This is another one that I expected to be worse than it was. That being said, I wouldn’t call it good. Just not bad.
Michael Anderson (George Stults) and his wife Caroline (Christy Carlson Romano) came from nothing in Georgia with their twins Julia (Savannah Judy) and Brendan (Luke Judy). But now, Michael is a successful partner at a firm in LA with his dad (Barry Livingston). But the money has made Michael kind of an idiot. Nobody seems to like him, including his closest friend and colleague, Ray (Dale Godboldo). Ray’s wife Pattie (Ion Overman) seems to be frenemies with Caroline, but it’s weird. I don’t think I understand frenemies because they are also legitimately each other’s closest friend. There’s also Ashton (Kannon Kurowski), one of Brendan’s friends that seems to just live there no matter how many times they tell him to go home, which to me feels like a callback to Beans on Even Stevens- the show where Christy Carlson Romano got her start. My personal favorite character in this movie is Michael’s zany Aunt Katie (Julie Brown) because they may not want her there, but she is the voice of reason and the true hero of this film.
The conflict in this occurs when Michael loses his job because his dad thinks that he doesn’t have the right attitude for the image the firm wants. Basically, Michael is greedy and using the law to help the bad guys get away with stuff because it means that he gets more money. Caroline has her own store selling scented soaps, lotions, etc., and it’s not making any money. I kind of expected their financial struggles to be more pronounced, but they did kind of discuss it. I’m sure the mortgage on their house isn’t cheap. But it’s a little anticlimactic.
This was the kind of movie you would put on to have as background noise or because it’s just in tv and easier than finding something else because you’re not really watching. Michael’s character arc is super weird and not believable. Caroline seems smart but doesn’t act like it consistently. The kids seem bratty but then they’re fine with not having a Christmas tree. It’s all very weird. Overall, I think 2 stars for this one.
Dale Godboldo (Instagram)
Had a ball working with these guys in tonight's premiere. One of the best sets I've been on.
Cote/Mark, Thx for making a brutha feel welcomed.🙏 @ncis_cbs #NCIS
“OUT OF THE DARKNESS” — ZIVA SURPRISES GIBBS WITH A CRYPTIC WARNING, PROMPTING HIM TO QUESTION WHY SHE REMAINED UNDERGROUND FOR YEARS WHILE BEING PRESUMED DEAD BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND WHAT LED TO HER RETURN, ON THE 17TH SEASON PREMIERE OF “NCIS,” TUESDAY, SEPT. 24
"Had a ball working with these guys in tonight's premiere. One of the best sets I've been on. Cote/Mark, thx for making a brutha feel welcomed 🙏🏾 @ncis_cbs #NCIS "