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The Middle is the most honest--and, for that reason, the funniest--sitcom about middle class family life since Roseanne. Frankie Heck (Patricia Heaton, Everybody Loves Raymond) wearily runs a cluttered, chaotic household with her husband Mike (Neil Flynn, Scrubs) and three unruly kids: sullen teen jock Axl (Charlie McDermott), hopeless klutz Sue (Eden Sher), and smart but socially awkward Brick (Atticus Shaffer). The plots revolve around the kind of mild crises that make domestic life so difficult: Frankie and Mike can't find time to be alone together; debts force difficult choices; the kids spend more time watching television than talking to each other. Again and again, Frankie longs to teach her kids good values but realizes she isn't living up to those values herself--and her reluctant efforts to muster virtue within herself can be achingly funny. Frankie is superbly well realized, a perfect match of writing and performer. Heaton portrays her contradictory impulses (virtue vs. convenience, open-heartedness vs. a hunger for just a little time alone) with wonderful subtlety; the wary look in her eyes flickers between sincerity and cynicism.
The supporting cast is every bit as strong. These kids actually look and act like kids, in all their obnoxious, oblivious, naive glory, not like glossy supermodels in training. Flynn pulls his own deft balancing act, making husband Mike blunt and a little insensitive without seeming like a jerk or a caricature. The show is still working out some kinks--Chris Kattan (Saturday Night Live) plays a hapless coworker of Frankie's; the character has possibilities and Kattan seems game for anything, but the writers don't quite know what to do with him yet. A host of guest stars--including Brooke Shields as a white trash neighbor and Betty White as an imperious librarian--fit nicely into the show's world, rather than sticking out like stunt casting. The Middle treats middle America with compassion, intelligence, and genuine appreciation. --Bret Fetzer
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
way funnier than Modern Family,
By Bronteophile (Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Middle: Season 1 (DVD)
Everybody talks about Modern Family and how funny it is. Well,instead of sitting down to watch at 9:00, sit down and watch at 8:00 so you can catch The Middle, or order it on DVD. The Middle, in my opinion, is flat out brilliant. The family does not live in a swank neighbourhood in a house that would cost close to a million bucks. They are an ordinary economically struggling family living in a bungalow in Indiana. Some episodes are better than others, but seldom does one pass without one big laugh and usually I laugh until I have tears in my eyes. The whole cast is great and, in particular, the kids are all wonderful comic actors. My special favourite is Axl, the thoroughly obnoxious teenager, who spends most of his time sitting around watching tv in his underwear. Charlie McDermott can make opening a jug of milk a brilliantly funny moment. He can also be a pain in the a-- without being the obnoxious, smarty-pants unappealing not-really-very funny type of kid found on MF (in my opinion). The writers clearly are familiar with what family life is really like. The Middle reminds me of my own ordinarily happy childhood from half-naked older brothers to having one kid sit on a lawn chair around the dinner table (not enough chairs)to scaring ourselves to death watching scary movies. (Okay most of us didn't have to endure a visit from Child Social Services [a brilliant episode]). I hope The Middle has a long life on ABC and there are many more seasons on DVD to come.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love The Middle!,
This review is from: The Middle: Season 1 (DVD)
Our whole family loves The Middle. The characters are both quirky and funny and make us laugh each week. If you would like a show the entire family can watch then The Middle is for you!! Season 1 is great and now we don't have to wait for the commercials!!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific DVD!,
By
This review is from: The Middle: Season 1 (DVD)
This is a great series - hilarious and so reminiscent of real life in a family with teenagers! We can't wait for Season 2!
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