I couldn’t believe my eyes when I began watching the promo for this week’s 2 Broke Girls. Max meeting her father, really? Typically any references to her upbringing are about her extremely neglectful mother, and the last time that was touched on in any major way was literally three seasons ago.
That episode was the Season 3 finale, “And the First Degree”, and it’s impossible for “And the Dad Day Afternoon” not to be compared to it, for better or for worse.
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Posted in Comedy, family, review, television, writing
Tagged 2 Broke Girls, abandoned, And the Dad Day Afternoon, And the First Degree, Beth Behrs, Caroline, CBS, dad, daddy issues, deadbeat, disappointed, family, father, Han, Jonathan Kite, Kat Dennings, Matthew Moy, Max, Oleg, reunion, review, Rita, S6E18, Sophie
Caroline won’t shut up about her boyfriend Bobby. You know, that cute guy Bobby, her boyfriend? Given their burgeoning relationship, and the fact that he also mentions her in the same way, it makes perfect sense that this would be a Caroline-centric episode. With how few and far between these moments are, however, it doesn’t seem like the writers’ room is as comfortable with the setup as they probably should be.
That being said this is just about as linear a narrative as you can get, and while the premise is tried and true the actual scenario presented is a little harder to swallow.
Meeting your significant other’s family is such a comedic staple that it spawned an actual trilogy [everyone forgets Little Fockers], so Caroline being invited to Bobby’s childhood home, which he moved back into after his father died, is pretty standard fare. His insisting that Max go as well also makes sense, since he considers her Caroline’s family. What’s far less plausible is the entire diner staff being able to just tag along with them. Continue reading
Posted in Comedy, family, review, television, writing
Tagged 2 Broke Girls, acting, And the Jessica Shmessica, Beth Behrs, Bobby, Caroline, CBS, Christopher Gorham, dinner, directing, Don Scardino, ex-girlfriend, family, Han, happier with your mouth open, Jonathan Kite, Kat Dennings, Matthew Moy, Max, mom, mother, Oleg, relationship, review, Rita, S6E17, sauce, Sophie, Teresa, WKUK
“When one pair of legs closes, another one opens.”
Or at least that’s what Polish Oprah says. I’d be careful about disagreeing with her, since critics are hanged by the neck until dead. It’s also the tactic that 2 Broke Girls appears to be taking, since I can’t remember a point when both Max and Caroline were in serious romantic relationships at the same time. One may have a brief fling while the other is dating, but that’s about the extent of it.
Larger ensemble comedies have likewise chosen to give select characters the spotlight re: significant others, but in this case the rest of the cast plays second fiddle to the duo at its core. The inability, or unwillingness, of the show’s writers’ room to allow both Max and Caroline date concurrently speaks to their narrow focus. One at a time; wait your turn, please.
To be fair this episode actually closes on the idea that they might be trying to make a change moving forward, so we should probably get to what actually happens-
Posted in Comedy, relationships, review, sex, television
Tagged 2 Broke Girls, 3rd date, And the Tease Time, Beth Behrs, Bobby, burlesque, Caroline, CBS, Christopher Gorham, dancing, Han, Jonathan Kite, Kat Dennings, Katie Wee, lingerie, Matthew Moy, Max, Oleg, relationship, review, Rita, S6E16, sex, Sophie, third date, underwear
“Actions speak louder than words.”
That’s a difficult motto to live by on a blog, but a crucial one in regards to short films given their limited run time. Considering the fact that you could fit the dialogue in Juanjo Giménez’s Timecode on a single sheet of paper only elevates its importance.
With a handful of award-winning short films [including Rodilla and Maximum Penalty]
already to his name the Spanish director’s latest features two security guards who work in an underground parking garage, one taking the day shift and the other the night. Playing Luna and Diego are Lali Ayguadé and Nicolas Ricchini, respectively, and although their shared acting experience is limited there’s no question of their being talented performers.
Both Ayguadé and Ricchini have impressive careers as dancers and choreographers, and their remarkable control over their bodies causes them to imbue every movement with purpose, whether it’s stiffly brushing past each other or jogging back up a hallway to clock-in to work. This even extends to the corner of a mouth being raised ever so slightly. This largely wordless short film might collapse in on itself with different talent, but the duo make it look effortless. Continue reading
Posted in art, Europe, film, music, relationships, review
Tagged acting, actor, choreography, cinematographer, composer, dancer, dancing, Iván Céster, Juanjo Giménez, Lali Ayguadé, music, Niccolas Ricchini, Pere Pueyo, performance, review, score, security guard, short film, Timecode
Move over, 2 Broke Girls, Superior Donuts owns the 9 PM Monday time slot now! The half hour delay of gratification for fans of the sitcom may have been frustrating, but it’s far from something to worry about. After all, it’s not like CBS has moved the show to Friday evenings, where programs go to die.
This week feels like things are back to basics, although the showrunners do try something new within that framework. What’s notable is the absence of an expected Sophie and Oleg B story, with the two narratives instead belonging to the title characters. That’s right, while we get our regular dose of Max we’re also treated to much more Caroline than usual! Continue reading
Posted in relationships, review, television, writing
Tagged 2 Broke Girls, And the Turtle Sense, Beth Behrs, Bobby, Caroline, CBS, Christopher Gorham, Dessert Bar, Han, Jonathan Kite, Kat Dennings, Matthew Moy, Max, movie theatre, Oleg, relationship, review, S6E15, Sophie, sorority
An earnest, plaintive piano melody opens as desperate figures stare out into the middle distance. A woman drops in on an old flame, using some flimsy pretext neither of them believe for a moment. What follows is a terse, tense, and incredibly human exchange as our two protagonists verbally fence over decaf and destiny.
And it’s good.
It’s really, really good.
Two individuals of differing (but equally compelling) perspectives clash over tea. It’s as simple a set-up as you can imagine, but director Mark J. Blackman manages to wring both depth and emotion from it. Sienna (Katie Goldfinch of Crucible of the Vampire, Genie in the House) and Elliot (Johnny Sachon of Cloud 9, Late Shift) examine each others’ lives, what they themselves have become in their time apart, and what they could have become. It’s a beautifully ****ed-up My Dinner With Andre, keeping in mind that I’ve never seen My Dinner With Andre and all I have to go on is Wallace Shawn’s showdown in The Princess Bride. Continue reading
Tagged Animus, art, film, Johnny Sachon, Katie Goldfinch, life, Mark J. Blackman, NEON, philosophy, relationships, review, short film
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