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| Left to right: Chris O'Dowd and Amy Seimetz |
Every Thursday, join us as we join Chris O'Dowd in the Christopher Guest show Family Tree as he discovers just how bizarre his family can get. With the king of mockumentaries finally entering the TV world, we all must wonder how he'll manage to adapt to a universe that has been getting rich off his influence for over a decade. Still, is Guest's introduction to the TV universe one worthy of excitement? Follow us every week as we look at the HBO show and recount the highs and lows, including favorite family members, Monkey's best moments, and if Guest is really the best.
Plot: Tom (Chris O'Dowd) enjoys his final days in America by discovering what it is that his relative Tumbleweed Tim did.
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| Ed Begley Jr. |
There is something that I have found fascinating about Al ever since they introduced the American family. For all of his well wishes, he essentially is just a paranoid man who doesn't believe anything that's happened. While not quite giving King of the Hill's Dale Gribble a run for his money, he does reach new highs of conspiracy theorists with this episode in which he attempts to debunk the JFK Assassination (he claims that they moved the Grassy Knoll to Area 51), the moon landing (he claims that there is a colony on the dark side of the moon), and whether or not people tried to silence Neil Diamond after he cancels due to throat problems. It is all just a hoot and in small doses, it is hard for this somewhat thin premise to ever go wrong. What helps is that despite his beliefs, he is just an all around good man, which is the real ingredient to his appeal.
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| Left to right: O'Dowd and Nina Conti |
Monkey Moment: It almost seemed like everyone in this episode had an amped up story this week. It could just be because we are facing the untimely season finale. Still, over the past eight episodes, we have come to understand the bond of Monkey and Bea (Nina Conti). That is why when during a trip to Venice Beach goes wrong, it does make for one of the best moments that the Monkey/Bea combo has made. Things go far worse when Monkey winds up in a donation bin and Bea has to argue with an employee (Brooke Dillman). The reunion is sweet, if only after a huge moment of obsession and chaos. If there was any doubt that Monkey was Bea's grasp on sanity, that moment alone should change your mind.
Best in Fake Show: Aim Low
Again, not necessarily a show, but we get to see what Tumbleweed Tim's movies look like. It is a nice touch and continuing proof that Christopher Guest knows how to make something novelty look authentic. This looks like a classic western and we get the strong sense that along with his memorabilia, he was definitely a unique cowboy, and not just because he was Jewish and had equipment that was laced with Hebrew lettering.
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| Tom Bennett |
I am beginning to realize that I probably haven't put Pete into this category despite him being a consistent source of comedy on the show. I sometimes find him awkwardly fitted into episodes, but this week, he may be one of the best parts. Whether it is cruising down Venice Beach and hitting on women or helping Bea rescue Monkey, he is a real trooper. Even when he's just sitting in the background, he does some amusing stuff that sometimes may seem like a lost in translation act, but is really just an endearing way of pointing out how crazy everything can be.
Overall: 4.5 out of 5
Why is there only eight episodes of this show? I know that the symmetry of four in England and four in America is an ideal setup, but the season as a whole has been one of the most impressive, entertaining pieces of work from a new TV show this year. Most of all, my belief that Tom and Ally (Amy Seimetz) would be a couple has been proven true. As they got to the airport at the end of the episode, I felt weak. I want more from these characters and even the subtle farewell party had several gags that I felt were reminders of why the show was great. While I worry that this will just become an international traveler show with rotating Christopher Guest troupe, I hope that the show keeps up some form of continuity with relationships and the family tree logic. It has reached bizarre highs and rarely sunk low enough to be awful. I love Family Tree and no matter what, I just hope that next season, providing it comes, will have a longer season.
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