It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia hasn’t gotten all capitalist on us as of yet. The release of a straight to DVD double episode doesn’t seem exploitative. Not exactly. Hocking anything in the marketplace might bring on cries of sell out and the like, but no one seemed to mind the dick towel. So what’d that teach us? Probably nothing, unless you’re a perv. But the simply titled “A Very Sunny Christmas” is pretty much an indispensible addition to the show’s fifth season.

Considering that there isn’t an over arching narrative inherent in the show or this particular season, A Very Sunny Christmas might fall through the cracks of some of the show’s lesser enthusiasts - I’d hesitate to say completists. But it’s funny and described in the following terms according to the good ole press release:

For them, the holidays have always been a time of trickery, backstabbing, and disappointment. But this year things are going to be different as they are determined to rediscover the joy in Christmas.

Regardless of how the entire package is being presented to the consumer, what the forty minute feature holds are a few explanations of how and why these weirdoes wound up the way that they did. The cast is ostensibly split up as Mac and Charlie head out leaving Dee and Dennis to be tormented by Frank.

It’s reveled that during their childhood the brother and sister duo were troubled by their father as he would purchase the gifts that the tikes most coveted only to keep them for himself. That’s, of course, an insane mind game to play with a kid. Moreover, it seems to obscure why the siblings wound up being a bit less than motivated. It can then be assumed that Frank failed in teaching them a lesson. That being said, this year, the dad still heads down to the car dealership and comes back with Dennis’ dream car.

Perhaps the more amusing revelations come as the camera follows Mac and Charlie. The latter describes a procession of Santa’s that came over every year for the holiday, but only stayed for a brief time – and it was always in his mother’s bedroom. The memory and subsequent deciphering of the situation results in one of the more amusing assaults ever put to tape. Charlie Day might not be considered a fine, fine thespian, but he should be revered as a comedic savant. Seriously.

What’s even better, though, is Mac’s remembrance. Of course, the fact that his father has spent the previous few seasons in and out of jail should allow those that haven’t as of yet viewed “A Very Sunny Christmas” to guess at what nonsense they were all getting into. But beyond the brief character enhancements that the show/episode/dvd doles out, it’s all just meant to be ridiculous and offensive – it succeeds.

It’ll be interesting to see if the DVD actually moves in the market place, but more importantly, will the series move to include some of the stories told here? It kinda doesn’t matter seeing as Sunny’s always got the funny.