The mockumentary
style of television has become a standard style after the success of “The
Office,” though “Modern Family” gives it a suburban household twist. We don’t
know why the characters are talking to the camera, but it provides ample
opportunity for humor, as does the option of acknowledging the camera’s
existence during the action as well. What it all comes down to is the
interesting characters, and in this way “Modern Family” also seems to be mimicking
the success of “The Office” or “Parks and Recreation,” filtered through the
typical set-up of a family situation comedy.
The show follows
three extended families all tied together, and are also conveniently comprised
of three types of family structures typically seen in modern times. There is
the traditional family with a wife, Claire (Julie Bowen), husband, Phil (Ty
Burrell), and their three children, Haley (Sarah Hyland), Alex (Ariel Winter),
and Luke (Nolan Gould). Claire’s brother, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), his
husband, Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) and their adopted daughter, Lily (Aubrey
Anderson-Emmons), make up the second family, with Claire and Mitchell’s father
comprising the third family. Jay (Ed O’Neill) is married to a much younger
second wife, Gloria (Sofia Vergara), with a son named Manny (Rico Rodriguez)
from another marriage, as well as a new toddler. These characters are
embellished further with extreme personalities and absurd situations.
As this show
goes into its sixth season, it is clear that some things need to change. There
are some formats that remain the same, primarily in the personalities of the
adults, but the younger kids from earlier seasons are now growing into
adulthood. Haley is already graduated, despite still living at home and
struggling to figure out what to do next, while Alex is in the process of
deciding what college to attend. It should come as no surprise to the storyline
to find that she chooses a school which will allow her to stay nearby and involved
in the plot. Meanwhile it is not only the characters that are growing older,
but also the actors that play them. Gould is currently going through puberty
while on the show, which would not be horrible if it weren’t for the fact that
his acting skills have been exposed with the disappearance of his cute
demeanor. It is clear that they are attempting to use Luke a lot less now,
which is a wise choice now that his performance is noticeably lacking. It
almost seems as if Haley’s new romantic interest played by Adam DeVine was
brought in as a replacement character for this gap in the show. The other aging
actor is the young girl playing Lily, and although her acting appears to be
salvageable, the character has become increasingly unbearable as they have allowed
it to develop. I suppose it makes sense that Lily would be a bit selfish and
tyrannical with Cameron as a father and role model.
Attempting to
revive the formula of the series after five successful seasons, there are a few
other changes to the sixth season. Along with new characters that include
medical marijuana dispensary owning neighbors Ronnie (Steve Zahn) and Amber
(Andrea Anders), there are a few episodes that also push the format in new
directions. “The Day We Almost Died” focuses on one storyline, rather than the
typical split narrative between the three families, and “Connection Lost” was
an innovative episode that takes place entirely on Claire’s laptop with the use
of Skype videos to connect her to each of the characters. Many of the narratives
within this show mirror familiar sitcom structures that go back as far as “I
Love Lucy;” miscommunications abound and characters hide mistakes until the
truth eventually blows up in their face. Even with this formulaic style, it is
impressive that “Modern Family” continues to find ways to remain innovative and
fresh.
The DVD release
of the sixth season includes all 24 episodes on three discs. The special
features also include a handful of featurettes, behind the scenes footage, and
deleted scenes. There are featurettes for two of the holiday episodes, as well
as a feature about the making of an episode and a day with Julie Bowen on set.
Entertainment Value:
8.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7.5/10
Historical
Significance: 7/10
After the movie opens and you're in Georgetown, you're treated to noises coming from the attic that are dismissed as `rats'. 123moovies.org: Watch Movies Online Free on 123moovies
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