The Film
"Sometimes when you bring the thunder, you get lost in the storm."
If you haven't been formally introduced to Kenny Powers, get ready for a rude awakening -- literally. Eastbound & Down: The Complete First Season is quite rude, frequently crude, and also absolutely hilarious.
Played to perfection by Pineapple Express star Danny McBride, Powers is a former pitcher who doesn't know the meaning of the term "PC." Despite being a failure, he's still a full-on rock star. So using his own audio book (appropriately titled, You're Fucking Out, I'm Fucking In) as a daily motivational tool, he heads back to his hometown, shacks up with his brother (Winter's Bone Oscar nominee John Hawkes), takes a job as a gym teacher, and pursues his now-engaged high-school squeeze (Katy Mixon).
McBride isn't just the main character. He's also one of the creators, writers, and has scored an executive producer's credit. If he had his hand in craft services, it wouldn't be a shocker. Anyone who has seen The Foot Fist Way will know that his fingerprints are all over Eastbound & Down. If that's not enough, he also has the backing of executive producers Adam McKay and Will Ferrell (who appears in a few episodes) to give this series some serious comedic clout.
Of course, comedy is in the eye of the beholder. Kenny Powers may rub a few viewers the wrong way. If he didn't, we'd actually be a little worried. That's the Kenny Powers way. He's an equal opportunity offender, and he's also pretty hilarious. He is a testament to McBride's strong performance -- his best to date, by the way. Expect to easily blow through this season's six episodes in one sitting, hopefully with season two on standby.
The Picture
This 1.78:1 transfer may appear to have a few ups and downs. However, the Blu-ray offers up a major improvement over the DVD release, as well as our HBO HD channel (which broadcasts in 1080i over our DISH Network 722k DVR). The first episode kicks off with footage that looks straight off ESPN HD. That's the intention, anyway. From there, the image drops off through episode two. It's not horrible, mind you. However, besides the first few minutes, those first two episodes boast a ton of grain and not a lot of detail. From the third episode on, the grain remains, but it's a lot more manageable. There's also a ton of detail that we never got the chance to see during the show's original HBO run. Check out some of the detail around the school grounds, in clothing (specifically Pat Anderson's striped suit), and on Kenny's super-sweet mullet. Colors are also spot-on. Overall, everything looks how it should; it just seems like it should be a little sharper. It's still a major improvement and is worthy of the Kenny Powers experience.
The Sound
The dialogue is obviously the star here, and the DTS-HD Master Audio track puts it on display just how it should be. The show's soundtrack also packs a nice punch, but never interferes with any of that dialogue. Of course, Kenny Powers is all about the showmanship, and the audio does have a few shining moments to remind you that the main character is a legend -- and not just in his own mind. Besides that southern fried rock soundtrack, the surrounds perk up with the sounds of breaking glass and crowds both cheering and jeering.
The Extras
HBO has ported all of the special features from this show's DVD release. The first disc's only extra is audio commentary on the first episode, which also pops up on the second disc's fourth and sixth episodes. This has star/writer/creator Danny McBride sitting down with a mixture of director/producer David Gordon Green, writer/actor Ben T. Best, and writer/director Jody L. Hill. It's very mellow, but has the guys pointing out some interesting production tidbits, as well as friends featured in the show. There's also deleted scenes and outtakes, as well as a 12-minute making-of promo piece. The other extras, such as the commercials, Kenny's "Greatest Hits" promo reel, and and the completely creepy "Stevie's Dark Secret," are strictly for superfans.
Final Thoughts
Kenny Powers may not be the everyman, but he sure is a funnyman. Even if you can't respect the mullet, you'll want to own Eastbound & Down: The Complete First Season. The extras are nothing new, but this is one that you'll want to get into your Blu-ray rotation. It's also a nice step up from HBO's previous standard-def DVD release.
Product Details
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