|
Fortysomething | 
 enlarge | Actors: Hugh Laurie, Anna Chancellor, Stephen Fry
Studio: Acorn Media
Category: DVD
List Price: $39.99
Buy New: $22.00
You Save: $17.99 (45%)
New (38) Used (9) from $21.98
Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 7116
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 293 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 1.3
MPN: 8061
UPC: 054961806195
EAN: 0054961806195
ASIN: B0011FLGV0
Theatrical Release Date: 2003
Release Date: April 8, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Fortysomething, starring the ever-engaging Hugh Laurie (House M.D., Jeeves and Wooster), is far more intriguing and peculiar than its generic title suggests. Paul Slippery (Laurie) wakes up one morning and can't remember the last time he had sex with his wife Estelle (the lovely Anna Chancellor, finally getting a sympathetic role after years of being the woman no one likes in Pride & Prejudice and Four Weddings and a Funeral). Paul's midlife crisis takes forms both fantastic (he thinks he can hear his wife's thoughts) and prosaic (he's baffled by the romantic entanglements of his three sons, two of whom keep trading partners with a pair of vivacious sisters). Estelle, for her part, is anxious about returning to work again after many years as a mother and housewife. One of Paul's coworkers tries to lure Estelle into an affair and Paul finds himself experimenting with herbal aphrodisiacs and dressing in an Islamic chador to get into an woman-only seminar. This tale of middle-age frustration skirts cliche but is rescued by off-kilter humor, whimsical digressions, a superb supporting cast, and smart writing, but above all by the rapport between Laurie and Chancellor. The warm yet combative chemistry between these two is perfectly suited to a couple who haven't fallen out of love but have lost their spark. A few plot elements of Fortysomething go awry--when Estelle tries to arrange a reunion with old friends and Paul thinks she's having an affair, the episode never quite transcends the overfamiliarity of the setup. But by the end, you'll be sorry to lose the company of this charming family. Laurie also directed three of the series' six episodes. --Bret Fetzer
Description
A man and his marriage on the verge of a hilarious meltdown How do you know when you're having a midlife crisis? Maybe it's when you can't remember exactly where your wife works - or whether she works at all. Or when your children have a more active sex life than you do. Or maybe it's when you start to hear the unspoken thoughts inside other people's heads. Hugh Laurie (House) stars as Paul Slippery, an anxiety-ridden British doctor suffering from all those symptoms and more. His wife (Anna Chancellor, Four Weddings and a Funeral) has embarked on a new career and perhaps an extramarital affair or two. His three oversexed sons mock him without mercy. And at work he's tangled in red tape and tormented by a flaky colleague. Guest stars include Stephen Fry, Laurie's partner-in-comedy from shows such as A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Jeeves and Wooster, and Blackadder. With its delightful cast and zany repartee, Fortysomething turns the fears and foibles of middle age into high comedy of the kookiest kind.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 Good for hard-core Hugh Laurie fans August 14, 2008
Janet E. Brown (Oakland, CA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I bought this because I'm a fan of both Hugh Laurie and Anna Chancellor and thought it might be fun to see them in something together. The series wasn't *bad*, exactly, but it was at best average, and I'm not surprised it wasn't renewed. The cast did a good job trying to make the characters three-dimensional, but, unfortunately, most of the show's running themes were somewhat juvenile and cliched. All in all a mixed bag.
 A true gem for fans of Hugh Laurie June 18, 2008
crystal_angel (Cincinnati, Ohio; USA)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
I am a long time fan of Hugh Laurie, and in my endeavors to try and collect everything I can possibly find that he's been in, I stumbled across this 2 DVD set. I am so happy I bought it! It is absolutely brilliant; Hugh's character, Paul, is somewhat of a cross between House and Wooster. I simply adore this show; the first episode in particular is truly hilarious: one of the many high points is when two of Paul's adult sons are fighting over a girl and Paul orders them to go to their rooms. Sex is a major theme throughout the series; one of the running jokes is that Paul can't remember the last time he and his wife have made love while his sons spend most of their time fighting over a pair of sisters. In spite of the sexual elements, I found the show to be refreshingly tasteful, especially compared to the majority of American shows. Further more, its obvious, at least in my opinion, that in spite of their problems, Paul and his wife were still quite devoted to one another. I'm sorry to say that I'm probably not explaining this show very well, but I can assure you that this is one of the best dvd purchases I've made in a very long time. If you like Hugh Laurie even a little, this is a must own.
 disappointing June 13, 2008
music lover (Old Europe)
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
A good example of when a fine cast gets lost in the tedium brought on by stupid plots and teen sex humor. Can't anyone come up with a better idea for a show other than the father wishing he had sex like his teenage sons? What a bore. Very disappointing.
Hugh Laurie is HILARIOUS April 18, 2008
S. DuRoss (Bethesda, MD)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
So excited to find this earlier series from Hugh Laurie. Just a really fun show to watch. Anna Chancellor is really nice and I was so excited to see Stephen Fry. This is certainly worth buying!
I LOLed April 18, 2008
Neophiliack (PA, USA)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Seriously. It's a very funny show. All this man can think about is the burning in his loins which makes for great comedy. The kids are funny too. I'd recommend this one for purchase.
|
|
|
| |
