome fixture in the mixes. No alternate language tracks or subtitle options however, which is a let down, since Columbia is usually quite generous.
Supplements: What are the extras?
You can listen to audio commentary tracks on a number episodes, as well as watch two montages of movie trailer parodies or check out storyboard comparisons. A brief behind the scenes featurette is next, though ten special Webisodes steal the show. These three minute shorts were created for the internet and feature Jon Lovitz’s voice, so fans should be pleased to have a few moments with The Critic.
