Harper family hell, but heaven for me! (My Family)

Member Name: idodoyou

Product:	My Family
Date:	22/11/01 (423 review reads)
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Now, I reckon there are very few days that I don't laugh? I love laughing. Ignoring the fact that over the long term it will help to create wrinkles and lines across what was otherwise a smooth peach like complexion (I lie as well as laugh you know ;)) laughing is good for me. Laughing is good for you. Laughing is good for the soul. It helps keep the mind young, and the body healthy you know? It does. Of course, my mind isn't in need of such help at the moment. I laugh now because I want to. Like to. And in the case of this program ... just have to. I do you know? I've tried not laughing. It doesn't work. It only hurts when I don't laugh.

Since Friday nights in watching the ole goggle box became the new 'going out' I've been living life to the full watching BBC1. Either that or actually going out, recording the new going out, and watching the new going out when I get in from having gone out!! With me? Good, cos I think I got lost somewhere near the first time of going out? I think? Anyhoo .... where was I? Ah yes, going out!! Well, if I don't (and even if I do ... but we won't go there again!) I watch the BBC1 on a Friday evening. From the hours of 1900 to 2345 with a few flick overs here and there, a cacophony of sounds can be heard coming from about my person. If I haven't eaten I can be heard making highly unattractive drooling sounds because of Ready Steady Cook. Do-doo's and De-de-de-da-dee's because of Top of the Pops. All manner of noises are emitted while watching the Eastenders, it's the only soap I watch so I save up my gasps of exasperation and of amazement for the folks down in E20. But as soon as 2030 hits, it's laughter for a guaranteed 30 minutes. As I said. I can't help it.

Unfortunately and fortunately for me, this is the second series of My Family. I know, it shouldn't be both unfortunate and fortunate, but it is. I say unfortunately because this, the second
series is my initiation into the world of the Harper family. I kick myself (unfortunately because it hurts) for missing the first series. However, I guess I'm fortunate enough to have watched this from the beginning of second series instead of ½ way through and then having to regret missing the first 1 and ½ series. Anyhoo ....

For those amongst you have had neither the misfortune, nor the fortune to catch a glimpse of this prog, I will explain .....
Basically, as the title suggests, it's about a family. You know what a family is right? The majority of us have them, whether they are good or bad. And they come in an array of guises, but usually with a Mummy, a Daddy, and a couple of siblings. Of course, to make the program more enjoyable, more amusing, and more identifiable, the family is made more dysfunctional than the average family next door. I don't know why I said dysfunctional though ~ every week I find myself identifying with something that Nick (more about him later) has said, done, or normally in his case, not done. I'm not dysfunctional. I'm not. It's frightening that I agree with, and can see a little bit of me in dysfunctional people. I'm not. Anyhoo ... the family, the Harper family.....

Mummy Harper a.k.a Susan a.k.a Zoe Wannamaker. Daddy Harper a.k.a Ben a.k.a Robert Lindsay. Child/Sibling # 1 Nick a.k.a Kris Marshall. Child/Sibling # 2 Janey a.k.a Daniela Denby-Ashe. Child/Sibling # 3 Michael a.k.a Gabriel Thomson.
I've listed Susan first, in order of family importance (although when it gets to the kids, I listed according to age ok? Well it stops any squabbling later doesn't it?)

Lets face it girls, ladies, my fellow sisters, although we may allow the male species to assume they are in control, they are only in control as much as we let them be in control right? It's such a case in this family. Ben likes to think he's in charge. Like to think that he rules his roos
t. Commands his castle and all the other 'I am King' like jazz that men like to think when we let them think that they are in control. In reality, Ben comes pretty much at the bottom of the pecking order within the Harper clan. The order of pecking is evident to the family, to us the audience, but apparently not to Ben. An occurrence that is always good for a laugh don't you think? teehee!
Ben's a Dentist. A pretty ordinary job I would have thought (no offence to Dentists) But not for Ben. Not for a character based, seemingly so much, on Victor Meldrew. He is. A younger, and 'familyised' version of Mr 'I don't bloody believe it' himself. For some reason, he (Ben) can't manage to employ the perfect Dental Assistant. They are either scared of drills, teeth, dress and act as Hitler or are nephews of the local crime boss (who has had more experience knocking teeth out than tending them). amongst others! Needless to say, most days at work for Ben will not have put him the best of moods to face the family over a highly inedible meal lovingly prepared by Susan. Inedible being the operative word. Apart from various other character quirks that Susan has, her lack of culinary skills is the most played upon of them all. Kinda like 'Ria' out of 'Butterflies' ~ Remember that? Remember her? Ben (Lindsay) and Susan (Wannamaker) work well together. It's almost as if they were married. They have a rapport. Their characters are believable. They 'do' married life to a tee. Although, never having been married myself, my claims on that are purely observational. As for the actors, well, I never watched 'Citizen Smith' (too young the first time and not interested in the repeats) so I have to say that I've never seen Robert Lindsay in anything. However, he seems more than capable to carry off a comedy role. He seems at home with Ben! I've only ever seen Zoe Wannamaker in a series called '
Love Hurts' with cockney cheeky chappie Adam Faith. It was a love story come comedy. It didn't really impress the few times I saw it. And to be honest, I didn't like Wannamaker as an actress too much either. But, she is certainly watchable in this program, well, apart from her hairstyle .... what the hell is going on there then?
The kids, of which all come in the correct 'comedy drama' categories all work well together also. Firstly we have the oldest son Nick (Marshall). Idiot, buffoon, moron, d**khead, and other words used to describe, and call this character are apt, and rightly used. Nick is the token 'twonk'. Pratt with a capital 'P'. He is. Really. A total plonker. He is the bane of Bens life. Even his own dear mother despairs of him sometime (and you know how sympathetic and forgiving mothers can be so he must be bad right?) He can't keep a job down for more than a day, and will use any method to extract money from his parents. I've never come across the actor (Kris Marshall) who plays Nick before. Obviously, if I had have caught series 1 my last statement would have been a lie :) but as I didn't, I haven't. How he would fare in a serious role as an actor, I don't know? But he certainly seems to be handling the comedy roles very well. Whether nature has been cruel, the make up department is exceptional, or he is such a good actor is up to you to decide, but believe me when I say, he even looks a pratt!

Child/Sibling # 2 is the only daughter of the family. Janey, played by Daniela Denby-Ashe is the ultimate in spoilt teenage brats. Personally I can't stand her, or her character. Probably better known for her role in Eastenders as Sarah 'the nutty religious one' somethingorother. As I don't like her, any slighting of her performance will look like obvious, and probably seemingly unfounded. But it isn't. Ok, so none of the actors will be up for any awards, but least
of all this one. As in 'EE' I find her acting a touch on the wooden side. It might the scripts fault, she doesn't really have that much to do in this program except to flounce around pushing her weight around. However, the character does work well within the household. As a sister myself with at times, a highly annoying sibling, I know how she feels. Not my favourite character, and in reflection, don't think the program would be lacking much if she suddenly moved out!

Third and youngest Child/Sibling is Michael (Gabriel Thomson) a precocious child. And probably the brightest of the lot. It's obvious where Nicks brains went. This, again, is an actor that I don't know much about. I've never seen him in anything else, although he does look a dead ringer for the little lad in the new Harry Potter movie. Well, he's got the glasses and the hair anyway! As the main joke deliverers are Susan, Ben, and Nick, like Janey, Michael doesn't really get a fair share. Although, when he delivers his punch lines and condemnations they are amusing.

The jokes, the funny bits are predictable at times. I'd be lying if I said they weren't. But it doesn't matter I think. Simply because the whole family unit is identifiable. Oh, there are certain aspects that are totally made for TV, or rather, they would never, ever happen in my household with my very own Victor 'I don't bloody believe it' Meldrew (you laugh ...... but I live with a younger version .... honestly) in residence. I can see my parents marriage in the marriage of Ben and Susan, I can see a little bit of me in Nick, and as much as I hate to admit it, Janey (spoilt you see ...) The jokes are mainly innocent. There is a small sexual innuendo input occasionally, but it doesn't dissolve into smut at any time. The jokes either visual or audible are innocent and suitable for all of the family. There is very little, if any swearing, the
worst of the 'bad' language usually saved for the name calling of Nick!
The program comes complete with laughter. Whether it's canned or shown and acted before a live audience I'm not sure. But quite often I find myself laughing before the canned stuff kicks in. Could be one of two reasons, 1 ~ the audience is slightly slow and didn't pick it up. Or 2 ~ the jokes and gag lines are that predictable I can see them coming? But either way, I can't say I care. I'm laughing, and I'm enjoying myself. I've got out of My Family all I ask of a comedy series.

My Family
BBC1 Fridays @ 2030
Written: Steve & Jim Artnogida
Created: Fred Baron
Executive Producers: Fred Baron & Donald Taffner Jnr
Producer: John Bartlett
Director: Dewi Humphreys

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