Modern Family


 I have mixed feelings about this one. I think in terms of longevity, it’s one of the most successful sitcoms of all time, but it is also grating in unforgivable ways. Let’s start with the positives. The cast is superb, and their comedic timing is brilliant. Sometimes the writing is also very sharp, especially some of the throwaway lines are hilarious and absurd. However, the show was on for so long that the younger members of the cast grew up, and not all of them grew up into good actors. This is especially true for the actors playing Manny and Lily. Lily is so bad that the writers just made her into someone scary, (which is not how most eleven-year-olds act). That is a natural, but unfortunate problem. The bigger problem is that the characters are just not that likeable. Mitch and Cam are presented as this ideal couple, but if they weren’t gay, they would be divorced. And they are so gay...I mean stereotypically gay-can’t gay people have various interests and personalities on television? And the show tries to make Phil Dunphy its heart, because he believes in the best of people, and is an innocent...but if you lived with him you would murder him for some of things he does and Claire is presented as uptight because she can’t relax like him. To sum up, great and horrible acting, great and horrible writing. ⅗.

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