Curb Your Enthusiasm-Complete Fourth Season (2000)

This review is sponsored by

BUY IT

General		Extras
Category	Comedy	Main Menu Audio & Animation Synopsis-Episode Synopses
Rating
Year Of Production	2000
Running Time	330:00 (Case: 300)
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Dual Disc Set	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Andy Ackerman Larry Charles Jeff Garlin Bryan Gordon
Studio Distributor	Warner Home Video	Starring	Larry David Cheryl Hines Jeff Garlin Susie Essman Richard Lewis Antoinette Spolar Ted Danson Wanda Sykes
Case	?
RPI	$49.95	Music	Wendall J. Yuponce

    Larry David, the real-life George Costanza, is back for the fourth season of the critically acclaimed Curb Your Enthusiasm. The Emmy and Golden Globe award winning show follows the part-fact, part-fiction day-to-day life of Larry David, the successful co-creator, writer and producer of Seinfeld.

    When telling friends about what the show is about I've found the best way to describe it is; what if Costanza was rich, successful, married and living in Hollywood? But he's still a loser. That's essentially what the show is, but it's also a show about nothing.

    This season revolves around two key plots; one involves Larry preparing to appear in Mel Brook's The Producers (can you imagine Larry David singing and dancing?) and the other around a sexually charged promise that Cheryl made to Larry before they were married. As usual, Larry manages to offend, upset and infuriate people at every turn. He insults and physically injures Ben Stiller, steals a golf club at a funeral, abuses a weatherman for a bad weather forecast and gets bitten by a dog on the Larry Jnr amongst other things. While probably not as funny or as fresh as some of the earlier seasons, this fourth season is still way above most other sitcoms out there.

    Although it takes a different approach and format than Seinfeld did, many times whilst Larry is having a rant about some social etiquette or political correctness he can't stand I cannot help but think of how seamlessly his tirade would fit into a Seinfeld episode. Both shows are extensions of the same theme.

    As a massive Seinfeld and now Curb Your Enthusiasm fan, I find it disappointing that CYE hasn't found a larger, more appreciative audience in Australia. It has floundered on free to air here - a few months ago I saw an episode on Channel 9 at 1 or 2 am. I believe that it has found a niche audience on Foxtel's Comedy Channel (endless repeats of older seasons) but for Australians there is no doubt that DVD is the best medium to catch this ground-breaking show.

    On an interview in one of the Seinfeld DVD box sets I remember David stating that once NBC upped the number of episodes from around 12 for the second season to 23 for the third season he was terrified. What was he going to write for 23 episodes? HBO's style favours Enthusiasm's guerrilla format. The seasons are short and sweet. David has a plot outline but no script - actors are free to improvise and be creative with their scenes. The lack of a script is Enthusiasm's strength and weakness. Sometimes you can tell that they just don't know what to say. David Schwimmer appears in this season a bit and it's easy to see the unorthodox format intimidates him, as he never looks comfortable. He's not as spontaneously funny as other guests.

    If you are new to the show you do not have to watch from the first season - you could comfortably start from season four. If you can get your hands on the earlier seasons first you will enjoy the ride, though.

    Highly recommended.

    Ep1: Mel's Offer (29:58)

    As Larry and Cheryl are planning their tenth wedding anniversary Larry recalls a deal they made when they were engaged. Mel Brooks offers Larry a role in The Producers.

    Ep 2: Ben's Birthday Party (29:45)

    Larry manages to insult Ben Stiller multiple times. He meets Mike the blind guy again (from Season 2 if I recall correctly) who is dating a model. Because of something Larry says, Mike breaks up with her.

    Ep 3: The Blind Date (30:03)

    One of my all-time favourite episodes; Larry refuses to ride in the front seat of Ben Stiller's car causing major issues. Larry sets up Mike on a blind date with a Muslim with hilarious results.

    Ep 4: The Weatherman (30:01)

    Larry believes the weatherman conspires to give incorrect weather advice so he can get the golf course to himself. Larry goes to the testimonial of Leo Funkhauser and causes a stir.

    Ep 5: The 5 Wood (29:49)

    Larry steals a golf club at Leo Funkhauser's funeral and gets kicked out of his country club. At the funeral he gets into a discussion about the good vs bad Hodgkin's Disease. He discovers that David Schwimmer's father owns a health food brand and Larry realises that their 'cashew to raisin ratio is askew.'

   Ep 6: The Car Pool Lane (29:58)

    One of my favourites for the season; Larry buys marijuana for his father (for his glaucoma.) Larry and Jeff are trying to get tickets to a big Dodger game. He hires a hooker for non-traditional escort services. Great episode.

    Ep 7: The Surrogate (30:02)

    Larry consistently manages to offend African Americans in this most politically incorrect of episodes. Larry's heart gives him some problems as he is trying to get a clean bill of health for The Producers.

    Ep 8: Wandering Bear (29:02)

    Larry and Jeff conspire to order the latest 'College Girls Gone Wild' video. Jeff gives Larry some condoms that have an unexpected side effect. Jeff's dog gets hurt and Susie blames Larry. Another great episode.

    Ep 9: The Survivor (30:03)

    Larry has serious issues with his dry cleaner, he can't remember his lines for the show and there is trouble at the anniversary dinner.

    Ep 10: Opening Night (58:38)

    The hour long season finale. I don't want to spoil it for you but the season has been building for the hilarious conclusion to the season!

Video

    Curb Your Enthusiasm is presented in the original broadcast aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The disc is not 16x9 enhanced.

    The video is not the clearest I have seen, but I think that is the result of the production style more than the effort put into the transfer. Given its guerrilla filming style (on digital video) the picture looks pretty good. The image is generally pretty sharp.

    Colours are pretty good, but can vary depending on the lighting. Outdoor shots can be a bit washed out. For the most part skin tones look natural, shadow details are solid and blacks look good.

    No aliasing is to be seen, but there is some minor edge enhancement. Nothing too bad though.

    No chapters within the episodes is a disappointment.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The audio is an English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s) track.

    The dialogue always sounds perfectly clear. For this kind of show, that is extremely important.

    There were no sync or drop-out issues.

    The music and theme song sound good.

    There is no surround or sub-woofer action, but it doesn't matter.

    There is also a French Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s) track.

    Whilst there is nothing that is stand-out impressive about the audio, I can't complain. The audio is perfect for the show.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

    Disappointingly, there are no special features for this set.

    The R1 set is exactly the same... buy on price!

    Overall, this is one of the brilliant comedies at the moment (if not ever!) So go out and get it!!

    The video is great.

    The audio does not disappoint.

    No special features is a huge let-down.

    I cannot curb my enthusiasm for this show. I recommend that you get this set. You will not regret it.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall