Search - Family Bonds - The Complete First Season on DVD

I love these people!!!

lbrlartist | Mobile, AL USA | 12/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I cannot wait to get this dvd set. Like everything else HBO produces, it is thought-provoking, insightful and entertaining.

In the case of the Evangelistas, my friends and I adore these people. First and formost, they are a family who love each other. I wish I was their neighbor!"

Absolutely LOVE it!!!

HMUG | New York City USA | 12/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I cannot get enough of the Evangelista family!!!! They certainly put the fun in dysfunctional. I now own the DVD, which I plan to watch many times over.

HBO once again has veered off the paved path of typical TV with Family Bonds. I'm a HUGE fan of HBO original programming, and this show ranks right up there with all of the greats - Sopranos, S&TC, Oz, America Undercover, etc. I watched Family Bonds when it originally aired, and after the season ended I was ***dying*** for more. I hope HBO will somehow revisit the Evangelista's in the near future.

(I found the 1st episode to be the less entertaining, but most likely due to the introduction of the family and business. The episodes that follow are priceless!)



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Not as bad as you'd think

K. O. Gibson | Los Angeles, CA | 05/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"'Family Bonds' and 'Dog: The Bounty Hunter' were both similar-themed shows vying for viewer attention at the time, which may explain why a lot of people are more familiar with the basic cable 'Dog' vs. HBO's 'Family Bonds'. This is a DVD I've had for months and had little interest in but I have since watched all 10 episodes just this week. I was glad to be surprised.

The episodes center around the Evangelista family, with the apprehending of bail jumpers taking up a minimal amount of actual screen-time. Instead you see the interaction of the Evangelista family: blowhard (softie) patriarch Tom, his stylized but voluptuous, down-to-earth wife Flo and their children. Nephew Chris, a Jersey bear of a guy, lives on their couch in light of his divorce while Flo's two sisters work in the bail bond offices. Of the two sisters, Dawn is the one who stands out with her frosted hair and Jersey tawk, along with a husband who is not doing such a hot job running their branch of the business.

Episodes generally cross-cut between the pursuit of bail cases in the company van, Tom and family at the office and various family circumstances outside of work. While this doesn't sound riveting (and it isn't) its watchability is raised by the non-intrusive, documentary style of HBOs reality programming/specials where the cameras capture nuance and real-life communication that is refreshing and easy to relate to. Watch this after your primetime line-up and admire the family's unvarnished honesty and real-life comedy. The Evangelista kids aren't sitcom brats and are admirably mature, compared to socialites with their own shows who can't even spell. This isn't classic TV but it is an interesting 300 minutes with a family you don't see often on television and is definitely worth a rent--- unless you're a true fan and want the set for keeps. I wish this family well, big-mouths and all."