Warner Bros. | 1986 | 523 mins. | NR
After a five year layoff, the second season of Growing Pains finally arrives on DVD courtesy of Warner Home Video on April 26, 2011. One of the more popular sitcoms of the mid 1980’s and early ‘90’s, Growing Pains revolved around the Seaver family. Psychiatrist Dr. Jason Seaver (Alan Thicke) has decided to work out of a home office, because his wife, Maggie Malone (Joanna Kerns), has decided to resume her career as a reporter. In between patients, it’s Jason’s job to keep an eye on the kids. Mike (Kirk Cameron), a happy-go-lucky troublemaker, Carol (Tracey Gold) a brainy, honors student and rambunctious Ben (Jeremy Miller).
As a Junior-high and high school student during Growing Pains early years, I was a faithful viewer. Watching the series all these years later, it’s easy to see why it was such a hit and Kirk Cameron became the heartthrob of the moment. While the series is admittedly high on saccharine, Alan Thicke had a great sense of timing, Kirk brought energy to his character, and Tracey Gold maintained her huffiness without fail. The show was, and is great fun, never taking itself too seriously.
While Growing Pains occasionally took time out to teach a serious life lesson, more time was focused on small family issues. During season two’s twenty-two episodes, we watch as Maggie tries to bring Jason out of his funk by reuniting his old band—as any fan of the series knows, during the early years, producers seemed to let Alan Thicke sing a few lines whenever possible. And Mike? He’s constantly in trouble. When he’s not juggling two dates for the prom, he’s trying to figure out how to tell his parents he just got fired, after they bought him a car for being employee of the month.
Carol is usually very straight-laced. So it comes as a shock when she starts a rumor that her relationship with a jock involves a lot more than tutoring. While it’s easy for Mike to get dates, Carol finds her prospects for the winter dance to be slim pickings. On another occasion, believing she’s ugly, Carol wants to get a nose job. Jason and Maggie reluctantly agree, provided she raises the money herself. Then there’s mischievous little Ben. Has anyone else noticed he always seems to be eating something? While is on the periphery of most episodes, when he does take the stage, hilarity most often ensues. I think his best episodes this season are “Call Me,” “The Kid” and “My Brother, Myself”.
The 22-episodes presented on a 3-DVD set are as follows: “Jason And The Cruisers,” “Fast Times At Dewey High,” “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” “Call Me,” “Employee Of The Month,” “Dream Lover,” “Do You Believe In Magic?,” “Jason’s Rib,” The Kid,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Choices,” “Higher Education,” “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Thank You, Willie Nelson,” “Thank God It’s Friday,” “My Brother, Myself,” “Jimmy Durante Died For Your Sins,” “Carnival,” “The Awful Truth,” “Born Free,” “The Long Goodbye” and “Confidentially Yours.”
Presented in the 4:3 full screen aspect ratio of their original television broadcasts Season two looks little different than season one, owing to the fact that Growing Pains was shot on videotape almost a quarter of a century ago. The image has modest crispness in close-ups, but longer shots have the softness one associates with videotape productions from this era. Color reproduction is okay, but saturated hues can look somewhat smeared. Digital compression artifacts are noticeable, but not too problematic.
Audio is provided via a Dolby Digital monaural soundtrack. Dialogue driven, the sound quality is fine. The sound is undistorted and the fidelity is unremarkable. Dialogue is crisply rendered. No other language tracks are provided, but English and French subtitles have been included.
There are no special features provided.
