JAM Reviews The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Volume Five from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

Five Volumes and Five Reasons to Watch The Secret Life of the American Teenager
Review by JAM

Five volumes spanning two and a half seasons of drama, high school, and parenthood have now been released as The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Volume 5 has now been released for your perusal. And the drama has not stopped since this little ABC Family show started its surprise run of the drama of momma’s little girl and her surprise package. Since then the show has become the most watched ABC Family drama and in the upper echelon of cable dramas as the continuing drama of Amy Juergens’ (Shailene Woodley) life continues on alongside her crazed classmates as they continue on through their teenager years. Now for Five reasons to watch The Secret Life of the American Teenager!

Number 5

The drama – Teenage years, relationships, friendships, and ABC Family. Put them all together and you have DRAMA! For a show that may seem like a one trick pony (a pregnant teenager and her life), the show has added twists and turns throughout from the drama of Amy’s love life, her sister Ashley’s manipulations, the confusing aspect of who is dating whom, and the normal aspects that any high school teen gets to go through multiplied of course by the ABC Family modifications.

Number 4

Molly Ringwald – The one name that I recognized when the show first started, the loveable pixie from the classic 1980s movies Molly Ringwald who was attached to the project and gave me a reason to check it out at the beginning. As the mother of two daughters going through their issues in life while she is also going through issues in her own life, Molly shares a natural ability to help the viewer connect to her. It probably stems from the connection many of us have with the amazing movies of our past.

Number 3

Bristol Palin – No matter what your political leanings or your thoughts on the family overall, the casting of the most famous single teenage mother right now on a show that centers around a single teenage mother is a pretty good idea. In this day and age of “any publicity is good publicity”, this covers publicity from both the supporters and the non-supporters by getting them to talk about it nonstop. And whether it worked or not as a ratings boost, it definitely made mainstream media talk about the show which is exactly what networks would hope for.

Number 2

Francia Raisa – Adrian Lee has been an interesting character throughout the series, but Volume 5 (the beginning of Season Three) really makes things interesting. Pregnant from a revenge tryst that she believed would hurt those that had wronged her, though she later finds out that she had over reacted to an event that never happened. And so begins her journey through the joys of pregnancy and impending motherhood. Throw in the normal pitfalls of high school and the fact she is dealing with the same two boys that are in Amy’s life, things get a little complex and that’s what makes her interesting.

Number 1

High School – Let’s admit it. High school for some reason has some kind of magic over us all, just look at the television programs of the present and past for the influence that high school has upon us. Beverly Hills 90210 (whatever version), Glee, Saved by the Bell, Gossip Girl, and now Secret Life all deal with that wonderful age that we all remember and look back at, or are dealing with now and we feel good that the issues we have may actually look small in comparison. Either way, high school seems to have that mystique that draws us in and obviously hooks us since the series keep coming.

And now for a look into The Secret Life of the American Teenager press release…

The best-hidden secrets have a way of bubbling to the surface in the critically acclaimed series The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Volume Five, coming to DVD on December 21, 2010 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Insightful, explosive and truthful, the award-winning ABC Family television drama examines the complex world facing today’s teens and their families, including teen parenthood, fractured homes and the mounting pressures of high school. Featuring the first 14 installments of the sizzling hit show’s third season plus interviews with the cast, including leading lady Shailene Woodley (Descendants), The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Volume Five makes the perfect gift for any teenager or fan of riveting drama.

Since its debut in 2008, The Secret Life of the American Teenager has taken a heartfelt and uncompromising look at the romances, rivalries and achievements of a group of high school friends. Created by Brenda Hampton ("7th Heaven"), the show stars Shailene Woodley (The Descendents), Francia Raisa (The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice), Ken Baumann (“Castle”), Teen Choice Award-winner Daren Kagasoff, Megan Park (Diary of the Dead), India Eisley (Head Space), Mark Derwin (“24”) and Molly Ringwald (Pretty in Pink).

The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Volume Five has a suggested retail price of $39.99 (U.S.).
Bonus Features
• On Set with Director Anson Williams
• On Set Fist Bumps with Joey and Matthew
• On Set with Shailene
• On Set with Luke

Synopsis:
Adolescence is tough enough without having to worry about being a single parent. Teen mom Amy Juergens (Shailene Woodley) juggles the dueling demands of her baby boy and high school in the hit ABC Family original drama, The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Facing crumbling family ties, life-defining decisions and shifting relationships, Amy and her friends confront the intensity and insecurities of adolescence with spirit and humor in a poignant portrait of modern life. Parents and teens alike will find heartening insights and hours of entertainment in this groundbreaking television series.

Take a look into The Secret Life of the American Teenager, you won’t be sorry you did.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager
STREET DATE: December 21, 2010
Total Run Time: 602 Minutes
Rated: TV-14 (DS/PG – Not recommended for young children)
Aspect ratio: Widescreen (1.78:1)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Languages: English SDH, Frenchand Spanish Subtitles


The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Volume Five from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment makes its way onto shelves on DVD December 21, 2010. Grab a copy and sign along all night long!

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at www.jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.