While it's kind of a bummer, I've got to say that overall I wasn't entirely impressed with the season four opener of Modern Family (excuse me, Emmy Award winning Modern Family; I've got you covered just in case you missed Sunday's show and/or ABC's constant reminders). That's not to say I love this show any less, though—while, perhaps not surprisingly, I much prefer seasons one and two (probably because of their novelty, I'll admit), even now the comedy continues to possess an appeal that keeps me coming back for more (it's mostly Phil Dunphy— he still kills me), and not only that, but it continues to remain one of those shows I find myself eagerly looking forward to. Sure, I may joke about its excessive Emmys and agree that there are currently funnier shows on television (Parks and Recreation, Happy Endings, and on Tim Martens' behalf, I'll even throw in Community), but I do honestly think that the show is still worthy of the praise it receives—it's still fun and witty, and, remarkably, it's still (from time to time) smart.
So it's a shame to see its luster fade a bit; sad to watch it turn to recycled stories to kick off its newest chapter. Last night's "Bringing Up Baby," picking up the very next morning after season three left off, finds Gloria dealing with how she'll break the news of her pregnancy to her husband, who just so happens to be celebrating his 65th birthday, Mitch and Cam mourning their failed adoption, and the Dunphys managing their girls after the prom and being, well, the Dunphys. And that's all fine, but it almost relies too heavily on "stuff we've seen before"—there are the "falling into bodies of water multiple times while on a fishing trip" gags, the "worried/potentially jealous older brother trying to make good before his new sibling is born" bit with Manny, even the mother/daughter attempts at reverse psychology between Claire and Haley—none of it's all that new, and none of it feels as funny. And, yes, I know asking a sitcom to be crazy original is practically an outrageous request, but, I mean, they are a modern family. Shouldn't they be a bit more hip and fresh?
I will give them the utmost credit for one moment in particular, however; the closing scene that managed to salvage what I had been prepared to consider a barely mediocre episode. After Jay hugs his glowing wife (Phil finally understands the description, despite his own three-times- pregnant wife), excited about their future (surprising everyone, myself included), the episode flashes forward nearly half a year, judging by the size of Gloria's belly—that's right, Gloria is now pretty pregnant, Phil's grown his beard, Cam and Mitch have traveled to London and back (and have even added their own, furrier, addition to their family), Manny's gone to poetry camp, and Claire has both given in to and giving up on sharing the same roof with Dylan—and all the while, we're witnessing these little moments as Manny reads his own words, and the camera circles amongst this goofy family.
To read the rest (IMDb form too short) visit: http://custodianfilmcritic.com/modern-family-4- 1-bringing-up-baby/
So it's a shame to see its luster fade a bit; sad to watch it turn to recycled stories to kick off its newest chapter. Last night's "Bringing Up Baby," picking up the very next morning after season three left off, finds Gloria dealing with how she'll break the news of her pregnancy to her husband, who just so happens to be celebrating his 65th birthday, Mitch and Cam mourning their failed adoption, and the Dunphys managing their girls after the prom and being, well, the Dunphys. And that's all fine, but it almost relies too heavily on "stuff we've seen before"—there are the "falling into bodies of water multiple times while on a fishing trip" gags, the "worried/potentially jealous older brother trying to make good before his new sibling is born" bit with Manny, even the mother/daughter attempts at reverse psychology between Claire and Haley—none of it's all that new, and none of it feels as funny. And, yes, I know asking a sitcom to be crazy original is practically an outrageous request, but, I mean, they are a modern family. Shouldn't they be a bit more hip and fresh?
I will give them the utmost credit for one moment in particular, however; the closing scene that managed to salvage what I had been prepared to consider a barely mediocre episode. After Jay hugs his glowing wife (Phil finally understands the description, despite his own three-times- pregnant wife), excited about their future (surprising everyone, myself included), the episode flashes forward nearly half a year, judging by the size of Gloria's belly—that's right, Gloria is now pretty pregnant, Phil's grown his beard, Cam and Mitch have traveled to London and back (and have even added their own, furrier, addition to their family), Manny's gone to poetry camp, and Claire has both given in to and giving up on sharing the same roof with Dylan—and all the while, we're witnessing these little moments as Manny reads his own words, and the camera circles amongst this goofy family.
To read the rest (IMDb form too short) visit: http://custodianfilmcritic.com/modern-family-4- 1-bringing-up-baby/