Distributor:
Umbrella Ent Certificate: M | 2x360
minutes |
all region pal format Available to buy Extras: Yes Reviewer: Jason
ANYONE
IN IT WE KNOW?
Jeremy
Sims, Danielle Fairclough, Stephen Whittaker, Mercia Deane-Johns, Katherine Li
WHAT’S
IT ABOUT THEN?
Inside
the machinations of the Taylor family, an archetypal soap family for whom big
business, Nazi war fetishists,
Asian triad gangs and even
Vampires are just an everyday
part of life.
SO
IS IT ANY GOOD?
Despite
only being on the air for two years in the early 90’s Chances is a
very well remembered show, not necessarily for the right reasons though,
Chances is not just camp, it so far beyond that, like a cross between
Dark Shadows and Number 96 it lurks in the TV archives like the
proverbial black sheep of the family. Chances actually had a reasonable
pedigree when it started, Beyond International’s entry into the TV
market had begun as an attempt to revive the glory days of 96 and The
Box, their initial premise was to have followed a family who won $3
million on the lottery, however the shows early promise of a Sons and
Daughters-esque feuding family saga quickly descended into a barrage of
boobs, bums
and
some decidedly dodgy acting. These four discs spread over two volumes
(available to buy separately) are from the shows juiciest later episodes
when the show had slipped from two episodes a week to one late night
slot, however by now the producers had decided to embrace the badness
and play it outrageously, the plots here feature everything from
vampires to Asian triads to imaginary friends.
The early 90’s fashions and sets (which
surprisingly look incredibly dated) and the chance to spot prominent
Aussie’s in compromising positions such as Kate Langbroek (her nude
scene isn’t mentioned on her CV funnily enough) and Michael Caton (the
scene where he returns home to his apartment to be confronted by a
vampire is hilarious. These episodes are definitely not to be taken
seriously but they are a huge amount of fun
ANY
SPECIAL FEATURES?
No
extras as such but the liner notes from Andrew Mercado are fun as are
the original previews for each episode.
