Everyone knows someone like Larry David. You know, someone who always finds himself in precarious situations- everything from getting his foot caught in his mouth to the strangest things like getting caught taking food out of garbage.
He is the inspiration behind George Costanza for a reason.
However, in spite of all the shenanigans he consistently finds himself in, you can’t help but love him. Inside everyone is a David desperately trying to come out- to tell the world it’s the “C-word†for folding with a great hand at poker or telling someone else to do our dirty wok because we’re too scared to do it ourselves. The problem is logic and conscience then comes into play and you realize your thoughts are better left being just that.
Luckily, David’s mind works a bit differently than most.
Antics like this are on full display in the second season of his hit show “Curb Your Enthusiasm†and a huge reason why the two-disc DVD compilation is a must-buy. Despite being only 10 episodes long, a bit shorter than most sitcom season sets, there isn’t one stinker in the entire bunch.
For those that are back tracking into the season, you’ll be the first to notice the production values weren’t nearly as solid as they are now, but that plays a nominal role in the quality of the show. Incredibly witty, David, along with his wife Cheryl [Hines], manager Jeff [Garlin] and buddy Richard [Lewis] gets himself in the type of situations that are at times, a bit out there, but never too far from reality that you’ll dismiss them.
It’s the same formula that made “Seinfeld†such a great show, but at the same time, it’s a different animal all together.
While the cast of characters, especially Garlin and his wife, [Susie Essman] provide a huge jolt to the action with their foul-mouthed [She has to call Garlin fat at least once every episode] confrontations, the action never takes focus on them. Instead, it’s more about David and how they interact with him, making it something different from what made David a household name almost 25 years ago.
Sprinkled on top of the wit is a crude, rude and lewd candor that gives the show an extra sharp, yet lovable edge. Sure, David is a bastard at times, but he does have a heart as well, making for a nice balance in the show, that always seems to backfire in his face. People just don’t know what to expect from David and that’s perhaps the biggest reason why he gets himself in the situations that he does. For every nice thing he does, like bringing Shaq every episode of “Seinfeld†after he trips him on the court by accident and sends him to the hospital, it doesn’t take him long to go back to his mischievous ways.
Waiting for the proverbial crap to hit the fan in every episode [and boy, does it] makes the second season a great first introduction to the series as well. It doesn’t matter if you have no idea where everyone fits at first because after a few minutes, everyone’s roles are clearly defined, making for some of he funniest television you’ll ever come across.
For those looking for another “Seinfeld,†you may not get everything you desire here, but anyone looking for something different and truly funny, will find themselves right at home with the only Jew in LA that has no problem whistling Wagner on the street.
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