DVD Reviews

My Name Is Earl: Complete Season 2

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Running Time: 574mins / 4 Discs

Released: January 28th

Season 2 of the popular American sitcom sees our somewhat dense hillbilly hero Earl (Lee) continue his quest to cross off folk he has wronged in some form or another from his 'karma list'. My Name is Earl has lost none of its charm in its sophomore season, as it offers up eccentric laughs through the continued appealing silliness of its core cast. The plot we frequently return to throughout the 23 episodes sees Joy (Pressly) get arrested, for stealing a vanload of electrical goods and technical kidnapping after a store clerk refuses to return her entertainment centre. This being her third strike, she stands to do serious porridge, so Earl jumps in to help at numerous points, hoping to turn the tentative tides of karma his way and basically fulfil his ultimate goal to 'become a good person'. Through the use of a strong supporting cast and an abundance of star names in guest-starring roles (Christian Slater, Roseanne Barr, the outstanding Giovanni Ribisi), Earl delivers the funny on a consistent basis. Every situation Earl finds himself in - be it positive, negative of having a gun held to his head - is dealt with in the trademark relaxed delivery of Jason Lee, who continues to carry the show wonderfully. Kevin Smith's muse has found a role that he may just have been born to play: the relatable Middle-American hick with a heart of gold. Sure, it may not have you diving for the next DVD after one disc has finished, but it is quirky prime-time network comedy pushed to the limits of its capability. For anyone who watched the show even sporadically, this season is well worth a purchase.

Review by Mike Sheridan