Comedy

American Housewife (2016-?)

american-housewife

American Housewife (2016-?)

Network:

ABC

Starring:

Katy Mixon

Diedrich Bader

Plot:

A family comedy narrated by Katie, a strong-willed mother, raising her flawed family in a wealthy town filled with perfect wives and their perfect offspring.

Review:

I know how crazy this sounds, but this was my most anticipated new show. A plus size woman, firmly middle class, living in a very affluent neighborhood surrounded by Stepford wives. That’s not quiet my life, but it feels like it sometimes. I have to force myself to take my daughter to story time because I swear the children there are little pod children. They’re the same age she is but the can all sit there, quietly, unmoving for almost half an hour. I comfort myself with the fact that my child has personality and is clearly amazing, but the looks the other women give me can be annoying. Pregnancy hormones don’t help either.

American Housewife ended up focusing more on the plus size thing than I was hoping for, but from what I’ve read the next episode isn’t like that so I’ve got hope. Katy Mixon and Diedrich Bader had good chemistry and I liked their report, I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.

4.5/5

Fuller House (2016-?)

Fuller House

Fuller House (2016-?)

Network:

Netflix

Starring:

Candace Cameron Bure

Jodie Sweetin

Andrea Barber

Plot:

D.J. Tanner-Fuller is a widow and mother of three. Things become too much to handle, so she asks for help from her sister Stephanie and her best friend Kimmy.

Review:

I don’t remember exactly what I thought when I first heard that Netflix was making this, but I believe it was along the lines of, “Why?”

After having binge watched the entire first season on release day, I can safely say, “More please.”

Fuller House of course had loads of nostalgia attached to it since I’d watched the original show growing up, however I found that the parts and episodes I liked the most were the ones that weren’t filled with cameos from the original older cast members. In fact easily the worst episode was the first one, the increase in quality after that one was immense. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the first pilot, but there were plenty of cringe worthy moments and I think a series written with everyone in it would have not worked.

This was also a family show, with comedy for the entire family, not just kids like the remake of Boy Meets World, Girl Meets World. I’ve read some people think the humor was too adult for a family comedy, but I disagree. It had nothing more risqué than what you find in an episode of Modern Family.

D.J., Candace Cameron Bure, Stephanie, Jodie Sweetin, and Kimmy, Andrea Barber, take up their roles like no time has passed. The kids, who could easily drag down the show, are as entertaining as the original Full House kids. It’s like I’m watching a 90’s sitcom through the lens of the 10’s. It’s awesome.

Honestly, as soon as I finished the season I wished there were more episodes. I’ve already re-watched the first episode and I can see myself re-watching the entire season easily. Now I wait to hear if Netflix decides to pick it up.

4.5/5

Side note: I don’t understand why the original series isn’t on Netflix US, it’s available in other countries, I’d really love an opportunity to re-watch the original series.

Vacation (2015)

Vacation

Vacation (2015)

Director:

John Francis Daley & Jonathan M. Goldstein

Starring:

Ed Helms

Christina Applegate

Skyler Gisondo

Plot:

Rusty Griswold takes his own family on a road trip to “Walley World” in order to spice things up with his wife and reconnect with his sons.

Review:

I watched the original National Lampoons Vacation years ago in high school and really just remember not liking it. Too many awkward situations I think, but not totally sure why I didn’t like it.

This movie certainly stood on its own and I liked it a lot better. There were of course awkward moments but they were so funny it didn’t bother me.

I liked the dynamic between Helms and Applegate and thought their characters were much more relatable than the original version of the movie. The kids were good, though I thought the youngest was channeling the kids from Talladega Knights a bit too strongly. James Griswold, Skyler Gisondo, was ridiculously cute and I thought his character was adorable.

Overall, I liked the movie. It was funny and off the wall but not outright stupid. Would watch another in the series.

4/5

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

When Harry Met Sally

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Director:

Rob Reiner

Starring:

Billy Crystal

Meg Ryan

Carrie Fisher

Plot:

Harry and Sally have known each other for years, and are very good friends, but they fear sex would ruin the friendship.

Review:

They just do not make romantic comedies like this anymore. Love this movie and enjoy it every time I watch it.

Harry and Sally meet each other, don’t really like each other, then meet again years later. Second time around they tolerate each other, still go their separate ways. It’s not until like eleven years after the initial meet that they become friends. Their friendship is so genuine and sweet that you could almost end the movie there, but it continues and they fall in love and they deal with the issues that arise.

Love it.

5/5

 

The Ridiculous 6 (2015)

The-Ridiculous-6

The Ridiculous 6 (2015)

Director:

Frank Coraci

Starring:

Adam Sandler

Terry Crews

Jorge Garcia

Plot:

An outlaw who was raised by Native Americans discovers that he has five half-brothers; together the men go on a mission to find their wayward, deadbeat dad.

Review:

This movie had it’s funny moments, at least I think it did. It’s been a week since I watched it (life, man) and I honestly can’t remember any of them.

The movie was your typical Adam Sandler movie, meaning more of what he’s been releasing these last few years. What I remember most from it was that I liked Sandler’s character the least. He was channeling Batman with his voice and it just came off weird.

Supporting cast was fine, like the whole western thing, but would rather watch Blazing Saddles.

3/5