Jeri Jacquin
HBO brings class into session with the soon to be released
Bluray, DVD and Digital Download pack of comedy that will test your take on
laughter with VICE PRINCIPLES: The Complete First Season.
When the Principal (Bill Murray) resigns from North Jackson
High School
That’s when the Superintendent of schools decides to go
outside and finds Dr. Belinda Brown (Kimberly Herbert Gregory). Both Gamby and
Russell are beside themselves and normally against the other knowing that the
only way to win is to work, reluctantly together. Dr. Brown hasn’t even
unpacked yet when she begins making changes at the school including having both
teachers evaluated. Gamby makes it outwardly clear that his grumpiness isn’t
going to change any time soon but Russell takes another tactic of being the
coffee-getting brown nose to win Dr. Brown’s heart.
Gamby has a minor distraction having a huge crush on fellow
teacher Amanda Snodgrass (Georgia King) who doesn’t really feel the same. In
fact, Amanda shares the feelings of most of the North Jackson
High School
While Gamby is distracted, Russell is making plans to
sabotage another one of Dr. Brown’s ideas when it comes to the hometown
football game. Sharing his idea with his partner-in-crime, Russell sense that
Gamby’s heart may not be all in. That isn’t going to matter as the plan takes a
very mind blowing turn. Soon after, the two have a blow up and walk away. That
is actually a good idea as Dr. Brown has decided that Gamby needs to reevaluate
his discipline tactics exchanging harsh words for bean bag chairs. He talks
with Amanda about it all to discover that she might be able to help re-direct
more of his anger so that the relationship with daughter Janelle (Maya G. Love
can be better.
Imagine how that works for Gamby! Their buddy-breakup is a
good thing for Russell too with the wife Christine (Susan Park) and
mother-in-law Mi-Cha (June Kyoto Lu) driving him crazy and now a new neighbor
who is pushing him to limits that could be deadly, or at least really, really
stupid. When Dr. Brown suspects him of being absolutely nothing like she
initially believed, it is time to bring him down a peg ordering him to keep an
eye on her two mischievous sons.
At this point Dr. Brown offers Gamby more responsibility with
a title. Just when he thought life was going so well, a jealous Ms. Abbott (Edi
Patterson) shares a little secret about Amanda. The stress on Gamby and Russell
begins to show as they come together one final time to put a plan into motion
that should seal Dr. Brown’s fate.
It isn’t easy being a Vice Principle.
Lets jump right in, Danny McBride as Neil Gamby is
perfection! He puts up a rough exterior that makes you think he enjoys being an
ass but it’s plain to see he is protecting himself from just about everybody.
His ex definitely did a number on him, the new husband is so nice it drives him
nuts, he hates that his daughter might like him more, can’t figure out a way to
not be weird around Amanda, would rather see Russell roasting on a spit and
hates the idea of his dream job going to Dr. Brown. Is there anything else? Oh
yes, the only person who speaks to him regularly is Dayshawn (Sheaun McKinney)
who works in the cafeteria. Although the last part isn’t so bad, I mean you
want to be friends with the guy making your food right? McBride cracks me up,
scares me and then makes me want to give him a huge and then back again to
scaring and cracking me up. This character might have just made me question my
own sanity.
Now, Coggins, my dear, lovely Walton Coggins – this actor
has come so far so fast I don’t know where to begin. Yes, I loved him in the
series The Shield, hated/loved him in
the FX series Justified along with
films MIRACLE AT ST.
ANNA, DJANGO UNCHAINED and THE HATEFUL EIGHT. But, it has to be said, his role
as Venus Van Damme in the FX series Sons
of Anarchy will always hold a special place in my heart because that
character brought a richness to the already successful series. It became clear
almost immediately that SOA fans fell
hard for the lovely Venus! Now, in VICE PRINCIPLES Coggins brings a little of
Venus back to me at least but with a whole new psychotic attitude and penchant
for destruction the likes of which will have me fearing
well-dressed-bow-tie-wearing-charming teachers for the rest of my life. I love
everything about this character and can not wait to see what mayhem comes next.
King as Amanda is a welcome surprise to the series for me. I
saw her in COCKNEYS VS. ZOMBIES and, as anyone who knows me can testify to,
anything zombie will get high praise from me. In this character she is just as
unsure about lie as Gamby is and she shares many of his insecurities. Having
feelings for another teacher, Gamby is the last man on her mind. That is what
makes watching their interactions fascinating. There is an early scene between
King and McBride that sets the stage for the confusion between the two of them,
or maybe they just confused me.
Gregory as Dr. Brown comes in with the sweetest of
intentions but when it’s time to get serious let the attitude commence. Knowing
away from a bad marriage, she is dealing with two sons that aren’t happy to be
in the new town and have no problems expressing it. Hanging around Gamby and
Russell wasn’t a good idea from the very beginning because she isn’t dealing
with two faces – but four and none of them have good intentions. Gregory takes
her character dark and deep once she realizes that something fishy is going on
in her life and not just as principal. There are a few jaw dropping moments,
okay more than a few for her character so be prepared!
Love as Janelle is Gamby’s daughter who loves her father but
can’t stomach his controlling ways. Wanting to please him she also wants to
find a relationship with her motor-crossing step-father. That’s when the
tugging between the two Dad’s begins putting this young girl between a horse
and a motorbike. Patterson as Ms. Abbott is pure hilarity but in an
eye-widening-oh-no-she-didn’t way. There are adult crushes and then there are
reasons to check the door locks – Ms. Abbott falls into the latter category.
Other cast includes: Ashley Spillers as Janice Swift, Busy
Philipps as Gale Liptrapp, Jennifer Gatti as Mrs. Deets, Shea Whigham as Ray
Liptrapp, Dale Dickey as Nash, Christopher Thornton as Mr. Milner, Brian Howe
as Superintendent Haas, and Mike O’Gorman as Bill Hayden.
HBO Home Entertainment has an extensive array of
critically-acclaimed and groundbreaking programs found on Bluray, DVD and
Digital HD. They have provided viewers with some of the most amazing programs with
huge fan bases that include the shows True
Blood, Sex and the City, The Sopranos, True Detectives, The Wire, Entourage and Game of Thrones. Launched in 1984, HBO
is world wide in viewed entertainment in more than 70 territories around the
world! For more of what they have to offer please visit www.hbo.com.
VICE PRINCIPLES: The Complete First Season is a must-see for
everyone with a twisted sense of humor. McBride and Coggins together are a duo
that not only bring the best of dark comedy but man they can be disturbing in
an awesome way. I love the show and nothing is going to change my mind. It is
testing, irreverent, kind of gross, hilarious, jaw-dropping, insane and pretty
much a good time.
The series is co-created by Danny McBride and Jody Hill and
will have a second season on HBO. This should surprise no one because I’m not
about to be happy being left with these two still in high school! I want
conflict resolution, okay no I don’t, I want to see Gamby and Russell take
another shot at their dream job.
The Bluray and DVD include the Exclusive Bonus Features of
Deleted Scenes, Blooper Reel (prepare for serious laughs) and Audio
Commentaries with Cast and Crew including Danny McBride, Jody Hill, Walton
Coggins and more.
In the end – we all need someone to look up to!
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