“Chuck” Delivers Laughs, Action

Chuck, The Complete First Season
Warner Bros. Television
Starring Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Adam Baldwin, and Joshua Gomez
556 minutes (13 episodes on four DVDs)
Release Date: September 09, 2008

If you ever go to see a taping of a sitcom at Warner Bros. in Burbank, Ca, you’re likely to see a row of Nerd Herd cars parked next to one of the massive soundstages on the lot. This is where many of the interior scenes of the new series Chuck are filmed. You’ve probably seen promos for the series and wondered, “What’s it all about?” Well, for starters Chuck is a hybrid series that mixes elements of comedy, action, and the spy-thriller genre that is engaging, entertaining, and fun.

Chuck (Zachary Levi ) works at Buy More at the Nerd Herd station (Best Buy and Geek Squad, anyone?). He’s a nerdy, socially awkward, gamer who has no skills with women, and even less ambition. That is, until he receives an email from a long-lost college buddy that results in government secrets being uploaded into his brain. Now, Chuck’s on a collision course with wackiness, mayhem, and danger, as the NSA and CIA both want what’s in his head; at any cost.

Sent to retrieve him is Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski), a sexy blonde CIA agent who slowly changes into a love interest/partner/protector during the course of the season. If you like hot blondes in tight clothes and underwear (and I do), you’ll like Sarah.

The series is full of great stunts and action sequences that are very good for a TV series. While there are plenty of car chases, gun fights, and hand-to-hand combat, most of the action surrounding Chuck is slapstick in nature. He is the hero, after all, so him getting hit in the nuts or in the head is more comedic than painful.

Created by Josh Schwartz (The O.C. and Gossip Girl), the show is quirky, fun, and at times satirical. It’s escapism to the nth degree, which makes the show worth watching. If you like comedy, if you like action, if you like sexy women or nerdy guys, Chuck is for you!

The DVD set includes several bonus features that include a featurette, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and photo galleries.

Chuck gets an A. It’s definitely a fun series.

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