What is it? The Unauthorized Collection, four 90-minute movies on two discs from Lionsgate
When? Now
How much? $14.98
Unauthorized? Sounds scandalous! Well, yes, it sounds that way. But don't get your hopes up.
In 2014, Lifetime network decided to make a behind-the-scenes movie about that 1980s-90s Saturday morning classic, Saved by the Bell. They then followed it up with three other shows from roughly the same era. Now, all four movies are in one package so viewers can delight in watching these gems over and over.
Or not.
They all follow a pattern: Take a beloved series from the 1980s and '90s and follow it from its inception. But rather than being the dirt-digging, scandal-wallowing gossip fests you might expect, the stories they tell are actually pretty tame.
• Saved by the Bell: The teen phenomenon changed the face of Saturday morning TV and this series tells the behind-the-scenes story from Dustin Diamond's perspective (Diamond played Screech in the series and wrote a tell-all book). But any real scandalous behavior that may have actually happened isn't covered here. It's all pretty clean. Which leads us to ...
• Full House: The hit family series was an anchor for ABC's TGIF lineup, a squeaky clean, very sappy series about a widower and the best friend and brother-in-law who moved in to help him bring up his three daughters. It's still remembered today for unleashing the Olsen twins on the world so, naturally, the series spends some time on that. Otherwise, there's not a lot of dirt to dish when the cast got along well and still does today.
• Beverly Hills, 90210: This is where things get interesting. There was a lot of drama behind the scenes of this teen-centric hit: romantic flings, swollen egos, actual physical confrontations. This movie only covers the first five years (also known as the Brenda years). Apparently once trouble-maker Shannen Doherty left, there wasn't anything else worth telling. Of course, fans of the series probably already know all about what went on so this isn't exactly earth-shattering stuff.
• Melrose Place: Less drama off the screen, more drama on it. Turns out, the cast got along just fine, with no cat fights or backstabbing. But there was all that craziness on screen like secret wigs, bombs and evil schemers. The movie only follows the show through Season 3's "explosive" finale.
How are they? Varying degrees of bad. The movies take a gentler approach to any scandal so they all come across as toothless, silly and ultimately pointless. It should be noted that some cast members have spoken out and said the movies aren't even that accurate.
Anyone genuinely interested in what was really going on between takes on these shows shouldn't bother.
Anyone looking for something to hate-watch and make fun of will have a field day.
What about the actors? Do they look like the people they're portraying? Some do. Abbie Cobb as 90210's Jennie Garth is downright eerie.
As for sets, costumes, actual scenes from the shows in question, apparently copyright laws kept them from being even remotely close in some situations.
Extras? Not this time.
New this week: Doctor Who, Season 1 (Blu-ray); The Hollow Crown, Wars of the Roses; How to Get Away With Murder, Season 2; Janet King, Season 1; Power Rangers Ninja Storm, complete series; Wallander, Season 4; Workaholics, Season 6.
Next week: DCI Banks, Season 4; Two Guys and a Girl, complete series; Vera, Season 6.
Style on 06/19/2016