Life As We Know It The Complete Series DVD with Michael Engler, Sean Faris, Missy Peregrym (NR) +Movie Reviews

Life as we know it

T. Stewart | Santa Cruz | 04/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One the outside "Life as we Know it" look like another Beverly Hills 90210/One Tree Hill rip off. But in reality that cannot be further form the truth. With producers from "Freaks and Geeks" and "My So Called Life," LAWKI was a realistic look on what it is like to be a teenage boy in high school right now. Guys watched it because the main male characters were always having a crisis that comes right out of any high school in america (thats probably why many guys at my school watched it, but never told anyone). And Girls enjoyed it because although the main characters are the three guys, there are three extremly charming and intelligent girls that help make up the cast.

Eventhough many critics enjoyed the show, the show still had many problems facing it. The show was based on the English novel "doing it" and which you can guess from the title was very frank and had more sexual stuff in it than your normal teen fair. The show (although toned down a little) still keeps that prospective of teenagers, and sicne was bashed by the FCC (in post-Janet Jackson days and several Parent groups).

Since I had previously read the book I was extremly excited when I first heard about this show. When the pilot aired surprisingly enough I was not dissapointed, the show took the essance of the book, added a few american twists and ran with it. Although the ratings never went higher than 5 million viewers, the show quickly became my favorite show on the air.

The show is about three teenage boys who happen to be best friends (one is a Jock, one is a Nerd, and the Other just exsist). All three of these boys are in different areas of growing up (mentally speaking) and they are always having problems with their respected female counterparts (The Jock, the Freak, and the Brain). But that just the outside. On the outside the show was the most realistic look at what High School life is like in the post 2000 years, that rivals "My So Called Life" in the amount of depth is put onto screen.

This is show is a must for anyone that enjoyed "My so called life" and "Freaks and Geeks." But I must warn you if your looking of "The OC" I suggest "Beverly Hills 90210" (which is a good show in its own right when there where in high school)."

Smart, Witty, an A++ New Millennium Teen Series

Dorrie Wheeler | 09/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is really, really the best teen coming of age series I have seen in ages. "Life As We Know It," is another series produced by the producers of "Freaks and Geeks." They really got it right with this show but unfortunately like "Freaks and Geeks," and "Undeclared," "Life As We Know It," only lasted one season and on top of that ABC didn't even air the final two episodes of the show. "Life As We Know It," is about three male high school best friends. Dino is the very popular one, at least that is how it seems. He is very handsome and looks like a young Tom Cruise. His life isn't perfect though. He has a girlfriend who he wants to have sex with and he is taken aback when he finds out his mother is having an affair with his coach. Ben, I'm guessing is the nerd. He has a major crush on his young teacher. She pushes things to the limit flirting back and taking chances with her career it seems. Jonathan is the third friend. In the pilot episode his relationship with the character portrayed by Kelly Osbourne takes off. Her weight is a written into the storyline as Jonathan has qualms about dating a "big girl." In another twist, the three girl characters in the show who are tied to the girls also happen to be friends and can be seen talking in various scenes. I like the way the show is written as in certain cut screens the main characters talk to the audience. It's a great show, it's hip, it's fly and manages to have the right blend of comedy and drama. The kids seem more mature than the Canadian gang on "Degrassi The Next Generation," and they seem more authentic and everyday like than the gang on "90210" or "The OC." It's a great show that didn't last. The DVD box set is very slim and features 3 colorful DVDs. The bonus features include two never before episodes (total episodes on the set is 13), audio commentaries, Life as We Blow It (outakes), deleted scenes and producers photo gallery. Dino's parents get a good amount of screen time but not enough to make younger viewers lose interest. If you didn't catch this show during it's original run you might want to pick up the DVD box set. It's a really great show that hopefully will come back."

A Show Gone Too Soon

charmingmissy | Bay City, MI USA | 04/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was a wonderful show that depicts the everyday lives of high schoolers. It was a fun, witty, charming and realistic look at teenagers today. It was wonderfully made, and the actors who portrayed the main characters and best friends did excellent. This was a great show that was gone way too soon. All I can say is that the show just fell victim to being put up against tv heavyweights such as 'Survivor' and 'The O.C.' It never had a chance.

To those who haven't seen the show, but are thinking about purchasing it...here is a brief synopsis. I hope it gives you a better picture. The show is based around 3 male best friends, Dino, the hockey player; Ben, the intellectual; and Jonathan, the photographer. They live out their everyday lives and go through all the trials and tribulations of being a teenager today. Along with their 3 girlfriends...sometimes girlfriends...sometimes just girls who are friends. Jackie, the soccer player/student council president who is harboring the secret that her father is a drunk; Sue, the one who always has to be perfect; and Deborah, formally the best friend, who now wants more.

This show does have some unrealistic points, such as a sexual relationship with a teacher...but other then that, the show is very much like high school life in the here and now. All I can say is that if you were a fan of 'My So-Called Life' (another show that was cancelled long before its time) then you will definitely love this show and I suggest you buy it. I know I will."

Sooner or Later

T. Stewart | Windy Valley, CA | 04/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What happens to us in high school? That is a timeless question that countless books, movies, TV shows, songs, and everything else has tried to answer since the invention of popular culture. Studies, friends, family, body changes, hormones, sex, hair... all topics that scare the hell out of any regular teenager and produce real drama, yet have never been explored in realistic detail. Some shows have tried to explain what it is really like growing up in post-Kennedy-America - "My So Called Life," "Freaks and Geeks," & "Undeclared" among the most notable; but no show has tried from the point of view of the a male protagonist. Thus is why, "Life as we know it" was/is such a groundbreaking piece of work.

Adapted and Americanized from the British novel, "Doing It," "Life as we know it" follows six, sixteen-year-old kids through the first half of their sophomore year of high school. By ditching the typical mold of the `teenage soap' the three female characters are put on the backburner as supporting characters, and the guys are given the main spotlight of the show. The main topic of the show is the three male leads talking to each other (and sometimes to the audience) about all the different experiences they are going through. From the normal: girls, sex, bad teachers, family divorce; to the taboo: homosexuality, erections, pregnancy scares; to the unbelievable: such as student/teacher affairs; nothing is out of range for topics.

The three male leads have been friends since their years in elementary schools, but unlike most teen soaps instead of being cookie-cutter copies of each other with different hairstyles; they are three unique individuals. Look at "The O.C." all the characters come from extremely powerful, rich, and beautiful families, and share all the same interests (comic books and music) and hates (water polo). But in "Life as We Know It" each of the main characters comes from completely different backgrounds.

On the outside, Dino is your typical "big man on campus:" Hockey Stud, Beautiful Girlfriend, and awesome parents. Yet on the inside he faces many problems the other shows gloss over: the nasty divorce between his parents, his failing grades, and his "equipment problems" with his girlfriends. Ben can't decide who he wants to be, literally flip/flopping from group to group he can never seem to settle into any high school mold, and he seems to be overlooked by the school at large. And Jonathan, let's be honest here, he is a geek. The geeks in high school don't wear pin-striped shirts, the horrible hair, buy pocket-protectors by the crate, and know how to fix every computer problem under the sun (okay there are maybe one or two per school); but they are typical guys that are usually too shy to try and fit in anywhere else (I should know, I am a Jonathan).

Offering sometimes: a partner in crime, a shoulder to cry on, or a springboard for the change; the girls in these boys lives, though not main stars are still the focus of the boys attentions and the true heart to the show. Jackie with her alcoholic father and nervous breakdowns levels out the over confidence of Dino; Deb (the outsider with a cause) shows Jonathan that just because he doesn't fit in doesn't mean that he's not cool; and Sue, whose list of extra activities a mile long shows Ben that everyone has a place in high school, the trick is finding out where it is. Providing the backbone to the male characters, most the storylines (while viewed from the pov of the boys) provide the many the truths discovered in the show. This is how it really is boys and girls. Although many of the guys will contest that they are in charge of their lives, it really is the girls in their lives that help them discovers thing that they are too thick to understand themselves.

Despite of the shows depiction of taboo subject matter, the frank conversations, and the racy scenes, "Life as we Know It" never made it past the initial 13-episode order. It had the lineage of a thoroughbred, the praise of all the critics that viewed it, and a timeslot many shows would kill (or be killed because of), "Life as We Know It" never found a large following. A loyal cult following blew off the cookie-cutter "Dynasty/Beverly Hills 90210" remake ("The OC"), to fall in love with this unbelievably great show, only to be heartbroken when the show as pulled after 11 episodes.

Including the final 2 unaired episodes of the show (and hopefully the additional 6 scripts that were written, yet not produced) this DVD is the most complete set the fans will see. Even though it is too late for "Life as we Know It" to come back, hopefully this box set will show everyone what they missed out on.

"

The Best Show

T. Stewart | 06/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"LAEKI was the best show to hit the air. It was a show that families could watch together and enjoy. It is a shame that they took the show off the air, but it is wonderful news that the show is headed for DVD. If you purchase the show you will be glad that you did and enjoy it for years to come. For all the adults questioning ordering this for your children there is nothing wrong with it!!!!"

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