A&E // 2007 // 176 Minutes // Not Rated
Reviewed by Judge Franck Tabouring // September 5th, 2008
Beware of Dog!
Dog: The Bounty Hunter and his gang return to DVD with Dog: The Bounty Hunter: The Best of Season Four. Woof!
This single-disc edition includes eight 22-minute episodes. Here's what's on Dog's menu:
* "Make a Wish"
* "The Good Fight"
*
"Last Call"
* "The Smackdown of Baby Lyssa"
*
"The Big Wipeout"
* "No Love Still"
* "The
Time to Cry" (Double episode)
So, who is Dog exactly? I'm sure most of you have at least heard of him at this stage, but in case you're not at all familiar with who he is and what he does, here's a brief summary: Duane "Dog" Chapman is a well-known bounty hunter who claims thousands of captures over the years. The show chronicles his work at Da Kine Bail Bonds in Hawaii, focusing on how he catches fugitives, makes them understand the gravity of their situation, and helps them get into rehab. He even occasionally throws in a quick life lesson. Helping him out are his wife Beth, his brother Tim, his two sons Duane Lee and Leland, and his daughter Lyssa. Together, they do everything they can to catch those who think they can outrun the law.
Most of the episodes on this disc are adequate picks for a "best of" DVD -- with a few exceptions, of course. One of my personal favorites though is "No Love Still," in which Dog and his posse try to track down a young fugitive charged with kidnapping and menacing. The hunt for the boy on the run proves a little bit more complicated than most of Dog's cases, especially because the suspect's family is not entirely cooperative. Another solid and especially suspenseful episode is "The Smackdown of Baby Lyssa," in which the Chapmans track down a fugitive who may not appear in court and has threatened the co-signer on his bond. Even Lyssa gets in on the action in this fast-paced hunt that includes a tricky pursuit. My least favorite episode on the disc is "The Last Call," in which the bounty hunters basically don't leave the office but make a shocking discovery about a co-signer on a bond. Other than that, most episodes are definitely worth the investment.
Now, why is Dog's job so interesting to follow on television? Let me start by saying that not everything about this reality series is fast-paced and suspenseful. Although the show mainly follows Dog and his gang on his quest to capture fugitives, most episodes also dig a little deeper into the Chapmans' lifestyle and family values. Most episodes even feature one or two cheesy motivational speeches toward the end. While some of these tend to drag on a bit, watching Dog do what he's good at is still mostly captivating. What I personally like about the show is how Dog and his partners put the pieces together and rely on informants on their quest to track down suspects. Being a bounty hunter is not an easy job, and it requires careful planning, precise communication, and lots of other skills. But Dog has got what it takes, and by that I don't only mean the looks. He's tough, but he can get emotional, too. Most importantly, he thinks everything through before taking action. And the action, at least for the most part, is engaging enough to get caught up in. It's all light entertainment, but it's fun to watch.
The quality of the video is fair and supplies viewers with a sharp enough image throughout. For a television reality show filmed mostly with handheld cameras, the disc boasts a solid transfer. Unfortunately, the audio transfer is not as enjoyable. Sound quality is not really a major issue here, but the Dolby 2.0 stereo track doesn't always deliver the goods.
Special features are scarce on this disc, and the only bonus viewers get to enjoy is a short collection of never-before-seen footage. I don't know about you, but watching Dog getting excited about new walkie-talkies is not exactly what I expect from additional DVD content. They could have added some family bios or any kind of feature that would tell people a little bit more about the Chapmans.
Dog: The Bounty Hunter: The Best of Season Four is entertaining and, above all, surprising enough to keep you interested in how Dog catches his next suspect. Always remember: you can run but Dog'll get you!
Not guilty.
Review content copyright © 2008 Franck Tabouring; Site layout and review format copyright © 1998 - 2009 HipClick Designs LLC
Scales of Justice
Video: 89
Audio: 79
Extras: 40
Acting: 84
Story: 87
Judgment: 85
Perp Profile
Studio: A&E
Video Formats:
* Full Frame
Audio Formats:
* Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (English)
Subtitles:
* None
Running Time: 176 Minutes
Release Year: 2007
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distinguishing Marks
* Never-Before-Seen Footage
Accomplices
* IMDb
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0424627/combined
* Official Site
http://dogthebountyhunter.com