Plot: What’s it about?
Among the vast repository of shows that come out each and every year, it’s a rarity that one not only survives, but actually becomes “critically-acclaimed.” But one such show is Modern Family, and, as the name entails it’s a tad bit different from The Brady Bunch. The show, now entering its fourth season, has somewhat redrawn the lines of what “normal” television shows should be. But as Bob Dylan said “the times…they are a-changin’” and Modern Family is at the forefront of that change. For those that haven’t seen the show, this isn’t a good place to start. Go back and start at the beginning with season one – you’ll be glad you did. But if you’re stubborn and/or lazy, then here’s a crash course in what to expect during all the seasons. We’ve got Jay (Ed O’Neil) married to bombshell Gloria (Sophia Vergara) who has a son from a previous marriage, Manny (Rico Rodriguez). Jay’s daughter, Claire (Julie Bowen) is married to Phil (Ty Burrell), a realtor. And then we’ve got Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron (Eric Stonestreet), two life partners that have adopted a baby. In a nutshell, that’s it.
The show is presented in a mockumentary style that follows the adventures (or mis-adventures) of all facets of the family. On one hand, you’ve got a seemingly normal nuclear family with Claire and Phil, but their kids keep life interesting. Jay, hard-headed and old-fashioned, has problems with his son’s sexuality (Mitchell), but tries to also be a loving father. In the third season, we find more of the same, but the show has really hit its stride and it’s clear the cast is set with their roles and is expanding upon them. The show is not only critically-acclaimed, but has become a ratings powerhouse, bringing in nearly 15 million viewers per week. It was nominated for 14 Emmy nominations and shows no signs of slowing down. Admittedly, it does take a bit of time to get into the show, but once it has you – it won’t let go. The humor is offbeat and a bit shocking at times, but when you consider the source material, it’s to be expected. Granted, this show won’t be for everyone but it won me over and that’s a hard thing to do. As mentioned, the third season is more of what the first two seasons had to offer and no matter what surprises the fourth season brings, we still have this. Highly recommended.
Video: How does it look?
Having seen a majority of the episodes in HD when they originally aired, I was intrigued to see how these looked on Blu-ray. As it turns out, they look pretty much the same. Now that’s a good thing as the shows are shown in their original 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Colors are vibrant and bold and detail level is excellent. As mentioned above, the show does have a “mockumentary” style to it, so be prepared for the handheld camera to move and sway. Remember, this isn’t your parents’ sit com. On the whole, I really found nothing to complain about. It looks a touch better on Blu-ray than it does during its original broadcast, but that’s to be expected. Viewers will be more than pleased with the visual efforts here.
Audio: How does it sound?
It’s odd to describe a television show that contains a DTS HD Master Audio soundtrack, but indeed Modern Family does have such a track. Granted, most of the action is dialogue-driven and as such it sounds very rich and warm. Surrounds come into play here and there, but by and large the front stage handles the action. There’s not really a whole lot to say, but while other television shows like Person of Interest sound more like films, this one is more akin to other television shows. Like the video presentation, I don’t think anyone will have any cause for worry here.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This three disc set isn’t without some notable supplements. We start off with some deleted and alternate scenes as well as a few featurettes filmed when the cast went to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We get some behind the scenes footage, “A Day on the Set with Ty” in which he literally guides us through a day and we hang out with the kids as well. The second disc offers some more of the same with some additional deleted scenes, we get a behind the scenes look at the Christmas episode and “Driving Lessons” in which Luke and Manny steal a car to impress a girl. Lastly we see Ed O’Neill get his star on the Hollywood walk of fame. Yep, Al Bundy is on the Hollywood walk of fame. The final disc has even more deleted scenes and “Modern Family Goes to Disneyland” which is a look at the Disney episode. Wrapping it all up is a gag reel that runs nearly ten minutes. Impressive.
