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Rules of Engagement

What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Sierra Filucci

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT chronicles the intersecting lives of a married couple, a newly engaged twosome, and their bachelor friend.

Is It Any Good?

2

This traditional-style sitcom follows the all-too-familiar path of making light of male-female relationships, falling back on trite generalizations and stereotypes for laughs. For example, when Adam (Oliver Hudson) tells his single buddy Russell (David Spade) that he's proposed to his girlfriend, Russell reacts with disgust, wondering aloud why anyone would want to settle down and give up sleeping around. When Adam defends his decision by proclaiming his love for his fiancée, Russell ironically exclaims, "That's so gay!" This kind of played-out humor joins other examples of clichéd comedy stereotypes that portray men as unwilling, ignorant, or helpless participants in relationships, while women appear as wedding-, clothing-, and romance-obsessed twits who expect their partners to read their minds. One of the few bright spots is Patrick Warburton as long-married Jeff (who alarms Adam by confiding that his sex life has been replaced by Letterman).

With its frank talk about sex (including one-night-stands) and potentially offensive portrayals of men and women, parents will want most teens to stay away from Rules of Engagement. Not that many kids of any age would be terribly interested in a show that's mostly about married life, though Spade's sharp humor might be a potential draw.

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