DVD Review: ‘American Dad’ Volume Four is Detestably Irreverant & Hilarious

When it comes to breaking the Moral Compass on what’s PC with the FCC, no one does it better than “Family Guy” creators Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman. The creative trio’s guns blazing latest animated family satire, “American Dad,” one again breaks all the rules of TV humor.

The James Bond spoofed series stars father figure Stan Smith, a conservative CIA agent who loves his family and government above all else. The series follows the exploits of Stan, his beloved wife Francine, their outspoken daughter Hayley, socially awkward son Steve, Klaus the German goldfish, and the family’s Alf - an alcoholic master-of-disguise extraterrestrial live-in named Roger.

“American Dad” Volume Four features 14 episodes from seasons three and four. Volume Four kicks off with an origin of Stan’s family. You’ll see how Stan and his beloved wife Francine met, as well as how the couple first met Roger. Each episode is marvelously irreverent and will have you wanting to say the things you know you shouldn’t – because that’s what “American Dad” does every second. From “heaven gun” fights in the afterlife to jokes against Jim Henson’s Muppets, MacFarlane, Barker and Weitzman threaten the world of pop-culture with their detestably irreverent laugh-out-loud raunchiness. Each moment will make you exclaim “WTF,” followed by “I can’t believe he said that,” as you try your best to hold in your laughter.

“American Dad” follows suit with the pop-culture humor of “Family Guy,” without the cut scenes. Even though you may not get the pop-culture reference “American Dad” is mocking you’ll still laugh as each line hits you with a joke you just weren’t expecting. You’ll see the drunken alien Roger hold chicken fights Michael Vic style, while Kermit and Jim Henson are banished to the Phantom Zone as Superman is compared to God. It’s all twistedly-wrong humor, as the “dark side of the force” in you loves every hilarious minute of it.

The DVD is packed with special features: tons of deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes production interviews with the creative team of “Tearjerker: And Then They Will Cry” and “Roger: Master of Disguise.” The most notable special feature is the “Comic Con 2008.” The “American Dad” panel was by far one of the coolest Comic Con Panels of San Diego Con 08. You’ll get to see all the voice actors read through the first act of one of the episodes as if were a table read. The panel then presents the second act as a black and white animatic, followed by the third act in full color. My only wish is that the Play All feature skipped the full credits and intro sequence between episodes.

“American Dad” is a must watch for anyone who is open to laughing at everything wrong in society. MacFarlane, Barker and Weitzman have created another winner that will hopefully see live on for several more seasons.

Special Features:
- Deleted Scenes
- Tearjerker: And Then They Will Cry with Production Team – see the origin of Klaus
- Roger: Master of Disguise
- Comic Con 2008

Episodes Include:
Tearjerker
Oedipal Panties
Widowmaker
Red October Sky
Office Spaceman
Stanny Slickers
Spring Break-Up
1600 Candles
The One That Got Away
One Little Word
Choosy Wives Choose Smith
Escape From Pearl Bailey
Pulling Double Booty
The Most Adequate Christmas Ever