Community: The Complete First Season - Region 1 DVD

But the secret pleasure of Community is its sneaky commentary on sitcom mechanics, from the whole concept of an alternate family to the manipulative nature of will-they-won't-they sexual tension to any number of subtle but affectionate digs. The show's pop-culture awareness extends even further in two of the best episodes, one that turns a craving for chicken fingers into a GoodFellas-esque Mafia tale and another about a paintball competition that escalates into a quasi-apocalyptic action thriller. Also, Community: The Complete First Season is packed with delicious extras--in addition to cheerful and entertaining commentaries (which demonstrate how much the cast enjoys working together) and the usual outtakes of the cast breaking character, there are excellent mini-episodes, mock cast interviews, and some very creative use of sound effects. Fans of Arrested Development will enjoy the rich, layered humor and fans of How I Met Your Mother will take similar pleasure in the clever stories, but Community should appeal to anyone seeking smart, high-energy comedy. --Bret Fetzer