The Best of Mail Call: Season 2 (2003)
Film:
DVD:

Written by Allan Duffin & Susan Michaels
Directed by Rob Beemer & Rob Lihani
Hosted by R. Lee Ermey

Features:

• Seven episodes from the second season
  
• "Gunny's Deal of the Day"
  
• Ermey biography & filmography
  

Released by History Channel
Rating: NR
Region: 1
Anamorphic: N/A; appears in its original 1.33:1 format.

My Advice: Rent it; fans should wait for the complete second season

Mail Call getting renewed for a second season is the second biggest no-brainer in the history of informative shows--second only to the show coming into being in the first place. Gunnery Sergeant R. Lee. Ermey is his usual affable yet severe self--a kinder, gentler version of the holy terror he portrayed in Full Metal Jacket. The show works because Ermey goes into everything from comparing American Civil War weaponry to discussing ejector seats with the same drive and enthusiasm.

As we've stated before, Ermey is an entertaining guy--but if we had an entire show resting completely on his ability to carry it solo, then we'd be in some serious trouble. However, Ermey's biggest ally is obviously his writing and research staff, who turn Ermey into a kind of military Mr. Wizard--not only is this thing enormously educational, but it's fun as hell too.

Ermey does all of this with his usual jokester hat on, but he never fails to show respect to the military. And considering the man lives and breathes semper fi, no one's surprised. In this volume you get descriptions of the phalanx configuration, the story behind the first missile to be fired from a sub, and more in the seven episodes this disc contains.

The DVD's setup is the same as the last volume: when you click on an episode you're taken straight to the scene selection menu, so you can watch sections or play the whole program. You also get a little bit more in the bonus features department, apart from Ermey's filmography and biography: you get "Gunny's Deal of the Day" with Ermey in full-on used car salesman mode, giving you the spiel on a military jeep. Funny, but short.

The only problem with this disc is the same problem I had with the last one--where are the rest of the episodes? If you're a fan of the show, you're probably best off catching reruns on the History Channel, since you're going to want to wait for the full season sets when they eventually occur. However, if you're not familiar with the show, it's worth renting to get in on the merriment.