by Ribbons on Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:22 am
I caught the first two episodes. Despite the fact that a wealthy Californian family with relatively minor problems isn't one of the more compelling stories on television, I did find the characters and their relationships pretty interesting. The actors all do a good job, and they have great chemistry together (as spouses, siblings, parents), so that helps.
Basically the biggest problem for me is that it feels dated. I've never seen the 1989 movie (or the failed 1994 TV show) on which it's based, but it seems ridiculous that all these characters keep winding up in the same room 5 times an episode. What with real life, cell phones, the Internet and all, why do they keep driving to each other's houses to have 5 minute conversations? Don't they have responsibilities that would make that kind of behavior really inconvenient? I dunno. It also verges on schmaltz a little too often, but it's definitely more entertaining than the commercials make it seem, at least.