[6.9/10] Oof, this is a tough one to grade, because it’s a major mixed bag. I really like the group being at one another’s throats, but then pretending to be all nice and friendly and dignified when the au pair is around. But at the same time, I hate the retrograde bullshit of all of them creeping on the au pair every minute she’s around, after declaring that she’s in high school, until Pete sleeps with her. The comedy on this show has gotten better, but the perspective hasn’t really.
The same goes for the other stories in the episode. I have to give “The Au Pair” this -- Matthew Berry is, unexpectedly, the best guest from the world of sports this show has had. He slots right into the group’s milieu, delivers the gags with aplomb, without descending into the muck of the series’s terrible people. Color me surprised, but hell, give me more Berry. And hell, the entire bit of Kevin wanting his advice and trying to play it cool like the whole thing is a date is a fun conceit (as is Jenny knowing Kevin’s tells for lying.)
But then you have the whole terrible “vulturing” B.S. which makes Peter seem like even more of a douchebag, and more pointless dumping on Andre. The whole vulturing thing is a solid concept for comedy, and again, Berry sells it like a pro, but the entire “do you really think you’re the guy to punch it in on third down” stuff gets really gross, even if the show tries to lampshade it by having them call Andre a creep.
Overall, there’s some solid laughs and good guest stars, but even the talents of Brie Larson(!) can’t quite save this one.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2018-12-15T04:48:08Z
[6.9/10] Oof, this is a tough one to grade, because it’s a major mixed bag. I really like the group being at one another’s throats, but then pretending to be all nice and friendly and dignified when the au pair is around. But at the same time, I hate the retrograde bullshit of all of them creeping on the au pair every minute she’s around, after declaring that she’s in high school, until Pete sleeps with her. The comedy on this show has gotten better, but the perspective hasn’t really.
The same goes for the other stories in the episode. I have to give “The Au Pair” this -- Matthew Berry is, unexpectedly, the best guest from the world of sports this show has had. He slots right into the group’s milieu, delivers the gags with aplomb, without descending into the muck of the series’s terrible people. Color me surprised, but hell, give me more Berry. And hell, the entire bit of Kevin wanting his advice and trying to play it cool like the whole thing is a date is a fun conceit (as is Jenny knowing Kevin’s tells for lying.)
But then you have the whole terrible “vulturing” B.S. which makes Peter seem like even more of a douchebag, and more pointless dumping on Andre. The whole vulturing thing is a solid concept for comedy, and again, Berry sells it like a pro, but the entire “do you really think you’re the guy to punch it in on third down” stuff gets really gross, even if the show tries to lampshade it by having them call Andre a creep.
Overall, there’s some solid laughs and good guest stars, but even the talents of Brie Larson(!) can’t quite save this one.