Studio: Paramount Pictures Genre: Romantic •
Comedy •
Drama Street Date: December 9, 2008 Director: Alan Poul, Alex Zakrzewski, Bob Balaban, Daniel Minahan, Jamie Babbit Number of Discs: 4 MPAA Rating: Unrated Cast: • Molly Parker
• Lana Parrilla
• Miriam Shor
• Jack Davenport
• Grant Show
• Josh Hopkins Running Time: 547 minutes Format: DVD Specs: Video: Widescreen 1.78:1 Color
Audio: ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 Special Features: - The Spirit of '76: The Making of Swingtown
- Have a Nice Revolution: Sex & Morality in 1970's America
- Audio Commentaries
- Gag Reel
- Deleted Scenes Version: Standard Store Exclusives: Gold Medallion Soap On A Rope And Lube (kidding) Review: A Swing And A Hit
When I first heard about this show I had naturally assumed this would have to be on Showtime or HBO, you’d think a show about some swinging couples in the 70’s would have to be right? Not necessarily it seems. Oh sure it’s actually quite tame and you’d have to think if it was on cable it would steam up your TV but the formula here isn’t steamy it’s just good drama that happens to involve some experimental sex….basically there’s more shag carpets than shagging.
Now before you dismiss this due to lack of adult content let me tell you this show really works as it is and doesn’t need to be any dirtier than it is. The characters are really fun to watch as they take the road less traveled.
The 3-way of Swingtown: The Deckers are Swingers Supreme, they’ve been there, done that, and plan on doing it again. The Millers are normal upstanding citizens who quickly get caught up in the world of sexual musical chairs, and then you have the Thompsons who are as squeaky clean as you can get (pretty sure Janet Thompsons legs make music like a cricket when she walks). There you have the trinity of Swingtown, three perspectives of the sexual revolution which is why the formula works so well. The Millers are caught in the middle of trying to figure out the kind of life they want to have while being dragged in both directions.
While the show might sound a bit heavy or perhaps a bit too risqué for some but it’s not really either one of those things it’s just a good show that goes off the beaten path. Not sure the show will last though; I have to imagine the production is quite expensive with the sets, costumes, and most of all the insane amount of musical clearances. Lets hope if the network ends up passing on future seasons that it winds up over on cable somewhere.
While the show does give you moments to focus on the other parts of the Trinity it’s the Millers at the core and watching them navigate the new found stress and joy of their lifestyle is somehow more honestly told than most TV couples. They have to deal with so many curves of this new life while trying to cling to some sort of normalcy of the old and at times its sweet and other times it’s cringing to watch as they make mistakes.
Once you’ve watched a few episodes you’ll be ready to pack your bags and jump into the wayback machine…destination Swingtown circa 1976. Even if it doesn’t sound like your cup o joe give it shot…don’t be such a square.
Disc 1:
- Pilot
- Love Will Find A Way
- Double Exposure
- Cabin Fever
Disc 2:
- Go Your Own Way
- Friends With Benefits
- Heatwave
