Official Synopsis:
When free-spirited yoga instructor Dharma Finkelstein meets conservative attorney Greg Montgomery, it's love at first sight. Unfortunately, there is absolutely no love in the air when Dharma's hippie parents and Greg's blue-blood establishment parents finally meet after their children have already married at a drive-thru chapel in Reno. With friends and family all suggesting that a quick annulment would be best, it's no surprise that the couple begins to second-guess their impulsive nuptials. But it's soon evident that nothing can stand in the way of true love!
Our Take:
I never really watched Dharma & Greg when it was on television, mostly because I tended to avoid most sitcoms for a large part of the 90's. Going back and watching the show, I can see how its success rested almost entirely on the talents of Jenna Elfman. If ever there was a performer born to play a certain role, it was Elfman as Dharma. Now, I like Thomas Gibson very much on Criminal Investigations, but he always seemed uncomfortable in the comedy setting of Dharma & Greg. I realize that it’s sort of a part of his character's tendencies, but he didn't work as well for me as Elfman did. Her carefree, effortlessly goofball performance is endearing and fun, and clearly a large part of what made the show work.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the excellent supporting cast, as well. Mitchell Ryan and Susan Sullivan are a hoot as Greg's uptight, conservative parents, while Mimi Kennedy and especially Alan Rachins never fail to garner a laugh as Dharma's tree-hugging parents. These two couples are a large part of what makes the show funny.
Dharma & Greg: Season One includes a few fun extra features, including:
* When Worlds Collide: The Dharma & Greg Story (10 minutes) - The producers and cast members (including Jenna Elfman but not Thomas Gibson) talk about the show.
* Commentaries - Actors Jenna Elfman, Mimi Kennedy, and Alan Rachins sit and talk about three different episodes.
* Vanity Cards - You know those little production company animated logos at the end of your favorite TV shows? Well, D&G creator Chuck Lorre hand-wrote these as humorous mantras or screeds for every episode of the show, and they often weren't on screen long enough to read. Here, you can read them all at your leisure, and they’re pretty darn funny.
* Reaching Your Inner Dharma - A quiz/game of sorts that lets you see how Dharma-like you are.
Dharma & Greg is a fun, disposable, lightweight comedy that's good for the occasional chuckle, mostly due to Jenna Elfman's personality. Fans of the show should be pleased with this inaugural DVD set.
Overall Picture:
Show: B
DVD: B
- Mike Spring
Editor
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