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What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Marjorie Kase

When George Bluth (Jeffrey Tambor) is sent to jail for embezzling millions from the family's real estate venture capital firm, levelheaded son Michael (Jason Bateman) takes control of the company and the family. He does his best to placate his drunk mother Lucille (Jessica Walter) and his needy siblings: Buster (Tony Hale), Gob (pronounced like "Job" in the bible) (Will Arnett); and twin sister Lindsay (Portia de Rossi). The rest of the family requires less of his attention, but are as equally screwed up. His 13-year-old son George Michael (Michael Cera) is in love with Lindsay's daughter Maebe (Alia Shawkat). Maebe's sexually confused father Tobias Fünke (David Cross) sports cutoffs in the shower. Guest stars include Henry Winkler as the family's inept attorney and Liza Minelli as Lucille's vertigo-stricken neighbor and arch nemesis Lucille Austero, who has an Oedipal-like affair with Buster.

Is It Any Good?

4

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT is rightfully the most critically acclaimed show on television. The plotlines are incredibly bizarre, unique, and hilarious. The acting is superb and the direction allows for subtlety not possible on a standard three-camera sitcom. Unfortunately, despite its multiple Emmy awards and industry praise, the show continues to draw poor ratings. With any luck, the appearances this season of Charlize Theron and Scott (keeping it in the Happy Days family) Baio as Winkler's replacement will increase the show's popularity.

Parents should know that this show is definitely NOT for kids. Much of the humor is so quick and subtle it is most likely to go over your children's heads. However, aside from George Michael, the lack of good will in any of the show's characters makes this show unsuitable for kids.

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