The O.C. creator Josh Schwartz and director McG (We Are Marshall) are the creative talents behind Chuck, a humorous, high-concept action/adventure series about twentysomething spies. Zachary Levi stars as Chuck Bartowski, a nerdy computer tech who inadvertently…um…downloads a database of government secrets into his brain. Recruited for espionage work by NSA agent John Casey (Adam Baldwin), Chuck reluctantly agrees to lead a double life and is partnered with glamorous and capable Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski), who usually takes the lead when the going gets tough. Predictably, the two develop feelings for each other, a situation cleverly dealt with in the episode “Chuck Versus the Truth.” Another winner in this 13-epsiode 2007-08 first season is “Chuck Versus the Alma Mater,” in which Chuck returns to Stanford (the university from which he was expelled) to aid a former professor whose life is endangered by his possession of a top-secret file (this installment also introduces a story arc that eventually pits Chuck against a former student he thought was a friend). One of the biggest problems with Chuck is that the handsome Levi doesn't remotely look like a computer geek (tousling his hair and looking disheveled doesn't make him nerdy, just a little rumpled), so when Sarah begins falling for Chuck, viewers will say “it's about time,” not “now how did that happen?” Still, the personable actors, amusing scripts, and neatly executed action sequences make Chuck generally entertaining. DVD extras include deleted scenes, character mini-featurettes, cast interviews, a gag reel, and a playable demo of Madden NFL 09 for the Xbox 360. Recommended, overall. (E. Hulse)
Chuck: The Complete First Season
Warner, 4 discs, 556 min., not rated, DVD: $39.98 Volume 23, Issue 6
Chuck: The Complete First Season
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