Reno 911

Reno 911! - Miami (Unrated Edition)
$14.98
I must confess I have only a limited knowledge of the original show "Reno 911!" Actually, I have never seen it. Not a single episode. I knew the original TV series was Comedy Central's parody of "COPS" and that's all I knew before watching "Reno 911!: Miami." So read my review as such, written by a first-time viewer of the series.

What surprised me is that I enjoyed the film. The film is not perfect and its 84 minute running time is still too long, but I liked it. The story starts promisingly with the Reno Sheriff's Department officers and their mission to resolve a nuclear bomb situation (with a cameo from Danny DeVito, who is also a co-executive producer). The goofy scene is followed by another mission of them, which is even goofier - an emergency call to catch a runaway chicken on the road.

Then the entire officers are "invited" to the national police convention held in Miami Beach. After staying at the town's motel (shot in "Rear Window" style), they learn that because of the terrorist attack, the convention center is quarantined and everyone inside, including the police officers, cannot leave the facilities. This means the bumbling officers from Reno Sheriffs Department must respond the calls from the civilians and patrol the streets of the town.

As far as humor goes, the film is at its best in the earlier part. Though he appears only briefly (about three minutes, I think), Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as a SWAT agent is hilarious. As the film goes on, however, from somewhere around "the croc in the swimming pool" or "the beached whale" the jokes start to be repetitious. Paul Rudd is very funny as a "Cuban" drug lord (a "Scarface" parody), but the film's weak conclusion needs better material.

As a stand-alone comedy "Reno 911!: Miami" is largely forgettable, but is still good enough to get us interested in the original TV series, which I believe is much better

Reno 911 - The Complete Fifth Season
$39.98
I have seasons 1-4 so a long time passed before I decided to buy this one. I bought it and immediately remember why I loved this show! This season is so far my favorite one! Non stop laughs.

Reno 911! - The Complete Fourth Season (Uncensored)
$26.98
who wouldn't love Reno 911?? Anyone without a sense of humor, that's who... I laughed so hard, I nearly peed my pants!

Reno 911!: The Complete Sixth Season
$26.98
I was skeptical about this season when I found out Clemmy, Garcia, and Kimball were killed off. I thought Clemmy was hilarious as well as Garcia with his red hot temper (plus I think he's hot). I even liked Kimball, especially with her religious fundamentalism and the possible romance with cousin Travis Junior. Well, I was surprised how well I liked the new characters: Sgt. Jack Declan the tough, angry fat guy (although he has, according to the commentaries, since lost a lot of weight) and the exuberant New Yorker Dep. Frank Rizzo who is also really cute. They fit into the department right from the first episode. I also like the quasi romantic connection between Wiegel and Rizzo. I've just heard from the cyberspace grapevine that this is the last season so, unfortunately, that storyline won't be further developed. Reoccurring sketches include the Mexican radio station, high school metal detector, the white trash gal Carmen, senior abuse public service announcements, the mental hospital, the lonely ranger, the library, classroom presentations, the sexy car wash, the guy with the boat (I don't care for those skits), Cindy the ex-sex slave turned dispatcher, and Terry the roller skater. Other sketches are listed below along with what I consider highlights.

Disc 1:
1. Dangle mentions in passing a couple times that two deputies were blown up last season (what about the third?). Trudy introduces the "Suicide Prevention Webpage." Frank Rizzo gives some background on his well-traveled law enforcement career. Rizzo becomes Jones's partner and schools him on how to complete a drug bust. Williams and Dangle escort an employee from his workplace. Sgt. Declan visits his informant Terry. Highlight: the KKK winery.
2. Doll trouble. Air Overnight delivers "presents" from "Joe Public." Williams and Wiegel give makeovers at the high school metal detector. Dangle and Rizzo conduct surgery. Highlight: Patton Oswalt guest stars as a man confessing to a crime for a trip to Tailand which leads to a hilarious airplane scene. The commentary talks about the special effects and how much that doll costs.
3. The department holds their meetings at Capt. Crabby's Crab Shack because of the asbestos at the station (why would they be eating seafood so early in the morning?). A convicted murderer leads Dangle and Williams to a buried victim. The dept. keeps a blind man in the restaurant and pretend its a jail by yelling lines like a 1930s African American family. Highlight: Wiegel and Rizzo commandeer a tour bus. Rizzo tells the group he once had a 300 game at a bowling alley they passed. The commentary has Thomas Lennon and Niecy Nash talking about Raineesha's booty.
4. One of my favorite episodes. Dangle hosts a murder mystery dinner. Among the guests are Dangle's ex-wife, her other ex-husband and current fiancee (played by "Kids in the Hall" comedian Scott Thompson). She obviously likes guys a little on the peculiar side. Williams plays a mammy and Trudy is supposed to be the victim--things do not work out that way, however.
5. Conclusion of the murder mystery where all sorts of gossip comes out about the guests. Highlight: Terry is accused of trying on fruit at the produce section of the Piggly Wiggly.
6. A team from the Vatican comes to Reno to determine if the city is worthy of a visit by the pope and the department does whatever it can to discourage the visit.
7. Old videos showing the department back in the day is shown. Highlight: Trudy sings a song about blocking bad words on the library search engine (brought tears to my eyes), Jones running out of a meth lab screaming when he is shot at.

Disc 2:
8. Rizzo harasses a soccer coach to get his kid more playing time. Junior and Dangle help Mayor Hernandez with a scandal involving a hooker and a drive through. Commentary by Ian Roberts and Joe Lo Truglio.
9. Rizzo and Wiegel are trapped in a moving motor home and love is in the air. Highlights: Mario the cute little witness protection dog. Trudy talking at the end of the episode about what went on in the trailer. That brought tears to my eyes. Commentary by Joe Lo Truglio and Kerry Kenny-Silver.
10. Dangle's 10-year tribute to the death of Princess Diana is ready for showtime, much to the chagrin of the department. Wiegel's video will is shown. Highlight: Jesus Christ Superstar party.
11. The department hires Levon French of the popular Linoleum City commercials to film a recruitment video. The commentary reveals a real life run-in with the Sparks police.
12. Sgt. Declan passes his anger management course, though you wouldn't know it. Williams and Wiegel try to clean up gang graffiti and get shot at. Junior and Declan are after unlicensed merchandise of Nickelodeon characters. Rizzo helps a family whose brakes have failed. Commentary: Robert Ben Garant and Ian Roberts talk about eating scenes and other things.
13. The department fires the ashes of Garcia out of a cannon. Jones and Wiegel try to bust a swinger party--Jones's outfit is outrageous. Commentary: Cedric Yarbrough and Niecy Nash talk about Cedric losing weight and other things, including what Raineesha should do to Junior next season--so they must have thought there would be a season 7.
14. Three strangers wind up in the department and the crew tries to figure out who they are. Secret Santa is debated.
15. Wiegel gets Williams to pretend they are a couple so she can use more of her psychotherapy benefits. Dangle pulls out his gun at Burger Cousin. Highlights: Dangle and Jonesy's mommies and daddies song at the school, Junior explaining why every sport except soccer is on the chopping block at John McCain High School.