Arrested Development - Season 1 Reviews

tat!

Not good at all and not funny at all!!!

The best US comedy series in a decade

If you are a fan of intelligent and genuinely orignal US comedy then the past decade has been a bit naff for you, until now.

Arrested development, is directed and narrated by Ron Howard (of Beautiful Mind, Backdraft, and of course Happy Days)and tells the story of a messed up wealthy (when there assets are not frozen) US family and there struggles. It is fairly essential to see the series in order as it tells a ongoing arc but the episodes are stand alone classics in their own right. Currently this is hidden away on BBC2 at 11pm at night despite it's critical, viewer and emmy awards.

Don't get me wrong when I say intelligent humour, it is not hard work to get, it is just written and directed with such intellegence that it is set apart from the other run of the mill drivel we usually get from the US. It also has the occasional bit of great slap stick. And if you think this season one is good wait until you see season two (which is now about half way through) it just keeps getting better and better. Miss this and you will miss out on one of the best US comedy series of all time and that is not something I would easily say.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Intelligent, surreal and most importantly funny

Arrested Development was a programme that I'd heard a lot about but never watched and with three discs to watch I was slightly apprehensive, just in case it was bobbins. My concerns were washed away whilst watching the first disc show after show exceeded my expectations.

This isn't the funniest comedy series ever, but the performances, witty writing, good story and some genuine moments of hilarity put this right up there with the best television comedy of recent years. It's comparable with Curb Your Enthusiasm although not quite as great as that.

The exceptional sitcom no-one seems to have heard about.

I'm not a big fan of sitcoms, especially the american variety. But if you find comedy along the lines of 'Frasier' funny, then trust me, you'll really like this (its better). The casting is spot-on and the writing dense with laughs. I can't believe the terrestrial stations (especially Channel 4) missed this one. Forty-four episodes available on DVD and not one a dud. This is streets ahead in its class (yes I know that's a terrible mm).

[Highly rated reviewer]

unimpressive

couldn't really get into this, didn't find it as funny as the write-ups but everyone to their taste.

Pure brilliance

This is what we want from American television! The epitome of dysfunctional, each and every one of the Bluth family's 'adventures' is nothing less than hilarious. This show is so well written, each character as vibrant as the next. You won't regret renting this!

Classy comedy

It’s hard to find any fault with this brilliant, brilliant show. It’s been shown on the ‘graveyard’ slot on BBC (2 and 4, I think), just like some of the other greats US comedies of the last decade or so: Seinfeld, Larry Sanders, Curb your enthusiasm. This surprises me as British comedy used to be this original and edgy, even in primetime.

It’s true we have restarted making classy sitcoms such as the Office, Peter Kay, etc. Now the only decent Britcoms are late-night, mainly because of language. A generation of children are growing unaware of good homegrown comedy, until they are perhaps mid-teens.

Of course some will find the humour and topics ‘challenging’, but then I find watching stuff like Mr Bean a challenge, if only to find the remote to ‘zap’ him.

Disappointing

Can't see what the hype is about. Never managed to make it passed the first episode. There's nothing clever or witty about this show. I just don't get it.

So good

Oh so very good. A series that's as funny as the Simpsons, Family Guy, and CYE. As with all great series, the characters have massively plungeable depths of personality. It is a testament to the acting and the writing that practically any one of the characters could head up a lesser series (don't think 'Joey'...). Despite the supposed 'intellectual' nature of the humour, it also braves some fantastic physical comedy too, at times verging on slapstick. Awesome.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Hilarious!

I watched 1 episode of this when it was on BB2 a few years ago and thought it was mad. Upon watching the whole of season 1 I can confirm it really is!

This is smart, quirky and laugh out load funny entertainment which is so rare these days. It's amazing how the writers manage to flesh out every single member of the bonkers Bluthe family as well as all the supporting cast with such ease. I recommend everyone to watch this and the other 2 seasons too.

5 stars for every episode.