Dog the Bounty Hunter: This Family Means Business is a six episode DVD special release. The series chronicles the Chapman family as they chase down fugitives in scenic Hawaii. The show has been on A&E for seven years now and has become a flagship series for the network. The show introduces a fugitive, investigates the fugitive, and catches the fugitive. The show has a strict formula that it adheres to and rarely differs from. This particular special release arrives to celebrate the show crossing the two hundred episode threshold.
I will say that I was never a huge fan of this series. However, I find Dog Chapman to be a compelling figure. His family is very interesting with their outfits and colorful language. Dog wears his hair long (mullet) and his clothing is usually always trailer park chic. However, much like his tan, his schtick never fades. Dog recently went through some legal trouble which I found problematic as he continues to preach to fugitives the importance of being law abiding. However, the success of the show is undeniable. There is no series that runs for seven seasons that does not have a rabid fan base.
This particular specialty release does not offer much more than a regular season boxset would. I only wonder why they wouldn’t just add the 200th episode special feature to the season boxset and be done with it. However, if you are fan of this series, this will provide a nice appetizer until the season is released.
Video
The series is presented in 1.33:1 full screen ratio. All things considered, the image looks good. This series spends the majority of its time following the “high speed” Chapman family which means a ton of quick cuts. The editing compromises the image quality, but, I feel the rawness adds creditability to the chase scenes. The image is as good as it is going to get.
Audio
The Dolby Surround 2.0 is an average mix. The dialogue is clear, which means the multitude of bleeps will echo through your house. Each episode offers has a featured song from different artists which are shoe horned into a chase scene. A pretty mediocre mix but serviceable nonetheless.
Special Features
Dog the Bounty Hunter… Best of: A full episode retrospective chronicling the best of the last 200 episodes. It is essentially a candid discussion of the family’s favorite busts.
Final Thoughts
A curious release considering the full season offers the exact same episodes. However, fans will appreciate the candid discussion and bonus episode. If you are a Dog enthusiast you won’t be disappointed.
