Just so you know, I’m not saying that it isn’t. But the hype that the show’s getting, both at CliqueClack and everywhere else I’ve seen … doesn’t hype usually end in disaster, with a lot of tears and a high rate of teen pregnancy (huh?)?
For starters, there’s the premise itself: the talking heads definitely add a lot, but what’s the reason for the documentary? At least on The Office there’s something or other about documenting an average American workplace, but I think it would both revealing and humorous to learn why a documentary is being made of this family.
Now to the family units. While I’m enjoying all the different combinations of Jay, Gloria, and Manny, I actually find it a stretch at times that Ed and Gloria are together. Not because I don’t believe it possible … this is Ed O’Neill! Rather, their chemistry can be hit or miss. I think Jay and Manny are gold as a team, but as great as Sofía Vergara is, O’Neill needs someone a little more his equal to play opposite of.
There isn’t even the tiniest thing wrong with Phil, Claire, or the two together. Not only are Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen tremendously funny, but they’re so well matched, that I feel as if they really are a couple. I’m not so into their kids, though Luke had his moments in the pilot, but Phil and Claire can talking-head all day long and I’d love it. I’m not happy that the series that the actors once starred on are no more, but I’m glad they found such a great new home. Couple of the season!
Nearly right up there with them is Cameron. His delivery is phenomenal, and he does a great job burrowing into a family that includes an old fashioned Jay. His one strike, and therefore what brings him down for me, is Mitchell. In fact, Mitchell’s aura is so dark and ugly that he brings the entire show down a peg, which is really where my question mark about the show comes from.
He’s just such a nasty person — I don’t know that I’ve ever seen why Cameron loves him. I’m curious as to what the creative process was behind his character, because the show would have worked a lot better with someone just as cowed by their family, but still nice to their life partner. And Mitchell’s not much better with Claire, so I don’t feel like I’ve ever enjoyed his screen time. I can’t even begin to imagine what he’s probably been through trying to find himself and his place within his family, but he could be damaged and still be pleasant.
It’s Mitchell above all else that guarantees that Modern Family regularly comes in second to The Middle for me. Sure, Sue and Axl on the latter aren’t perfect (I love you Brick!), but there’s no one on the show, including Chris Kattan, that I can’t stand seeing on screen. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for Modern Family.
What do you think? Does Modern Family live up to the hype of best new sitcom of the season? In years? And how do you think Mitchell might get killed … um, I mean, anyone on the show you don’t like?
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Oct 27, 2009 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
I see your point about Mitchell, but I don’t hate him. I think his general negative attitude about life could be softened as time goes on, and explained in one show. I disagree with you about Phil, Ty Burrell’s character, who is the weakest one in the show. He’s the doofus husband/father, who seems utterly incapable of either job, no less actually earning a living as a functional human being. That character grates every time he’s onscreen, and he screams BAD SITCOM no matter what the other actors manage to accomplish.
Overall, no, the show is not as good as the gushing reviews say it is. I found the first couple of episodes highly irritating, but I kept watching based on the raves. Now I’m at the point where I enjoy and appreciate parts of it. It’s far from perfect–I wouldn’t even call it well done yet. It does have high potential, and a mostly great cast and mostly well-developed characters.
*POST AUTHOR*
I think I might have been there with you on Ty Burrell if I hadn’t seen Out of Practice. You could argue that he’s the same oaf as Gary Crezyzewski on Back to You, but seeing the change from Oliver Barnes on Out of Practice to Crezyzewski to Phil, I think he’s actually playing a rather interesting character here. I think there’s a lot in him that has to do with his own childhood – as well as his welcome into Claire’s family – that will likely unravel as the show continues, adding layers to what could now arguably be seen as a very lightweight character, but is really an adult who’s carrying baggage, and damage, around with him.
I think the show’s a great addition to the current sitcom landscape, but it certainly is far from perfect, or from being in a league with the classics.
My main problem is that it just isn’t that funny. It’s well made, well acted and some of the family dynamics and characterisations are very well observed, but I don’t laugh at it, I don’t even see instances where I can appreciate the humour without laughing, it’s amusing at best. That may be ok for a few episodes, but over a whole season or more I can’t see myself tuning in every week. With a show like this it’s not as if I’m going to watch to find out what happens to the characters, I want to be entertained and to laugh and as much as I may want to I’m not so far.
Thomas – “My main problem is that it just isn’t that funny.” – it might just not be funny to you. Funny is subjective. My friends and I laughed out loud multiple times during the episodes that have aired so far.
To all who don’t like it – that’s ok. It’s ok to not like something. No one should be making you watch something you don’t enjoy. People (critics and watchers alike) are raving about “Glee” just as much as “Modern Family” – my best friend can’t stand the show, I enjoy it – I watch it on my own time so she doesn’t have to sit through it.
Yes, as all get out.
I like the show, but one little thing does irritate me.
Do the guys have a nanny taking care of the baby or does she get put into daycare? The baby is there one minute then the guys are visiting other family members or they are out and about and no baby. Its just weird. For example, the football game on TV ep, the guys come in without the baby or any mention of her then in a later scene they are pulling baby bottles in/out of their bag. It would be nice to have a little continuity there. Dont know why it bothers me but it does.
*POST AUTHOR*
My guess would be that they do have a nanny, although it would make sense for them to mention that.
Yes. Yes it is.
I won’t say that I disagree about Mitchell, but I see him more as an insecure perfectionist in a chaotic family rather than dark and angry. For Cameron—”Casablanca”—they apparently just get each other. For Claire, their dynamic changes and is much more palatable when they’re alone together: siblings against both Dad and the rest of the family.
Some of this may just be Ferguson’s acting choices, as his character seemed oddly similar on The Class.
As good as The Middle is, I watched enough seasons of Malcolm in the Middle to have a slight case of viewer fatigue.
*POST AUTHOR*
Agreed on the insecure perfectionist, but he doesn’t have to treat Cameron the way he does. He could act however he wants to towards Claire, but it really gets to me seeing him be so mean towards such a wonderful person as Cameron. It just leaves you thinking, “he doesn’t deserve that.”
In watching The Middle, I actually don’t see Malcolm. I get the symbolic relationship between the two, but I don’t see it. Dewey was weird, but he was no Brick (Brick). ;)
Cameron’s very entertaining, but he’s bound to have his faults like the rest of them. I don’t know if I’d call him wonderful just yet, not like Manny.
It’s not a question of direct character parallels (though Brick seems to belong on Malcolm more and more each week) but the feel and stories the shows have in common. Despite their best efforts, the worst possible things continue to happen to these families, and I find I just don’t want to watch that kind of misery each week for characters I actually like.
*POST AUTHOR*
Wonderful like Manny? I think that’s more of a reach than for Cameron.
I don’t know. Everyone has their own perception, but I’ve been re-watching the entire series of Malcolm over the last few months, and I don’t see it.