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| Available August 12, 2008 |
Kenny Vs. Spenny is a sort-of reality show that started airing on Comedy Central back last year sometime. I didn't catch it then as the commercials didn't make it look all too appealing, but then I learned that it actually had several seasons prior to joining Comedy Central, so now it's just been released on DVD I decided to check it out. For those who missed the commercials, the show is about these two best friends, Kenny and Spenny, who have a competition each episode about some thing or another, and usually it's something weird and/or gross. For instance, the competition on the first episode on this DVD release was whoever gets an erection first loses. Wow. So the whole episode I get to see close up crotch shots of these two out-of-shape dudes wearing all too revealing thong underwear. Not really my idea of a good time. And the second episode? Oh, well that contest was just to see who could blow the biggest fart.
Thankfully, some of the episodes get a better after that, with competitions like who can make the best viral video, who can commit the most crime, and who can withstand the most torture. And I totally loved Kenny's devious plan in the competition on who could be tied to a goat the longest. That was just genius. But really, the comedy here is supposed to come not just from the competition, but also from the relationship and interaction between these two best friends. With Kenny being a total gross-out guy in the typical frat-boy style and Spenny being the typical straight man who takes everything seriously, one would expect humor to practically spew forth with little effort... and yet, I only found myself laughing some of time, and other times just shaking my head. The personality clash felt less like The Odd Couple and much more like Kenny just being a total jerk to Spenny and Spenny getting all angry about it. Even after watching all these episodes, it's hard to imagine these guys as friends, much less best friends.
Anyway, so each episode starts out with Kenny and Spenny on their couch explaining to the camera what the competition is for this week. Once that's out of the way, each guy has their own personal camera crew follow them around showing their various attempts at winning the competition. Usually both guys have some good ideas during the course of the competition on how to either win or make the other guy lose. As an example I once again refer to the goat episode where Kenny uses a little remote control truck to freak out Spenny's goat. And I won't even mention his brilliant end-game in that episode. Those parts I like. But they are sporadically peppered throughout the episodes, and there's not quite enough of them. Remember, after all, that we also get the nasty and un-funny shots such as close up shots of goats peeing and defecating, and Kenny vomiting, farting, and peeing. Oh, and don't even get me started on how annoying the First Guy To Stop Singing Loses competition was.
As with most any show, there are good parts and not so good parts. This one is crude, it's gross, disgusting, contains foul language, and personal silly competitions that only goofballs could think up. Usually, I'm all for that stuff, but unfortunately it just didn't work all that well for me here. I had a few laughs per episode, and some episodes were definitely funnier than others, but I would expect more. This just isn't enough for me, as when I watch comedy, I want to constantly be amused, not just on occasion. So I can't really give this a glowing recommendation. But it is unique, and has some funny and interesting moments, so I wouldn't say to stay away. If you have the chance to check out an episode or two, go ahead and do so, but don't drop a lot of bones on the complete season until you know for sure that this is your cup of tea.
Disc 1
Disc 2
Extras include full versions of the viral vides that the pair made, and some commentaries, which are actually pretty interesting.
