Monk - Season One
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Movie Reviews of Monk - Season One
Movie Review: Finally, a Show that Doesn't Insult Your Intelligence
Summary: 5 Stars
For years, I had believed that television was dead: Aside from occasionally watching the one sitcom left that was intelligently written, "Frasier," I sadly witnessed that most sitcoms -- such as "Friends" and "Will and Grace" -- were "dumbed down," filmed in 10-to-15 second segments, in order to cater to the ADHD, MTV generation. Even the so-called "serious" dramas, such as "The West Wing" and "ER" are basically a clumsy piling on of stale platitudes and disease and/or crisis of the week ephemeral plotting. As for "reality" shows, I have nothing to say about that sorry genre save that, strangely, I have never been plucked out of my boring life, put on a deserted isle, surrounded by a dozen hot babes while eating worms and maggots, in hopes of working for Donald Trump, should I emerge victorious.
Then, all of the sudden, in the Summer of 2002, my wife and I stumbled across this show, "Monk." What can I say? "Monk" is one of those programs that only comes along every generation or so. It is so gratifying to finally watch a program that mixes light comedy, captivating mystery, taut suspense and intelligent dialogue. Bravo!
"Monk" revolves around its central character, the eccentric savant and super-sleuth, Adrian Monk, played with understated erudition by Tony Shalhoub. Monk, who's been felled by the tragic murder of his beautiful wife, Trudy, has a tough time being reinstated to the San Francisco Police Department because of his Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Half Perry Mason and half Felix Unger, he is a walking library of esoteric information hindered by a thousand phobias.
His nurse, gal-Friday and sidekick is the streetwise and sexy Sharona Fleming, who's on hand to help Adrian overcome his OCD and to dispense antibacterial wipes to protect him from viral infection and dangerous human elements after shaking hands. Monk's OCD provides a lot of comedic moments and plot points, but without ever becoming preachy or belittling.
Monk and Sharona are definitely television's best couple, even though their relationship is platonic. While he exists almost exclusively in his own cerebral and abstract world, world-wise Sharona provides the intuition to navigate him through the world populated by the rest of humanity. She's also the perfect foil for his awkward personality quirks. Without Sharona, Monk would literally be incomplete.
Ted Levine plays Monk's former boss, Captain Stottlemeyer, with gruff aplomb. Reluctantly, he hires Monk free lance as a consultant when the SFPD can't crack the case. Jason Gray-Stanford gives more comic relief as the boyish Disher, an earnest yet somewhat slow-witted detective on the force who would never solve one of Monk's mysteries, even if given 1000 years.
In this boxed set are 12 episodes from the first season, including the pilot, "Mr. Monk and the Candidate," so buyers, please, you don't need to buy the pilot episode separately, unless you are a completist with OCD, like Adrian Monk. The best episodes are: "Mr. Monk Goes to the Asylum," which features an offbeat guest appearance by Kevin Nealon; "Mr. Monk and the Billionaire Mugger,"; "Mr. Monk Takes a Vacation; and, most hilariously, "Mr. Monk and the Airplane," in which our hero manages to annoy all the plane's passengers with his finicky behavior while solving a murder.
"Monk" is superbly cast and brilliantly executed. The photography is gorgeous, the filmstock ripe with rich hues and deep shadows. I disagree with one previous reviewer who implied that the sound "suffices," because it is merely in Dolby 5.1 stereo. I say the sound is perfect: Though in stereo surround, it is never overbearing, never dominating the picture with "whoosh and clang" foley effects.
One little imperfection: "Monk" is supposed to be set in San Francisco, so one would think that our protagonist would take note of the Bell Canada service trucks and phone booths that inexplicably pop up in its episodes. Uncanny.
Unfortunately, USA Network will not be bringing back Bitty Schram as Sharona next season. Monk needs his better half. Save Sharona! Visit the petition to keep her on the show:
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/sbackmonk
Movie Review: Truly original, truly hilarious!
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the more clever television creations of the new millennium, Monk combines the high-grade suspense of a traditional TV drama with the quirky humor of a big screen comedy. Originally developed for ABC, the show became an instant prime-time lynchpin for the USA network, proving itself one of the more successful shows on cable TV...
In Monk, Tony Shalhoub stars in the title role of Adrian Monk, a former San Francisco detective placed on psychiatric leave. A true legend in the community, Monk solves unsolvable crimes via his towering intellect, photographic memory, and meticulous observations. But the one case that alludes Monk is the 1997 murder of his wife Trudy, which forever altered Monk's capacity to perform his job. Suffering from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder and a number of odd phobias, Monk requires a personal assistant, Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram), for even his most basic daily activities. Yet Monk remains a police consultant on difficult cases, and he hopes to persuade Capt. Leland Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) to give him his old job back. But Stottlemeyer and colleague Lt. Randall Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford), harbor doubts about Monk's mental faculties. As Monk solves cases though, those doubts dissipate and Stottlemeyer and Disher learn to appreciate Monk's special talents - despite his inability to cope with the day-to-day activities of a normal detective... Nevertheless, he remains a de facto investigator as he and Sharona aid the San Francisco police department in solving numerous high profile cases...
The Monk (Season 1) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere "Mr. Monk and the Candidate" in which the audience first learns the background of Adrian Monk, a modern day Sherlock Holmes beset by mental problems. After Monk solves a mysterious murder simply by looking at the crime scene, Capt. Stottlemeyer enlists him to help in the investigation of a failed assassination attempt of mayoral candidate Warren St. Claire...Other notable episodes from Season 1 include "Mr. Monk and the Billionaire Mugger" in which Monk investigates the death of a billionaire shot while trying to mug a police officer, and "Mr. Monk and the Earthquake" in which Monk investigates the murder of a wealthy businessman (which occurred during an earthquake) while suffering verbal difficulties as a result of the earthquake's numerous aftershocks...
Below is a list of episodes included on the Monk (Season 1) DVD:
Episode 1 (Mr. Monk and the Candidate: Part 1)
Episode 2 (Mr. Monk and the Candidate: Part 2)
Episode 3 (Mr. Monk and the Psychic)
Episode 4 (Mr. Monk Meets Dale the Whale)
Episode 5 (Mr. Monk Goes to the Carnival)
Episode 6 (Mr. Monk Goes to the Asylum)
Episode 7 (Mr. Monk and the Billionaire Mugger)
Episode 8 (Mr. Monk and the Other Woman)
Episode 9 (Mr. Monk and the Marathon Man)
Episode 10 (Mr. Monk Takes a Vacation)
Episode 11 (Mr. Monk and the Earthquake)
Episode 12 (Mr. Monk and the Red-Headed Stranger)
Episode 13 (Mr. Monk and the Airplane)
The DVD Report
Movie Review: Monk-Season One-even though experienced out of sequence, it shines!
Summary: 5 Stars
We became Monk fans with the Season Two DVDs, a family member having tipped us off to the series. Then, having been effectively and thoroughly hooked, we sought out Season Three and, separately, the premier episode on its separate DVD. Still unsatiated, we finally acquired the Season One set. Taking them in that order creates no real problem, since each episode does stand alone. However, it was interesting to note that Season One's Sharona seemed more compassionate and less bitchy than in later seasons. But, bitchy or not, we still miss Sharona, although Natalie had become more substantial by the time Season Three ended. We are eager for Season Four. Since we refuse to watch broadcast television, the DVDs are our only way to experience the show.
The ensemble cast is great, with Ted Levine and Jason Gray Stanford perfect in their cops-with-mixed-emotions relationship to Monk. The sub-set between Stottlemeyer and Disher--"Are you ready for this?" "Just tell me, Randy!" is delightful, and I especially enjoyed the way it was echoed in the Mexican cops' interplay when Monk went to Mexico.
Stanley Kramer's Dr. Kroger is equally delightful. Having operated in a group setting similar to, but not as intense as Kroger's one-on-one therapy sessions, I feel that his character is authentic.
And the kids--both Sharona's and Natalie's--are excellent.
I do feel that the writers sometimes lose sight of the earlier story when they alter some aspect of the past in a later episode. For instance, in one episode (I forget which one at the moment, but I think that it was in Season Two) Stottlemeyer talks about being a green detective and learning from Monk, but another time his reflection seems to suggest that he was already in charge when Monk started with the department.
Lest it be lost in omission, let it be known that we would never have started with Monk had it not been for the presence of Tony Shalhoub, whose acting we love. From "Galaxy Quest," to "The Big Night" (I still am amazed at how completely Shalhoub disappears in the role of "Primo"), to "Impostors," the man is a delight as an actor. Chicago's Ted Levine was the icing on an already great cake for me. I have grown to appreciate him over the years, although I did not enjoy his Steppenwolf performance in "Buried Child" many years ago.
I think that it is the actors, and their characters' relationships, that makes Monk so great, because most of the cases, in themselves, strike me as highly unlikely, and I especially dislike the many "Columbo"-like openings (I liked Peter Falk, hated the Columbo scripts), where I already know who the killer is. Yet, because of the characters and their interaction, I persist, and am always rewarded for it.
And, this message to the "bosses"--please don't get so tight, fiscally, that you lose more of the stellar cast. Sharona was about all we can bear to lose, I think. Like Monk, we mourn, too.
Movie Review: Off to a Strong Start
Summary: 5 Stars
I blew it. I didn't start watching this show until it's second season. Little did I know what I was missing.Tony Shalhoub stars as Adrian Monk, a former police detective no longer on the force because of his obsessive-compulsive disorder and his phobias. He does still consult on some of their most bizarre cases, however. For example, how could an 800-lb. man commit murder? Why was a billionaire killed while mugging a man on a date? Did a fellow airline passenger really kill his wife? How could a man commit murder and run a marathon at the same time?
This series falls into the classic puzzle mystery genre, my personal favorite. Sometimes I have an idea why or how, but it takes the ending for me to know for sure. More often then not, I'm stumped. Along the way, we get plenty of laughs at the various situations we find Mr. Monk in. The obsessive-compulsive disorder and his fears are handled just right. They provide the clues needed and humor without being over the top or annoying.
Of course, the series is helped by its actors. Tony Shalhoub is excellent as Monk with a performance just slightly understated. He deserved his Emmy win for this season. Just as praise worthy is Bitty Schram as Monk's nurse Sharona. She mixes exasperated and compassionate while providing a strong sidekick character that doesn't get lost behind the lead. Ted Levine and Jason Gray-Stanford as the police Monk helps and Stanley Kamel as Monk's shrink are equally excellent.
The writing is sharp and manages to find humor without mocking Monk, a subtle but clear distinction.
This DVD set is great for old and new fans alike. All twelve first season episodes are present, including the previously released two-hour pilot. They're presented in widescreen and look sharp. The sound, while presented in 5.1 surround, is nothing spectacular. Still, it gets the job done. Disc four has some short extras discussing the creation of the show, obsessive-compulsive disorder, the cast and crew's obsessions, the Emmy win, and the casting of Bitty Schram and Ted Levine. I would have loved a commentary track or two and some outtakes, but they aren't to be found here.
While the extras could have been just a tad better, this set is a must have for those who love light mystery. It was nice to catch the cases I'd missed. This is one mystery show you can watch time and time again for the humor and character even if you remember how it ends.
Movie Review: One of my favorite shows!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Meet Adrian Monk ( Tony Schloub). He is a man who has a countless number of phobias with being afraid of everything from heights and germs to milk. Adrian is also the greatest private detective around with a photographic memory and such a great eye for detail that it is almost creepy. As Adrian says, "it's a gift and a curse". Adrian used to be a homocide detective for the San Francisco Police Department, until his wife Trudy was killed in a car bomb. Three years have passed since, and Adrian's fears have made it impossible to be on the force. Adrian is now a private consultant for the department and assists Captain Leland Stottlemeyer ( Ted Levine) and Lieutenant Randall Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford). Also along for the ride is Monk's nurse/personal assitant Sherona Flemming ( Bitty Schram)who keeps Monk in line and helps him with each case.If you were to describe private detective Adrian Monk, it would probably be along the lines of "Sherlock Holmes being afraid of everything". This is what makes "Monk" one of the best shows that is currently on television. It is hard to classify what type of show Monk really is. Some people including myself watch the show for the cases that Monk solves. Each case is very unpredictable and you actually have a great time trying to solve the case before Monk does. Others watch the show because it tends to be quite funny at times. Tomy Schloub is an amazing actor and is extremely versatile. He made a name for himself playing the character Antonio on the show "Wings". He brings the same comic genius to the character Adrian Monk. Bitty Schram is also brilliant as Sherona. Watching her take care of Monk is hilarious. They almost appear to be like the "Odd Couple" at times. Ted Levine and Jason Gray-Stratford are excellent as well.
Overall, "Monk" is one of my all time favorite shows. The actors involved are superb, each case is completely unpredictable, and the laughs are non stop. All I can say, is that it is about time that Monk is coming to DVD. The 13 episode first season is great from start to finish, and it deserves the DVD treatment. There is no word on what the extras will be yet, but the show is worth owning just for the episodes alone. A huge bonus is the fact that there is no commercial interruption!!