STREET DATE: MAY 23
Official Synopsis:
The hit National Geographic Channel show takes us into the homes of problem dogs and documents the remarkable transitions that take place under the guidance of Cesar Millan. The rehabilitation techniques Millan has applied to the recalcitrant canines of Oprah Winfrey, Nicolas Cage, Scarlett Johannson, Michael Eisner, Michael Bay, Hillary Duff, Will Smith, Vin Diesel, and many others will now be available for home viewing with the premiere of The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan DVD. The Complete First Season boxed set will include all 26-episodes as well as over an hour of bonus materials featuring outtakes, “doggie auditions,” and unaired segments.
Our Take:
Admit it; when you heard the name The Dog Whisperer, you thought Cesar Millan was one of those loopy talks-to-pets dog psychologists, right? I know that's what I thought. Rest assured, Millan is nothing more than a very effective, if slightly offbeat, dog trainer who succeeds at what he does by training both the dogs and the dog owners.
I find The Dog Whisperer to be an enjoyable if ultimately frivolous show. I'm a dog lover personally, and I think that's a key to enjoying the show. It's not that you won't like it if you don't love dogs, but I think it will go a long way if you do. Watching Millan work his magic on various types of dogs with numerous personality disorders (although barking and aggression are the main two) is a similar experience to watching a show like Supernanny. If you like that kind of show, you'll enjoy Millan's training. Another plus is that the show is only a half-hour long. The quick, bite-sized episodes are just long enough to end before they get boring. Occasionally, Millan even has a guest celebrity, such as Daisy Fuentes, who appears in the last show of the season.
This four-disc set also includes a disc devoted solely to extra features. Here's what's on it:
* Dog Auditions (7 minutes) - Footage of how some of the dogs were selected for the show.
* Boot Dog (7 minutes) - An unaired segment from the show.
* Cesar Feeds His Pack (4 minutes) - Cesar talks about dog food.
* Outtakes (59 minutes) - 16 outtakes that are actually fairly lengthy deleted scenes and excised footage.
Dog Whisperer is a good show for dog lovers, and a great show for dog owners. If you have a dog with issues, you can learn a lot from Cesar and his techniques.
Overall Picture:
Show: B
DVD: B+
- Mike Spring
Editor
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