Product Details

• Actors: Toni Collette, John Corbett
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Dubbed: Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Showtime / Paramount
• DVD Release Date: December 29, 2009
• Run Time: 332 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (87 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001G0MFQU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,676 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The USA cable network's marketing slogan "Characters Welcome" would be a good fit for The United States of Tara. This off-center Showtime series has a slew of them--prim and proper suburban housewife Alice, beer-swilling hell-raiser Buck (a male), and hard-partying teen T. All of them are portrayed by Toni Collette, who deservedly won an Emmy for her astonishing performance(s) as Tara, a wife and mother struggling with dissociative identity disorder. The first episode establishes the series' high concept, but the show quickly finds its groove as it explores the turmoil of Tara's life and the effect DID has on her marriage and family: her exceedingly patient and supportive husband Max (John Corbett), who has to fight off Tara's more sexually aggressive "alters"; her sensitive son Marshall (Keir Gilchrist); rebellious teenage daughter Kate (Brie Larson); and resentful sister Charmaine (Rosemarie DeWitt, Rachel's Getting Married). As the series begins, Tara has stopped taking her meds, which opens the doors for her other personalities to reveal themselves, usually at stressful or inappropriate times. In the first episode, Tara/Buck beats up Kate's physically abusive boyfriend. In another, she appears at a parent-teacher conference as Alice. This first season establishes Tara's uniquely dysfunctional family dynamic ("It doesn't have to be weird," Tara offers at one point as she is debriefed about one of her alter's latest shenanigans) and is propelled by the mystery of what traumatic incident caused Tara to crack. Diablo Cody, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Juno, created and cowrote the series, and for the most part she cools it with the distracting Cody-speak (at one point there is a gratuitous reference to the obscure syndicated series Small World). This series power-jams it with a superb ensemble cast, including Valerie Mahaffrey (Eve on Northern Exposure) as Tara's overwhelmed therapist, Patton Oswalt as Charmain's sometime lover, Nathan Corddry as Kate's too-attentive boss, and Pamela Reed and Fred Ward as Tara's parents. The United States of Tara is an unconventional family dramedy and a sly look at gender roles ("Over the course of a day, how many different women do we have to be?," a well-meaning new friend asks Tara at one point). And Collette is a marvel to watch. We pledge our allegiance. --Donald Liebenson

Stills from United States of Tara: Season One (Click for larger image)

Product Description

Tara Gregson is a wife and mother with dissociative identity disorder (DID). After deciding to take a break from her medication to discover the real cause of her disorder, her alternate personalties re-emerge: wild and flirty teenager T; old-fashioned housewife Alice; and male, loud, beer-drinking Vietnam vet Buck. Tara is supported by her calm and level-headed husband Max, her somewhat troubled teenage daughter Kate and quirky, good-hearted gay son Marshall. Her sister, Charmaine, is not so supportive, often expressing her doubt about the validity of Tara's disorder. The show is set in Overland Park, Kansas.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 102 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkably accurate, but not typical March 9, 2009

By Paul F. Dell

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have worked with DID patients for over 20 years and have conducted much research on DID and dissociation. I approached this television show with trepidation because DID has so often been distorted and sensationalized by previous films and television programs. To my very pleasant surprise,the United States of Tara has presented a remarkably accurate portrayal of an admittedly uncommon presentation of DID (i.e., highly visible and public displays of switching from alter to alter). In contrast, the alter personalities of most persons with DID are quite hidden; the alters intentionally avoid public exposure. That said, the creaters and writers of the United States of Tara sought extensive consultation from experts on DID and have done an excellent job of presenting the symptoms, psychological issues, family interactions, and the difficulties in the therapy of persons with DID. Similarly, the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, which has provided professional commentary on each episode of the program [...], has consistently found the United States of Tara to be surprisingly accurate (within the limits of a darkly comedic show whose purpose is, of course, to entertain).

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing like this! February 27, 2009

By Holly K. Lee VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

This is the most original show I have seen in a long time. It is an amazing look at what life with a person suffering from multiple personalities could be like. At the same time, a lot of the issues dealt with this in this show every family deals with. It shows the struggle a family faces in defining themselves as a family as well as individuals. A classic in the making. Set your TIVO!

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great show, Toni Collette is a STAR April 5, 2009

By Spaceball

Format:DVD

What a brilliant TV show, with some great acting from not only Toni Collette but also the other cast members.
There are some people (the minority) that will be offended by the show, quoting it as unresearched or unrealistic. But what is pretty clear (and what they may like to remember) is that the writers have created a dark comedic undertone in which the actors portray very well.
Well done to the producers and all involved for taking quite a few risks and pushing boundaries, I'm sick of "safe" TV.
GREAT!!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved the show, DVD set is OK but misprinted & sparse December 26, 2009

By Steve Kuehl VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

I have had customers asking for this set since June so I was more than happy to finally get it in this week. I cranked through the episodes in a few days and loved everything Toni Collette has made on screen here. Her performance was amazing and in the end, carries the set.

The set is spanned over two discs with the both the PC and DVD supplements placed on disc 2, including:

* Sitting Down with Diablo Cody, 2:30 minutes. An ambush style interview that had some candid and funny moments but was way too short.
* Tara's Alters, 4 clips totaling 7 minutes. Each alter is briefly described by Collette or Corbett with Buck and Alice getting the longer cuts. T and Gimme only get a brief minute.
* Tudors episode 301. That set is already available so I guess they are trying hard to push this series.
* Sweepstakes entry, 3 minutes. A ad promo clip for travel to Collette's "home town" of Sydney. Have to admit I enjoyed seeing the luxury options available to one traveling in an Airbus 380.
* Photo gallery. Some decent pics of on-set stuff, lasts a couple minutes.
* Bios. Textual bios of the main cast and minds behind the show.

PC extras: The disc loads a menu which forwards you to a website for the remaining extras.

* Contrary to what the artwork and ads tell you the first two episodes of Season 3 Californication are here - not Season 2.
* Podcast Interview with Collette, 2 minutes. Covers some more of her take on the series and characters. The other three interviews promised are not available.
* On the set - not available.
* Tudors Season 3, first two episodes.
* "More" - could not find anything different.

Overall, I think one would be buying this for watching the series only as the extras are short.... The sound is selectable between 2.0 and 5.1 for the episodes, region coded 1, 2 discs in thin cases with episode descriptions in each. Solid acting and writing recommendation. Enjoy. Read more ›

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars BETTER THAN I EXPECTED April 8, 2009

By The Brock Lesnar of Reviewing - The Most Hated

Format:DVD

I wasnt to sure at first about this, but then I found out that Steven speilberg was doing it so I gave it a chance. Im sure glad I did give it a chance because it was a pretty damn good show about a woman that has split personalities and how it affects her family (Husband, Son, Daughter and Sister). Very funny but sometimes sad, I was not dissapointed with it until the season finale which I thought was kinda weak, well besides that each episode is only 30 minutes long, I thought they could at least of did hour long episodes, (same thing with WEEDS). This is a great new show for Showtime to add to their already awesome line up of original shows and am kinda disappointed that the next season wont be ready till 2010 ( Unless that was a error of some kind, I hope). Definetly something you should check out if you got a day with nothing to do, trust me you wont be sorry.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing and Captivating... March 4, 2010

By M. Search

Amazon Verified Purchase

The whole family represents an amazing feat of casting - all are terrific in their roles. Toni Colette is an incredible actor. I promise, once you start watching you will want to watch them all back to back....

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fall Down Laughing January 26, 2010

By Zachary M. Trubey

If you have not had the chance to catch this series...DO IT! The actress playing the main character is extremely talented and makes this a very hilarious yet believable series. Bravo!