BMG Music presents

Time Out With Britney Spears (1999)

"We were like...whatever."- Britney Spears' response on her and her girlfriend being turned down for the Mickey Mouse club at age nine

Stars: Britney Spears
Director: Jac Benson

Manufacturer: AIX Video Group
MPAA Rating: Not RatedRun Time: 00h:53m:00s
Release Date: 1999-12-02
Genre: pop

Style Grade	Substance Grade	Image Transfer Grade	Audio Transfer Grade	Extras Grade
C	C	B-	B	B-

 

DVD Review

Ever wonder what it's like to be a pop princess? No need to imagine any more, now that Time Out with Britney Spears is here! This disc takes you on the journey from Britney's hometown of Kentwood, LA to behind the scenes at her latest video shoots.

See a young Britney lose on Star Search! See Britney rehearse with her dancers! See Britney on a meet-and-greet at a local record store! Are you wondering what it would be like to make your first album? Well, in Britney's words, it was "like really, really fun, but I was like, really nervous." Duh... Folks, there are no earth shattering revelations made here.

Britney Spears is as sweet as aspartame and as exciting as white bread. What would you expect from a former Mousketeer? This disc contains clips of Britney and fellow alumni Keri Russell (Felicity), Justin Timberlake and JC Chavez ('N Sync) from their pre-stardom Mickey Mouse Club days. Hmm. Oddly enough, there's no mention of another famous MMC'er, Christina Aguilera. That's about as catty as it gets. Also included is a Disney concert snippet featuring Britney with future Where Are They Now guest Joey McIntyre, formerly of New Kids on the Block.

This DVD could be called Time Out with Britney: My First DVD. It's perfect for the youngest music lover, right down to its pink and white flowered jewel case. The help feature on this disc to aid kids in understanding how to find the official Britney Spears Website is a nice touch, though for anyone over 10 it seems wholly unnecessary.

Rating for Style: C
Rating for Substance: C

 

Image Transfer

	One
Aspect Ratio	1.33:1 - P&S
Original Aspect Ratio	no
Anamorphic	no

Image Transfer Review: Although some shimmering is apparent in a couple segments, and scan lines throughout, this is mostly a pretty clean transfer. The color is well rendered, saturated without bleeding or pluming. Not the greatest, but your daughters won't be upset.

Image Transfer Grade: B-
 

Audio Transfer

	Language	Remote Access
DS 2.0	English	yes
Dolby Digital 5.1	English	yes

Audio Transfer Review: Most portions of this disc are in dual audio, which makes for some good listening. The only time I was really able to notice a difference was during the video segments. While I wouldn't necessarily crank this up at a party, the audio lends itself well to that type of atmosphere without sounding flat or one-dimensional.

Audio Transfer Grade: B 

Disc Extras

Animated menu with music
Scene Access with 10 cues and remote access
Music/Song Access with 3 cues
Subtitles/Captions in English with remote access
Cast and Crew Biographies
Packaging: other
1 Disc
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: single

Extra Extras:

1. Britney Spears Trivia Game
2. Photo Gallery
3. Internet help for kids
4. Behind the Scenes
5. Web Connection to Britney Spears Official Website

Extras Review: The extras on this disc are geared toward the young fan. There is a Britney trivia game to play, which gives you the answers by showing a clip from her interview and a slide show featuring pictures from the Spears family album. Bios and a photo gallery are also included. Along with DVD-ROM access to Britney Spears' website Britney Spears Official Website there is also a tutorial included for those too young or unfamiliar with surfing the net.

Extras Grade: B-
 

Final Comments

Britney is at the top of her game now, but how long will this last? The kids that see her as a goddess now, will soon grow up and move on. In ten years she could be second billed in a Disney concert special with the flavor-of-the-moment.

Maggi Cameron 2000-06-01