‘Documentary Now!: The Complete Collection’ Blu-ray TV review

The critically acclaimed series of mockumentaries that appeared on the IFC cable channel between 2015 and 2022 gets a well-deserved high definition release celebrating its entire four-season run in Documentary Now!: The Complete Collection (Mill Creek Entertainment, rated TV-14, 1.78:1, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, 600 minutes, $89.98).

Comedically conjured by distinguished alum from “Saturday Night Live” such as Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, Seth Meyers and Rhys Thomas, and produced by SNL’s patriarch Lorne Michaels, the collection of 27 episodes never disappoints.

Each begins with an introduction by the real Dame Helen Mirren and then parodies the flavors of an original documentary down to the production design, props, costuming and the technology of the eras down to the varied film and video sources (scratched and blemished when necessary) and aspect ratios.

A few of my favorites of the roughly 26-minute gems contained on the four Blu-ray discs include.

Bats—- Valley (Parodies the Netflix series “Wild Wild Country” from 1993): Cult leader Father Ra-Shawbard (Owen Wilson) and his followers take over the small town of Chinook, Oregon, causing a feud with the locals. The FBI, led by agent Bill Dawes (Michael Keaton), monitors the town, and an uncomfortable truth is revealed that also involves the NFL champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

The absurdity plateaus over the two-part episode when watching followers admit their sins while sucking on helium and getting beaten with pool noodles by their brethren.

Original Cast Album: Co-Op (Parodies director D.A. Pennebaker’s “Original Cast Album: Company” from 1970): The recording session with full orchestra for the Broadway flop “Co-op” finds the cast despondent after being told the show has closed as they muster the initiative to record the musical’s songs over one very long night.

The cast includes John Mulaney as Simon Sawyer (a Stephen Sondheim-style lyricist), Richard Kind as the exasperated actor Larry, and Paula Pell as the exhausted actress Patty trying to belt out one of the key songs late into the night.

The laugh-out-loud memorable moment for this “Company” fan was the song “Holiday Party (I Did a Little Cocaine Tonight)” nearly mirroring “Getting Married Today” from the parodied musical.

Waiting for the Artist (Inspired by Marina Abramović and her exhibit “The Artist is Present”): Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett goes deep into the role of Hungarian performance artist Izabella Barta in a career retrospective that not only covers her relationship with lazy artist Dimo (Fred Armisen) but her latest show in Budapest.

Ms. Blanchett’s serious exploration of the character comedically collides with the artist’s performance pieces, such as wearing a bucket over her head with a smiley face drawn on it while exhibit attendees throw dangerous items on the floor as she walks across a gantlet of pain to answer a ringing phone.

How They Threw Rocks (Parodies the boxing documentary “When We Were Kings” from 1996 about Muhammed Ali and George Foreman’s “Rumble in the Jungle” boxing match): Embracing the unabashed silliness of a Monty Python skit, the Welsh sport of Craig Maes finds two legendary opponents in a sheep’s pen taking turns throwing rocks at one another until one falls in defeat.

Cast members cementing the serious lunacy included Jonathan Pryce and John Rhys-Davies as bickering Craig Maes pundits Owen Teale-Griffith and Garth Davies-Gruffudd, Tom Jones as all-knowing police chief Bev Turner and Trystan Gravelle as beloved champion Alwyn Lewis-Ifans, a guy not afraid to use the defensive maneuver of Turtling to stymie an opponent (think Ali’s rope-a-dope).

Overall, “Documentary Now!” delivered a welcomed, sophisticated approach to the best of irreverent humor, wonderfully celebrating the documentary genre, but also never afraid to unload a hilarious gut punch when least expected.

Best extras: All of the fourth disc, viewers first get an entertaining, hourlong IFC panel discussion from back in 2016 hosted at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills.

Mr. Hader, Mr. Armisen and Mr. Meyers appear to discuss the first season of shows with Mr. Hader being on comedic fire throughout, even mocking those daring to ask questions from the audience.

Next, the first six episodes get a behind-the-scenes look (roughly 18 minutes in total) covering the episodes “Juan Likes Rice & Chicken”; “Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport”; “Mr. Runner Up: My Life as an Oscar Bridesmaid”; “Parker Gail’s Location Is Everything”; “Trouver Frisson” and “Final Transmission.” Also found on the last disc are almost 30 minutes of deleted scenes, focused on shows from all four seasons

Additionally, the attractive slipcase box contains a 30-page, full-color booklet highlighting each episode through a one-sentence synopsis and photos as well as an introduction by Mr. Armisen.

And, further tempting fans, they get eight full color mini-poster on glossary card stock (4 inches by 6 inches) featuring documentaries such as “Bats—- Valley,” “The Bunker” (that covered a political campaign based on “The War Room”) and “Final Transmission” (covering an alternative band’s concert based on “Stop Making Sense”).

Mill Creek Entertainment celebrates “Documentary Now!” with a package as impressive as its discs’ content.