Written by: Chuck at 1:35 am
Filed under: DVD Box Sets,Network,Television
Writer: Various
Director: Various
Cast: Bill Bellamy, Peter Facinelli, Tiffani Thiessen
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date:July 8, 2008
I like a television show that takes no brain cells to process what is happening. It’s what I like to call brain dead television. In movie form, this is often referred to as action movies. The rules are simple. All you need are some fast and happening cars, some hot (depending on how you see them) chicks, some guns, maybe some cops, and some violence. These shows usually qualify as cop dramas on television because it’s not an episode without someone getting shot at. It’s no wonder why I was chosen to write the Fastlane review. I was made for this.
I’ve been watching cop dramas since my daddy was forcing my mama to watch them while I was in the womb. In that time, I have seen some incredible shows and I have seen some duds. Fastlane lands somewhere in between. I imagine it will be quite popular with hormonal boys or virginal men, but I think the bright, flashiness of it all will also allow it to appeal to those with hyperactivity and attention issues, too.
Release Information:
It’s a shock that Fastlane made it for the 22 episode run that it did. It’s not that the show is horrendous, but considering each episode cost over $2 million to make it’s hard to imagine that it was worth shooting at all. The show ran from 2002-2003 before the ratings dropped and it was finally canceled. The cost had to do with the exotic cars, expensive soundtracks, and the guest appearances that were common on the show. Some of the guest stars include Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jake Busey, Fred Durst, Naomi Campbell, Tommy Lee, Biz Markie, Ali Landry, Mischa Barton, Jenny McCarthy, and Terrence Howard, and that’s not even half of them.
On July 8, 2008, Warner Home Video released the complete series of Fastlane in one six disc set. The set includes all episodes from the series, including the un-aired pilot and several special features. This should be available at most DVD retail stores, but if you can’t find it (or don’t want to leave home) you can pick it up at Amazon for $39.99.
The Fastlane: The Complete Series Plot
First off, let me say that I completely missed this when it was on television. I have heard that some of these episodes have been edited, but I cannot say whether or not that is true. As I review this, I am looking only at what is available, since I simply cannot compare it to the original show. If it was edited it could have had to do with the music, as the production only purchased the music for television purposes and not DVD. However, like I said, I didn’t see the show so I am not aware of the changes that may or may not have been made.
Fastlane is a cop drama, with three main characters and several smaller players. A series that is wild at heart and perhaps too big for its britches, Fastlane is at times entertaining, and at other times, utterly laughable. The series includes two undercover cops, Van (Peter Facinelli) and Deaq (Bill Bellamy). These two, missmatched cops are set to take down the heaviest of criminals. The two men are paired together by the shady, sex kitten, also known as lieutenant Billie Chambers (Tiffany Thiessen). Billie runs the base of operations, known simply as the Candy Store.
In this high stakes undercover cop drama, the LAPD has a secret division that keeps everything seized in criminal cases. To make things more interesting, they also use every single item that they take. This includes cars, cash, clothes, and whatever else they get their hands on. The Candy Store is the warehouse that houses all of these goodies. The officers have the distinction of having criminal covers so that they can play criminal and cop at the same time. Using all of the toys that are available make things easier for them, but things can become difficult when you’re playing for both teams.
Fans of Miami Vice will recognize similarities between the two series. While the shows are essentially different, the music and parts of the plot did hold a similar feeling to the former cop drama. The point of the show is its fun. There is something amusing about watching these cops go all out with exotic cars, bling, hot chicks, and big guns. It’s even more amusing knowing that even if these criminals get arrested, that it probably won’t last and they will be out playing the same game thanks to the methods used to catch the crook.
I think my biggest problem here was the casting. No, I know that was my biggest problem. I like Tiffany Thiessen, don’t get me wrong. It’s not that she isn’t the right type for the part, because she is. I think my main problem, and the one that I just couldn’t get past is that I’ve seen too many episodes of Saved by the Bell and Beverly Hills 90210. When you’ve seen someone play roles like this for so long then it’s hard to watch them play the hard, ass-kicking cop type. It’s kind of like when Jessie Spano (played by Elizabeth Berkley) ended up in Showgirls. It’s just a shock to the system.
There is enough girl/girl action, leather outfits, and fast cars to keep the ghetto fabulous crowd happy though and teenage boys will love this show. One might even say this could replace mom’s Sears catalogue, if you know what I mean.
The 22 episodes in this series include:
Disc 1:
- Pilot
- Girls Own Juice
- Gone Native
- Things Done Changed
Disc 2:
- Ryde Or Die
- Ray Ray
- Wet
- Mighty Blue
Disc 3:
- Get Your Mack On
- Dogtown
- Strap On
Disc 4:
- 101
- Defense
- Offense
- Popdukes
Disc 5:
- Slippery Slope
- Simone Says
- Monster
- Overkill
Disc 6:
- Asslane
- Dosed
- Iced
Storyline/Plot: 
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:
Audio/Visual:
The video quality here is basic, at best. Most television shows end up with the same video quality, which includes an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Things can get a little bright, so you older folks might get a headache, but otherwise, things look good. Nothing is out of the ordinary. There aren’t many compression issues and I did not notice much noise or dirt, though a series this young shouldn’t have these things, so that was to be expected.
The audio works equally as well in Dolby Digital Stereo. The sound was as dynamic as necessary, though there weren’t many perks in this area. I could hear it and I didn’t need to play with my volume like other DVDs sometimes make you do. However, with exception to shoot-outs, explosions, or musical moments, things were kind of stagnant.
Visual:
Audio:
Bonus Features:
The special features are available in full force. So, if you didn’t get enough eye-popping excitement you can attempt to keep things going with all of these special features. The set includes a couple of basic options, such as outtakes and bloopers, along with plenty of special featurettes.
One of the main featurettes is the previously unaired pilot with extended scenes. Other featurettes include “Hot Stuff: Inside the Candy Store – Evolution of a Series”, “Stunning Rides: Muscle Machines and Kit Cars”, “Smoking Stars: The Cast”, and “Sizzling Action: Stunts and Chases”. All in all, fans of the series will have plenty to sink their teeth into with these features.
Bonus Features:
Bottom Line:
Fastlane is what it is. If I came home at 3AM after hanging with the boys, this show would definitely hit the spot. The same could be said if I was 16-18 years old and my girlfriend wanted to wait until marriage. However, everyone else may not be as enthralled with this as this small group. That being said, if you want to watch this sugar-rushed show I would highly recommend renting it first.
Overall Rating:
Technorati Tags: Movie, DVD Review, Bill Bellamy, Peter Facinelli, Tiffani Thiessen , Complete Series, TV on DVD, Warner Home Video, Drama, Cops, Crime, Cars, Motorcycles, Chase Scene
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Written by Chuck - Visit Website
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I am a Southerner, proud and true. At 37 years old, I've learned enough of life's lessons to know that nothing is as it seems in the beginning. I live in South Carolina with my dog, Big Blue and my son, Hunter. I enjoy watching NASCAR, writing short stories, riding on my ATV, and a drinking a cold beer with friends in front of the television.
