Protraph
Lack of good storyline.
Siflutter
It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.
Roman Sampson
One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
studioAT
And all the fuss about this show is about what? Because all I saw is a weak comedy that boasted good performances from those involved in the first few years and then went far beyond it's natural run to become the occasional show that pops up now and again only to prove that it was a far better one when the kids were young and cute.I know the BBC aren't exactly blessed with many comedy options that don't involve Mrs Brown or Citizen Khan, but this show is weak and not worthy of being heralded every time the cast 'reunite' to do a Christmas special.I don't get the hype, sorry.
beresfordjd
This is just a terrific series. Why the BBC saw fit to bury it with no fanfare is totally mystifying. It is beautifully put together by the writers, actors and director and works just about as well as it possibly could. Hugh Dennis and Clare Skinner are great as the long-suffering parents and are beautifully matched. It is the children though that make this unusual sitcom work. They deliver their lines with fantastic timing and a real sense of reality. Ramona Marquez is just wonderful and so funny - annoying and sweet at the same time - a very difficult thing to pull off. Daniel Roche and Tyger Drew-Honey (what a name!!) are just as good as seasoned professional actors twice their age. I am so glad a laugh track was not added - it makes the action seem so much more real plus it is so funny it does not need one. it needs to be promoted properly and it would achieve a greater status with the viewing public - the BBC are notorious for poor promotion, unless it is another sodding cookery programme!! Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkins are to be congratulated on the creation of this marvellous piece of work.
mikestick
This is a great favourite. Most parents with more than two children feel outnumbered, but when there are three as extrovert as Karen, Ben and Jake, the parents don't stand a chance. Every family crisis is magnified by the kids, who always hear everything that they shouldn't. Jake is the older one, and the most sensible. Ben has a fantasy mind filled with superheroes and extreme animals, and his flights of fantasy take him far beyond the suburban jungle that he lives in. Karen is very focused, and what makes it funny is that the questions she asks are so sensible, but adult as well, and inconvenient, so she asks about relationships, and why people do the things that they do, and the consequences, and then draws parallels with other situations. Above all the kids never stop talking, and the parents Pete and Sue have a constant battle to hold back the deluge of questions and comments. Pete (High Dennis) plays second fiddle to wife Sue (Claire Skinner), and they are both excellent in their parts. Neither of them successfully cope with all that life throws at them, and the dialogue is hilarious. Thanks, guys, for a first-rate show!!
greatdonno
This is simply the best written sitcom of the year so far, certainly for the BBC, it plays like The Royle Family for the middle class each line is perfectly written and timed to perfection. Hugh Dennis is always good when he looks a little flustered and Claire Skinner is great as harassed mother while Samantha Bond proves their is life after well.. Bond as the ditzy aunt. But its the kids who really should be praised for the most realistic portrayals of children on T.V. ever. Mostly improvising their lines to avoid falling into the clichés - the elder boy is the antithesis of the eleven year old in his first weeks at secondary school keeping his head down, monosyllabic and trying to keep the fact he is being bullied under wraps. The younger boy plays for laughs as the constantly lying middle child he is full of energy and manages to be annoying and likable at the same time. While the little girl is really cute and asking any question that pops into her brain stumping the parents every five minutes. The show is also great with dealing with issues such political correctness, bullying, the class system and the elderly in such a breezy and non-preachy manner. After several years in the wilderness following the success of Drop the Dead Donkey, Guy Jenkins and Andy Hamilton have created another great sitcom which has been buried in the schedules by the BBC and therefore probably won't be noticed by most people who turn the TV off after the 10 o'clock news, this may find cult status on repeat viewing and come back for a second series in a new and improved time slot.
