Customer Reviews

Californication - The First Season

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

It took me a few episodes to warm up to "Californication." At first I wasn't quite sure what the show was trying to be...maybe "Sex and the City" for men? But it's actually much more than that. The show revolves around Hank Moody (David Duchovny), an author who's been in a bit of a writer's slump ever since his last novel was published seven years ago. Hank longs to return to his hometown of New York City, but remains in California because his former lover, Karen (Natascha McElhone), lives there, along with their teenage daughter, Becca (Madeleine Martin). Hank is still very much in love with Karen, and it's pretty obvious that she still loves him, too. Unfortunately, Karen's engaged to stuffy Bill (Damian Young), and Hank unwittingly has sex with Bill's 16-year-old daughter, Mia (Madeline Zima), who eventually ends up blackmailing Hank and trying to take credit for his latest manuscript. What a mess!

"Californication" also boasts a strong supporting cast. Evan Handler plays Hank's best friend and agent, Charlie. Poor Charlie and his wife, Marcy (Pamela Adlon), experience some problems in the bedroom that lead to both of them cheating on each other with Charlie's hot young assistant, Danni (Rachel Miner). Handler and Adlon are amazingly funny on screen, and they play off each other very well: They're the funniest television couple since Lucy and Ricky Ricardo!

By far, the best thing about this show is its sense of humor. There are some incredibly funny scenes in "Californication" that definitely are among the most hilarious moments in TV history, and that's saying a lot. From Hank throwing up on Bill's priceless painting to the office dominatrix scenes to the three-way/orgy culmination, there are plenty of great scenes to go around. I don't remember the last time a TV show made me laugh so hard.

The first four or five episodes of the show were a little bumpy, but then "Californication" evolved into a great program about love, relationships, and self-discovery. The entire cast is brilliant, and most of the episodes are incredibly touching. I especially loved the last scene of the final episode, which came as a complete surprise and resulted in a very happy ending, at least for now.

Overall, "Californication" is a surprising success. I can't wait for the second season.

Not since MILLENNIUM and HOUSE, MD has a new television series caught my attention and held on each and every week. This show is smart, sassy, sexy, serious, funny, sometimes sad, and above all REALISTIC! The characters work perfectly off one another. I never watched David Duchovny in X-Files so I wasn't sure what to expect. He is TOP NOTCH fantastic in this show. He has the character of Hank Moody down to a "T" from voice inflections, sarcasm and facial expression, you always know where his character is coming from. The entire show orbits Hank's daily life. Begin with his love and affection for his ex, Karen, and their young pre-teen daughter, Becca, and end with his utter loathing of the literary world of which he is a part, and you will find a man who is struggling daily to look himself in the mirror and try liking what he sees. He drinks too much, parties too hard, and has sex with women whose names he doesn't even care to know. We all have known people like Hank, therefore, he is very real to nearly every adult watching this show. I especially get a kick out of the way his agent, played with precision by Sex and the City's Evan Handler, is fumbling through a kinky fling with his twenty something secretary while his ever suffering, sex-starved wife is begging for "nooners". The show is definitely for an adult audience, and though it can offend some and be quite irreverant most of the time, it is so well written and such fun that it almost doesn't matter. Add to all this some edgy musical tracks from greats like The Rolling Stones and The Foo Fighters, and you have a divine adult drama/comedy series. I'm thrilled with this release of Season One on DVD and keep my fingers crossed that Californication returns for Season Two, Three, and so on. Watch it once, you'll be hooked.

David Duchovny is hilarious as Hank Moody, a vice-addled writer struggling to balance his roller-coaster career, lingering feelings for his ex-girlfriend Karen, and fatherhood to his precocious daughter, Becca. Oh, and more sex than he knows what to do with.

Californication isn't for everyone. It's often crass, almost every adult on the show is amoral to some degree, and there's copious amounts of sex, drugs and alcohol to go around. But it's also brilliantly funny, expertly acted and filled with a ton of heart. And as the lead, Duchovny easily slips out of Fox Mulder's skin and into Hank Moody's without missing a beat.

I absolutely love this show, and can't wait for season two to begin. I recommend it for anyone looking for a thoroughly enjoyable show that'll keep you entertained from start to finish.

Californication is a wild, funny, and an enteraining show about Hank Moody a washed-up writer from NY who moved to LA to make it big. It didn't work out that well and as a result he cannot write!

Hank drinks and womanizes while trying to win back his ex while raising his 12-year-old daughter. He is also being blackmailed from the ex's boyfriend's daughter.

WARNING: There is a lot of fornication is almost every episode and a lot of swearing that probably isn't necessary. You can make a great show without showing every sex scene and saying the F word in every other sentence in which it gets annoying after a while but don't let that stop you from checking out this show.

To Duchovny fans you will see the softer side in Hank's character as he has shown in The X-files and Return to Me in which makes him attractive.

The relationship with his daughter and his ex that is sweet. There is a connection there that no one can describe unless you have had experienced both. This is what keeps me tuning into this show. I will definitely check out the season 2 when it comes out on DVD!

I had a hard time getting past some of the content. Let me preface this that I enjoy shows such as Dexter, It's always sunny...so on. I'm not a prude or afraid of blood, profanity, some sexual imagery or by any means uptight. However this show started off by pushing it on me a few too many times.

First lets start with the good points, which this definitely has!

It's been awhile since X-Files theme song has rang in my head(my father loved that show).The show has some witty dialogue, genuinely I find David Duchovny very interesting and quirky. He has a lot of fun energy in this and really makes his character have his own spirit.

Supporting characters seemed interesting, if not for the daughter maybe a little stale. His chemistry between him and his wife was interesting and fun to watch their ups and downs. His daughter I found a kind of off putting, and didn't really think that the relationship there was as dynamic.

To the point of why I really didn't get the same enjoyment others are. I've got no problem with sexual occurrences or nudity. That's not why I was frustrated watching. It's the amount of times I felt like it was just slapped there to be there. I realize the character is suppose to be a kind of self-loathing womanizer and he's in a rut. I get it, I just didn't feel like I needed to see him having sex every time he met a semi attractive woman.

I like movies/tv with violence, good plot, stupid plot hell unrealistic plot. I can stand some nudity, sex and drugs...whatever. I just felt like there was a lot in this that did it just to do it. I know a lot of people may like that. My wife certainly didn't have as high a view of this as I did. I just wish there was a little less in the showing of that, just for the opportunity to better immerse myself in this guys story.

For those who may argue that the sex and what not is part of his story, that may be so. I just wanted to see less of, regardless of whether their good looking or not. I wanted more plot.

Thanks and I know I'm going to get trolled hard. But please take into account my reasoning. I gave a 3/5 for what could have been an excellent show for me to watch, but just wasn't right for me.

Californication is my favorite series, hands down. I've never felt so invested in a show before. Hank is one of the most likable characters out there, and the rest of the cast is phenomenal as well; everyone greatly contributes to the show's spark. It gets funny, it gets sad, it gets ridiculous and outrageous in the best way possible.

David Duchovny is now one of my favorite actors out there, simply due to the way he delivers his lines, as well as his mannerisms. In general, the writing is snappy, intelligent, raunchy, harsh, and true.

If anything, at least watch Season 1, and you'll see why the show's so great. Each episode is only around 30 minutes long, so it's not difficult to get through the entire season pretty quickly.

Amazing soundtrack, too.

If you to become invested in the show, I believe Season 4 begins January 9th, 2011 on Showtime, so you'll have until then to get caught up!

Occasionally, you will find a season of television that, from the first to the last, is a complete knockout each and every episode. Californication Season One fits this description. Hank Moody is a GREAT character, and rarely do you root so hard for a womanizing alcoholic. You can tell he truly loves the mother of his child, and unlike more patronizing television, just because love is there doesn't mean it is going to work. David Duchovny is hilarious, and I was also surprised by Madeleine Martin as his daughter, Becca. It is only 12 quick 30 minute episodes, but what is developed within that time is nothing short of fantastic.

I love this show! I actually rented the season and thought it was so funny that I bought this for my brother who is in Iraq. This DVD has been passed around for months at his base because everyone thinks it is hilarious. One of the best show on right now.

Shipping from Amazon was lightening fast. DVD's arrived in great shape. Fun to watch again. It's nice to be able to backtrack and see pieces of this great program at my own pace. It's also nice to be able to once again listen and even jot down "Hanks" cutting quips, just so I can use them if the need ever arises. This show is very quirky and fun. It's definately for adults only but that's what I like about it. The writing is great and the stories are fabulous. David Duchovny is perfect for this part; as I understand it he's living it in real life.
Smell ya later........

I can't believe anyone would give this show anything lower than 4 stars. DD has some of the best one liners ever written and his character is one of the most refreshing on TV. Women want him and men want to be him. Please watch this show!!!