Dilbert

I just recently had the opportunity to watch Dilbert. My brother came home with the DVD Collection. It took me about a week to watch all 30 episodes but I was hooked from the very first one.

When I was about to start high school, I applied to a special business high school and got in. But turned them down to go to regular high school with my peers. For years since I was so grateful that I decided not to go to that business school, I didn't want a office job when I got older, I didn't want a 9 to 5. But after watching Dilbert, I'm craving that experience. That life seems so exciting for some strange reason. So now coincidently I had made up my mind to be a Public Administration major before the show and its Cubical life and opted out. I'm so happy that I found Dilbert. Its weird but I look forward to it.

Well my brother left, and took the collection with him. So I, on Sunday, scoured my newspaper and found the comics, searched for Dilbert and ripped it out. It's now hanging on my wall. I love the humor of Dilbert because its so honest. But my favorite thing of all is the opening sequence, it took me a while to figure it out, but Dilbert is what we become in life.

I'll treasure my Dilbert learning experience for life.

The attractiveness and charm of the Dilbert comic lies in the ability of the white collar masses to relate to everything that goes on. As absurd as Dilbert's life at work is, it's often not far from the truth.

That said, it made a very amusing and underrated animated TV show. The people chosen to do voice overs for the characters were absolutely perfect: I can think of nobody better to voice the pointy haired boss than Larry Miller.

It seems that most people have a love/hate relationship with this series. I suspect that there is something lost between the comic strip and the show: most of the fans of the comic strip like it because they can relate to it, not because it's universally entertaining, like Popeye or Peanuts. That said, the movie is almost never as good as the book, so many people may feel the same in this case. For years, I hated the Dilbert comic strip. But after I finished college and got a white collar job very much like Dilbert's, in an office very much like the one on the comic, I finally "got it" and haven't stopped laughing.

The show was perhaps meant to be a bit more mainstream? Who knows. I thought it was very entertaining and deserved a longer life than it got.

The show was a non stop laugh riot, much like the comic strip. The show perfectly captured the spirit of the comic strip, which is why it was so good. Unfortunately, the show got axed and taken off the air. Despite what people who didn't like the show would say, it was not cancelled because of the writing. Lousy programming is what really did the show in. When U.P.N. moved the series to that terrible time slot for it's second season, ratings dropped hard and fast. The show really was worth watching.

A clever and imaginative cartoon based on the popular comic strip, Dilbert was aimed at an educated adult audience. That's why it failed: Most people who would have enjoyed it probably never saw it. After all it's ratings, not quality which keep a show running. Unfortunately so, because Dilbert is not your mindless everyday sitcom stultification.

People this show must be the most overlooked, under-rated show ever. It had no exposure. It was on UPN! Think about it: no one watches UPN for intelligent comedy gems do they? or wait -- for anything.

Dilbert, the TV-series, stays almost *perfectly* true to the comic and the voice actors are superb. When you hear the voice for Dilbert and Dogbert on the first episode you'll go "Wow". Right on the button.

Dilbert only lasted two seasons, contained 30 episodes, and was cancelled in 2000. It features celebrity voice talent such as; Jerry Seinfeld, Andy Dick, Tom Green, etc.

DVD includes (some) special features (better than nothing). A "Makeing Dilbert Work" (which it does) featurette, and clip complimations. Also includes some trailers and interactive menus, and is closed captioned. Audio is English.

When you watch this DVD, I'll be honest, it will take about two episodes to get used to it's type of comedy. After that you'll enjoy about 94% of the rest.

I think you'll agree if "Comedy Central" or even "Fox" picked this up, it would probably go a lot longer than two years. IF marketed correctly.

However, some people simply hate this show. I don't know exactly why. Some say it's boring, but I counter with "maybe a short attention span finds it boring". Some say the comic is better. I personally think the TV-show is the same, maybe alittle better.

Overall this DVD is the favourite in *my* collection. I hope it is at least one of *your* favourites.

HUMOR: 8/10 stays true to Dilbert's "wacky" yet "relatable" feeling

PICTURE / SOUND: 8/10 animation and picture is pretty much the same as a coloured comic but much more detailed. Which is good. Dilbert's mouth only moves when he's talking (same as Dogbert's). Animation is better than shows such as "Family Guy" to give you an idea. Voice acting has simply no faults what-so-ever, and the music is very good (although it could have more). As for quality of sound, it's standard.

STORY: 10/10 Some shows really have bad story lines which ruin everything (family guy, anyone?). Dilbert however has good storyline for almost all the episodes and it runs smoothly throughout the length of the series. I'de say it's perfect in a humane way (EVERYTHING has little faults).

OVERALL: 9.5/10 (not an average) Overall it's almost perfect. Add commentary and more episodes (although that cant be helped) and it would be perfect.

WORTH IT? I can't possibly recommend a DVD more than I recommend this one.