[9.6/10] One of those brilliant, clockwork episodes of IASIP that brings the dark laughs at the same time it’s bringing loony, weirdly-connected stories.
I enjoyed the natural absurdity of Charlie and Mac trying to figure out how to get Charlie’s German shepherd painting (which emits “evil vibes”) back. The two make for a nicely idiotic pair, which makes their misadventures funny. The banter between the two has that Confederacy of Dunces-style logic between dolts that brings the laughs, particularly when they’re imagining Da Vinci Code-style twists and fantasy casting the movie about this escapade. I got a particular kick out of Charlie continuing to huff the gas from the dentist’s office, and announce the twist involving the painting like a movie villain (while wearing braces? It was hard to tell). Another bit of the absurd heights the show goes to.
I also got big laughs out of Dee and Dennis trying to decide whether to pull the plug on their Nazi grandfather. From realizing they were sent to Nazi training camps by their grandad via revisiting old movies, to their back and forth over whether they can tolerate being responsible for someone’s death, to the fact that they’re ready to wipe their hands of the whole deal by giving The Lawyer (who’s as funny as ever) Power of Attorney to get it done is all great. Like Mac and Charlie, the Reynolds kids have a particular vibe together that really works comedically.
And naturally, Frank is often on his own, getting trapped in things and ranting about Nazi treasure and soup, in that out there way Danny DeVito’s mastered on this show.
Plus, man, the setups and payoffs in this one! I love the continuity nods to the prior episode where they dealt with familial heritage. The fact that Mac and Charlie visit Cricket at the vet’s office (who is in yet another rough stretch), only to go back there when Dee and Dennis want to “warm up” on the “killing something” front is good writing. Plus there’s little bits like the doctor who pulls the plug on Pop-Pop noting that he has to get back to the ER because of all the stray dog attacks that have been happening lately, a great follow-up to the scene where the Reynolds let all the stray dogs (and Crickett) free instead of euthanizing them. And the whole silly Da Vinci Code fake out, where you think Charlie painted the dog painting, but it turns out he painted over an “original Hitler” is outstanding.
Overall, this is the show at its best, with great character pairings, dark transgressive humor that is nonetheless sharp, and downright elegant storytelling that manages to connect everything narratively and comedically.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2018-02-11T16:14:42Z
[9.6/10] One of those brilliant, clockwork episodes of IASIP that brings the dark laughs at the same time it’s bringing loony, weirdly-connected stories.
I enjoyed the natural absurdity of Charlie and Mac trying to figure out how to get Charlie’s German shepherd painting (which emits “evil vibes”) back. The two make for a nicely idiotic pair, which makes their misadventures funny. The banter between the two has that Confederacy of Dunces-style logic between dolts that brings the laughs, particularly when they’re imagining Da Vinci Code-style twists and fantasy casting the movie about this escapade. I got a particular kick out of Charlie continuing to huff the gas from the dentist’s office, and announce the twist involving the painting like a movie villain (while wearing braces? It was hard to tell). Another bit of the absurd heights the show goes to.
I also got big laughs out of Dee and Dennis trying to decide whether to pull the plug on their Nazi grandfather. From realizing they were sent to Nazi training camps by their grandad via revisiting old movies, to their back and forth over whether they can tolerate being responsible for someone’s death, to the fact that they’re ready to wipe their hands of the whole deal by giving The Lawyer (who’s as funny as ever) Power of Attorney to get it done is all great. Like Mac and Charlie, the Reynolds kids have a particular vibe together that really works comedically.
And naturally, Frank is often on his own, getting trapped in things and ranting about Nazi treasure and soup, in that out there way Danny DeVito’s mastered on this show.
Plus, man, the setups and payoffs in this one! I love the continuity nods to the prior episode where they dealt with familial heritage. The fact that Mac and Charlie visit Cricket at the vet’s office (who is in yet another rough stretch), only to go back there when Dee and Dennis want to “warm up” on the “killing something” front is good writing. Plus there’s little bits like the doctor who pulls the plug on Pop-Pop noting that he has to get back to the ER because of all the stray dog attacks that have been happening lately, a great follow-up to the scene where the Reynolds let all the stray dogs (and Crickett) free instead of euthanizing them. And the whole silly Da Vinci Code fake out, where you think Charlie painted the dog painting, but it turns out he painted over an “original Hitler” is outstanding.
Overall, this is the show at its best, with great character pairings, dark transgressive humor that is nonetheless sharp, and downright elegant storytelling that manages to connect everything narratively and comedically.