“Daggy fun, but still fun – just don’t look too hard for any intrigue or suspense” – Clint Morris

Dean Cain, Teri Hatcher, John Shea, Lane Smith, K Callan, Michael Landes, Tracy Scoggins

It’s more camp than comic, more hammy than hero, and more silly than stimulating, but it’s still “Superman”, and for all intents and purposes, remains reasonably loyal to the inked offering it’s based upon.

If “Smallville” is a teen-drama then “Lois and Clark” was an adult-romantic comedy, sprinkled with the occasional garnish of action and adventure. More concerned with the fiery chemistry of it’s leads than the ‘villain of the week’ – which the WB’s “Smallville” is known for – the light and fluffy television series never snagged the audience that read the comics, but still snagged an audience: Even if they were sixteen-year-old girls with a penchant for muscular guys in tights.

Six years after “Superman IV: The Quest for Peace” unspooled in theatres, The Man of Steel returned to the big screen in “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”. Dean Cain plays mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent who – nothing you don’t already know – arrives in Metropolis, snags a job with the local Newspaper and butts heads with feisty fellow reporter, Lois Lane (Teri Hatcher). When he’s not at work – well, sometimes he’s at work when he goes the pants drop – he changes into “Superman”, the outfitted hero of the city. Of course, Lois can’t tell it’s Clark because he’s got his glasses off.

Over four consecutive seasons, Lois and Clark chase villains, take on recurring nasty Lex Luther (John Shea), and ultimately, fall in love.

“Lois and Clark” is an effervescent, exuberant series. Hatcher and Cain make an effective, and indubitably handsome duo – with Cain looking a snug fit in the blue and red outfit. In the ever-so-important support roles, Lane Smith, Michael Landes (later replaced by Justin Whalin) and John Shea are right at home in the roles of Perry White, Jimmy Olsen and the villainous Lex Luthor, respectively. If only Luthor had been bald, as he was in the comics, and now on “Smallville”, would it have been a little more faithful to the source.

Daggy fun, but still fun – just don’t look too hard for any intrigue or suspense.

The audio and video quality of the set is a little so-so. There’s a bit of grain, some discolouration in parts, and in some episodes – the pilot, mostly – the effects look more murky than magnificent. Still, it’s quite OK to watch.

Deborah Joy LeVine, the creator/executive producer, Dean Cain and Robert Butler, the director/executive producer provide commentary on the pilot episode, and it’s quite entertaining. They discuss everything from the origins of the DC comics character to how Cain – a guest star on “90210” before this role – landed the role.

There’s a rather lengthy ‘Pilot Presentation’ by LeVine that she showed at Comic-Con, a fabbo retrospective documentary on the series (featuring cast/crew), and a bit on the show’s visual effects.

Rating :
Reviewer : Clint Morris