America: The Story of Us

Any attempt to tell the story of America from the 1607 settlement of Jamestown to the election of Barack Obama in a 12-hour television series is bound to come up short, which is the case with this ambitious History Channel effort (the roughly 150 years between the Pilgrims and the start of the American Revolution are all but ignored). Despite closing with an episode on Vietnam, Watergate, and 9/11, America: The Story of Us offers a resolutely feel-good portrait, emphasizing Americans' can-do spirit, even during the darkest hours. So, for example, much of the program dealing with the Great Depression is devoted to the carving of Mount Rushmore, while a prominent discussion of slavery is set within the context of progress towards racial equality. Narrated by Liev Schreiber, the series serves up a combination of archival footage, dramatic re-creations, CGI animation, and comments from a wide range of interviewees. Observations by academics (Henry Louis Gates Jr., among others) are generally enlightening, but those from assorted celebrities—including actors (Michael Douglas, Meryl Streep), singers (Sean Combs, Tony Bennett), newscasters (Tom Brokaw, Brian Williams), and political figures (Colin Powell, Newt Gingrich, Al Sharpton)—fall mostly in the category of patriotic platitudes. And the scripts concentrate on action as opposed to ideas; the segment on the Revolution, for instance, spends far less time on the Continental Congress than on military campaigns. Ultimately, this is history told without nuance or sophistication, albeit with a fast pace and positive attitude that will appeal to many. DVD extras include deleted scenes. A strong optional purchase. Aud: J, H, P. (F. Swietek)