Two and a Half Men (Two & A Half Men)

Member Name: mrbusy62

Product:	Two & A Half Men
Date:	15/08/09 (10 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: brilliant comedy

Disadvantages: don't bleep out the ****** swear words

When you channel hop through nearly 200 channels of absolute drivvel it gratifying to find a programme that you can watch with the kids and laugh at the adult jokes.

This little gem used to be on channel about 6 o'clock. And, sorry kids, I didn't make dinner until I had finished watching it. The kids soon caught on and joined me on the sofa.

It's now on Comedy Central pretty much everyday and there are freuent back to back episodes. It's a little weird when you get young Jake in one episode followed by older Jake.

The plot is fairly basic. Alan and his wife Judith divorced. Alan got shafted by a brilliant lawyer and now pays Jusith to live in his house and maintain a wealthy life style and get cosmetic surgery. Oh, Judith shacked up with a woman (although she has been with men since). Alan lives with Charlie his brother and gets his son, Jake, on the weekend. Most of the action is in Charlie's house.

In supporting roles we have Berta, the cleaner. She is a woman of large proportions who gets the one-liners that stop the show. She takes no prisoners. Then there is Evelyn, Charlie and Alan's mother. She is a bitch of apocalyptic proportions. Charlie has her listed under '666' on his mobile. The other character worthy of note from the earlier seasons is Rose. The psychotic, mildly unhinged sociopath who lives next door and is found where you'd least suspect. She is often watching Charlie when he wakes up. Point to note Charlie Sheen's real life Dad has plays Rose's Dad in the show. That was a funny episode.

The humour in this show is what makes it good. it works on many levels and while the kids laugh at the fart jokes my wife and I laugh at the bitchiness and grown up gags.

Character wise I would say you couldn't get a more shallow bunch of people that you can't help but love.
Charlie, played by Charlie Sheen, chases every bit of skirt in town and has bedded nearly every woman there is. There is an episode with a we hate Charlie website that is very fun. Charlie plays the piano and writes jingles for TV commercials. He resents Alan enormously for moving in but feels he had no choice. He loves Jake and uses Jake as a device to pull more women and act like a child.

Alan, played by Jon Cryer is a weed. He is spineless and easily led. He gets fired up then fizzles out at the last minute. He is the voice of sanity in the Harper house. If only someone would listen.

Jake, Angus T. Jones, is the half man. He gets great lines and mostly eats his way through the show. He is funnier in the earlier episodes. i think because you know he doesn't understand the adult references. By the time he is a teenager he knows every trick in the book.

Evelyn, played by Holland Taylor, is an acid tongue bitch who really loves her children but hides it very well. She does like Jake but is to self absorbed and intent on getting her own way.

Judith is just a spolt rich bitch who thinks she deserves more from Alan.

The cast are excellent by themselves or as part of the ensemble and it is played deadly striaght. A lot of the episodes border farce and slap stick but the writing is creative and fun. There are running gags a plenty and a lot of guest appearances that make for a bit of a 'what was he/she in?' Quick pause the channel and check the internet.

One real gripe, and it won't affect the DVD viewers, just television. They people at Comedy Central have taken to bleeping expletives. Actually that's not true. MILD expletives. Like ass, crap and so on. You do end up loosing some jokes. Personally I'd like to take PC campaigners and swear at them all day. If you don't like curse words don't let your kids watch the programme. Kids probably hear worse in the playground anyway.

All in, it's an excellent 1/2 show that doesn't bore. I have rarely seen a bad episode and find my mood lifted when it's time to make dinner

Summary: comedy gem in a pile of muck