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Arrest your expectations!

I first started watching Arrested Development 2 years after its 3rd and final series had wrapped up. I'd read in passing about what a great show it was, glimpsed at occasional snippets calling it "The greatest sitcom of all time" in various magazines and dismissed the claims as 'hyperbolic flavor of the month', since many magazines (Who shall remain nameless) tend to crassly over-exaggerate for the sake of it. (Empire). Still, eventually my curiosity got the better of me and I hastily picked up a copy of the first series and....was underwhelmed.

I went in not only with high expectations and with a certain degree of anxiety, after all, I'd purchased this on a whim. Obviously there were things about it I liked straight away (Gob!), but I went into it trying too hard to enjoy it and came out of the first series wondering what all the fuss was about. So, I watched the series again, somewhat indifferent this time and low and behold I loved it. I'd become familiar with the series' style, tone and quirky characterisation on first viewing and subconsciously adjusted to it. By my second viewing I became immersed in it, now familiar with the characters and their relationships, by the time I'd finished season one again I was ready for series 2.

When I'd finished series 2 it was already my favourite show of all time.

I get far too involved when it comes to writing synopsis so I'd advise you just Google the show and read the Wiki page. Still, it's a sitcom with fabulous writing and an even better cast that includes Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Jessica Walter, Michael Cera and Jefferey Tambor. Combine this with an array of brilliant cameos, some ingenious satire, insider gags and a format which rewards those paying attention and you've got yourself one great show. It's just a shame nobody noticed until it was too late.

Arrested Development never caught on with the greater masses, getting lost in the shuffle  and eventually getting cancelled, ending its run in 2006, god knows, those increasingly smug Seth Macfarlane projects aren't gonna watch themselves.

Hey Lois, remember the time this show was funny?

 Sour grapes aside, it was always a crying shame that the show ended so soon. Still the show developed a strong cult following (Every show has one of them these days, but that's a rant for another day) and fans continued to champion it every chance they got (Myself included) and campaigned for the increasingly unlikely forth series.

So nobody was as happy as I was when the show finally did get a renewal. After years of deliberation, rumblings of a movie and a few fan documentaries, Netflix renewed the series (Originally for 10 episodes, later extended to 15) for its much deserved forth season and I was excited.....for a while.

That same trepidation that I'd experienced the first time around was back again, only this time it was perhaps worse. Alarm bells began ringing when Mitch Hurwitz and Jason Bateman confirmed that due to scheduling conflicts amongst the cast each episode would focus on an individual character rather than concentrating on the family as a unit.(Due to the last-minute shooting and scheduling conflicts of the cast) Arrested Development is a show that adheres to that time tested comedy trope, the dysfunctional family. Ironically, the cast were far removed from their dysfunctional, offbeat counterparts that they operated a lot like a real family on set, which allowed their performances (Specifically timing and improvisation) to shine through on screen. To move them away from each other on screen would be (As Gob often so astutely puts it) a huge mistake. The Bluth family are the heart of Arrested Development and so much of the comedy emanates from the characters interactions with each other and some characters, enjoyable as they are, wouldn't be able to carry an entire episode. (I mean was anybody really clamouring for a Maebe episode?).

Then of course there was the worry that the show had ended at just the right time, despite the unfortunate circumstances. Would a renewal beat the old, great jokes into the ground, would we the audience become tired of those characters we knew and loved?

Well, of the fifteen new episodes I've watched 8 of them and here are my thoughts so far.

Hmmmm.

Aesthetically, the show is as familiar, yet fresh as it always was, even the ad breaks are still in tact. (Netflix has no advertisements). In fact the shows aesthetics are so similar, it felt in some ways like it had never left. The cast (Aside from a strangely bird-like Michael Cera) don't look like they've aged all that much and all of them gamely fit back into their beloved characters and it's great to see them back. Hell, I even enjoyed seeing/hearing Ron Howard return. All the old favourite bit-part players are back too (Carl Weathers!) as well as some new faces, some more welcome then others. (Get to that later). So far so good right?!

Without a doubt the shows biggest strength is also its biggest weakness and that's the writing. Firstly shows now run between 30 to 35 minutes, that's an extra ten to fifteen minutes per episode meaning there's a lot of fat and some of the episodes really suffer. That's not to say that these extra minutes are joyless, however the pacing suffers and despite the extra time, it seems the writers are cramming in way too much plot and exposition.

Then of course there's the new format, giving nearly every character his or her own episode. The hook of course is that each characters story is running parallel to the others and there are points where their adventures overlap and characters bump into each other. When this happens, the exchanges are as gold as ever, it's just a shame they don't happen enough.


Oh and those new faces I was talking about earlier, it seems Arrested Development has its share of celebrity fans too as there are a TON of new famous faces who are obviously having a ball with the material. With that said, not all of them fit in with the show (Seth Rogen and Kristen Wiig give it their best efforts but stick out like sore thumbs) and the parade of cameos can be a bit much at times. With that said the always game Terry Crews and Ron Howard (Yes the same) are more than welcome additions.

Kristen Wiig and Seth Rogen as a younger Lucille and George Sr.

What's important though is that AD is back and that's something even the most cynical, hard to please fan should be happy about. (After all, they're likely the ones who campaigned for its return). As I said, the writing may be the new series' biggest weakness, but it is also its greatest strength.The non-linear series narrative (though over complicated at times) and character crossovers have been so well crafted that even the biggest critics will have to admire the boldness of the new format and the care that has gone into scripting it. These over-scripted sequences may have sacrificed some of the inspired  improvisations between the cast but it lends itself to the self-referential gags and Easter eggs that make re watching the original series such a pleasure.

The early episodes of the season 4 are perhaps the hardest to get through, but stick with it and you'll start to appreciate how clever the writing actually is, as gags start to gain context and the story begins to fit together. Like a complicated puzzle, you'll get off to an slow start but dammit, it's  rewarding as it comes together.

Of course, I'm only halfway through the season and I can't give a 100% accurate verdict on this series but I can leave you with some advice. Just sit back and enjoy it. No, it's not the Arrested Development you're used to, not entirely, but then on its first run, was it like the rest of those sitcoms you knew and loved? No. But we loved it for what it was, not for what it wasn't. More importantly, if this series does well (And I see no reason why it won't), there's no way this will be the end for the Bluth family, I mean every season ends on a cliffhanger right? And whose to say that if we do get the long awaited movie, or indeed a fifth season that we'll see a return to the more traditional series with full commitment by the cast.

Show your support for Arrested Development and Netflix (The unsung hero of this story) by watching this new series and watch it neutrally. Don't bog yourself down with the viewpoints of others (Except mine) or a set of expectations, judge it on its own merits, as a new and ambitious entry into the Arrested Development canon and enjoy.

The new job

It's been far too long since I've done this, far too long since I engaged in this narcissitic, yet theraputic exercise. But, absence makes the heart grow fonder and at long last I have returned to my blog. I've always had something of a love/hate relationship with writing. As enjoyable as it is to look back at your finished product, it can be a long and arduous task plagued with frustration and irreversible retina damage. There is often a great deal of time spent loooking at a blank screen or furiously typing out an opening sentance before your brain decides what you wrote was total shit and thus you must start ALL OVER AGAIN.

 

Every entry in this blog has started like this 

Case in point In the ten minutes I've spent on this entry already, I have deliberated on the subject matter and length of this entry. Truth be told I would love to write a long, detailed account of my time at University, but alas, I am far too lazy to do that now and a little distracted what with being in work and all. Oh my new job? Well, after years of being knee deep in retail-induced apathy and spending the better part of my post-grad year in work experience placements for radio, TV and even editorial writing, I got my break. I'll cover in more detail the difficulty that I believe most students get to when they leave, but with all sincerity I can say it was one of the most difficult periods of my life. No amount of ironic speeches from your lecturers or first-hand accounts can prepare you for that inevitable culture shock one faces when they are torn from the comforts of uni life.

 I like to think I was as prepared as anyone could be for someone moving 200 miles away from somewhere that had been my home for 3 years; arranging a new living arrangement with my relatives upon return, a transfer from one Starbucks to another (Or hell to another depending on how you choose to look at it) and bracing myself for the possibility that I might not end up doing what I wanted career wise. Without going into too much detail, I don't think I could have prepared myself for the hours of doubt and occasional self-pity. However, I kept my options open and got stuck into many different areas of the media and although the conditions weren't always great (Working for a magazine in an old building with no heating) and some of the road-blocks were unavoidable (My lack of qualifications for journalism and creative writing),I was able to take some positive learning experiences away from each one. And then, in May of last year I finally caught a break and got a job in one of Bristol's most respected Post-Production houses. Films@59.

Time was running out by this point, I had been living with my aunt and uncle 9 months at this point and was still in a job I hated, still not in a position to move out and seriously considering residing myself to at least 6 months more of retail and work placements. On something of a whim decided to stop by Films with a CV and a covering letter, this time insisting to talk to someone in person. My little bit of persistance paid off and after resigning from Starbucks for a trial contract, I was hired. I haven't looked back. Although this entry may seem to be nothing more than textual masturbation, this is one of the few times I have been able to sit back and say that I am truly proud of what I was able to achieve. I really believe that I worked hard for this job and although I am not yet in what I call a 'dream job', I am on route to getting there and not many people get to say that. Did hard-work alone get me to where I am today? no. Did luck play a big part in it, absolutely. But I am a firm believer that you make your own luck and to be truly successful you need a combination of both these things and perhaps most importantly, perseverance. I'll never forget working in Starbucks and having my boss say to me almost gleefully 'There's nothing out there but retail', part of me always resented him for that, but in hindsight I think it lit a fire in me not to be complacent and inspired me to follow through on my ambitions. Remember if you want something, work hard at it and never give up! (Except when pursuing women, do yourself a favour and nip it in the bud)

Well, that all got a bit X-Factor Audition didn't it.... I would like to point out that I mean no disrespect anybody who works in retail, I just FUCKING HATE IT. , it's just not for me.

An update, an explanation and some stupidity.

HI ALL!

So yeah, there was (and is) to be a 3 part University essay coming to the blog but sadly Christmas, work and a ton of work experience have gotten in the way of that. I am rather overrun at present so I cannot give the University work as much time as I would like right now.

I am however writing for Sickchirpse.com where I am posting various film reviews and I am also doing an internship with Inspiredtimes.com so my writing "career" is still coming along.

On the subject of sickchirpse, I recently submitted an article on my drunken stupidity. Unfortunately, I was too self deprecating and not "cool" enough (Bullshit, just read it)and it was a little too personal. Still, never fear the post is here in all of its.....um glory.

Drunken misadventures (Volume 1)



Hello, my name is Craig and I have a drinking problem. Not in the traditional sense mind you (I drink perhaps once a week and never do so alone), but in the sense that something rather bad happens to me when I drink. If you know me personally, or have read my posts then you may have caught on that I am a rather cynical person with a dry sense of humour. If you’ve met me in person or, God forbid, seen me at work, you will also know my voice rarely strays outside of ‘monotonous’.

Perhaps it’s because my day job fills me with such resentment and contempt, or that I have a substantial void in my life since leaving University, but when I do indulge in an alcoholic soaked night out I tend to just...let it all hang out. Spending and drinking just a bit too much and throwing caution to the wind. You see kids, I am a victim of the Post-University syndrome. Upon finishing I found myself separated from all of my friends and thrust rather unpleasantly into the real world of 9 to 5 mediocrity. My days are now a combination of retail hell, unpaid work experience and Facebook loitering (for which there should be a legal punishment). These sacrifices will no doubt pay off in the long run, but right now the void left in my social life is such that when a rare social outing is on offer, I go a bit crazy.

Now, unlike many who drink I never start fights, throw up violently, or make the most of the inflated self esteem and you know, try and meet a woman. Instead I become overwhelmed by a surge of juvenile idiocy. Think of it as an example of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde, if Jekyll were played by Alan Rickman and Hyde by David Brent. The transformation looks something like this.


Sauber and taking life far too seriously



1 drink later and loathed by all


Yeah, I know Tom Cruise references are very 2005 and that comparing yourself to Tom Cruise may seem egotistical (but we are the same height), but you get the point.

So it really hit me this weekend when I had some University friends down just how big this problem is. We engaged in some heavy drinking, reminiscing about better times and enjoying each other’s company. This civil behaviour was not to last though. After a particularly pitiful attempt to attract some female attention (turns out “Give me a cigarette and I’ll sort you out” does not make for a good chat up line), and winding up other bouncers by saying nonsensical things, we all headed home where upon further shenanigans ensued.

I don’t know what it is about traffic cones and roadwork signs that makes stealing them such an exciting endeavour for students, I guess it’s just some weird unwritten universal law. Anyways, on our way home we saw some road signs and traffic cones (on the pavement, not the road) and of course I took it upon myself to steal a cone declaring “IT’S JUST LIKE UNI AGAIN WOOOO". Thankfully my friends were there to put a stop to these hi-jinks. They were not there however to stop me doing my best Chuck Norris impression and performing a flying kick at a nearby roadwork sign. The awesome power of Chuck Norris (another outdated reference. I’m on fire!) was clearly with me this night as my foot went through the sign and I got stuck in the process.

I’m 24 years old.

And single. Ladies.

So yeah, while most people who have been out of drinking will tell tales of outrageous adventures and wild one night stands, I can tell tales about nights where I attempted to teach road signs a thing or two. And failed. This silly behaviour is sort of a problem, but hell, solitary traffic cones are really the only victims outside of my dignity, so I guess it could be worse. I could have danced. There's no excuse in the world that can justify that believe me.

Missing University

If you've been a regular reader of this here blog you will be aware that I have recently finished University, spending 3 years amongst the great unwashed, engaging in pretentious, nonsensical debates and consuming outrageous amounts of food and drink (That hasn't really stopped).



This will make for a fine starters


Since leaving I have had some difficulty adjusting to adult life and have reminisced on more than one occasion to anyone who will listen about how great my life was prior to leaving university, not that my life is bad or anything, it's just not the same. You see university is like that ex girlfriend you never quite got over, you'll bore people to death with stories that can only possibly be of interest to you and try to recapture the experience, often failing and looking slightly sad in the process.(You're never too old for Touchcup IMO) You see, like that relationship with said ex girlfriend, university ended for a reason and instead of living in the past, it is time to move onward and upwards to bigger and better things.



Smile through the pain


But the truth is, since leaving I have wanted to write something about my time at Portsmouth University, a little tribute to the experiences I had and the friend's I made. Aside from my outright laziness the reason said entry has taken so long to emerge is because I feel it would be difficult to the entire 3 years justice. So, with that said I have come up with a solution. Over the next couple of weeks I will be writing an entry for each individual year. I'm going to try and avoid crossing over into bad Myspace blog territory, however, sentimentality will rear its ugly head on more then one occasion so be warned. Expect a new entry by the end of the week.

Weekend food diary

Since leaving university I have been spending a lot of time in the gym trying to improve my level of fitness, to some degree I've been successful, losing most of my stomach fat and developing something mildly resembling the ever elusive six pack. To be fair a great deal of this success can be attributed to my improved diet since moving in with my aunt and uncle, gone are the "healthy" university meals such as Tuna Pasta marinaded in mayonaise and Chilli Con Carne with a side of 28p Garlic Bread and, oh yes, a generous side of mayonaise. No, since leaving Uni I've been relying on my Aunt and Uncle's culinary skills and I'm perhaps the healthiest I've ever been....That was until this weekend where I relapsed somewhat.

Me and 3 of my university friends decided to reunite for, what was a delightful weekend in the country, for whatever reason we all decided to gorge ourselves silly, the amount of food and drink consumed was such that I decided to document it here. What follows is a food diary that begins Friday evening and ends Sunday evening.

Friday

7 slices of take away pizza.
1 Vodka Martini (It was fucking disgusting)
5 Martini and Lemonade's (250ml)

Saturday

1 Full English Breakfast consisting of 4 slices of bacon, 2 eggs, 2 hash browns, 2 sausages, 2 slices of toast and some beans.
2 and a half croisants with butter and jam.
3 chocolate muffins
2 snowball cocktails (Tall Glass)
3 Martini and Lemonade's (250 ml)
1 Crabbie's Beer
2 large glasses of wed wine
A shared 'Asian' Deli Board
1 Slice of crusty bread
Steak and chips (With larged cooked mushroom on the side)
1 Sticky Toffee Pudding with ginger ice cream
1 chocolate pudding with ice cream (Half eaten....I was still hungry)
1 Vodka and Lemonade (Tall Glass)
1 small glass of Port (50 ml)

Sunday (This is where things got really silly)

5+ Scotch Pancakes w/ butter and syrup
1 slice of bread with homemade Jam
1 Cup of Coffee
1 Bag of Fruit Pastilles
Handfuls of Galaxy Minstrels
Handfuls of M & M's
Steak and Potato Wedges (With mayo and ketchup)
Nachos (Covered in cheese and salsa dip)
Chocolate Brownie and Cornish Ice Cream
1 glass of Lemonade (Tall Glass)
1 Roast Dinner (Which I'm trying eat as I type this)

So yes, this could be my last entry ever as I am liable to do a Mr. Creosote at any moment now. Goodbye kids, it's been fun. Eat healthy!

Defining a classic: An analysis of Pixar's Up

Up (2009)

It seems the term classic is banded around far too hastily these days. Disney has deemed the entirety of its animated feature film catalogue as ‘classic’ despite entries that range from the mediocre (Mulan) to the downright disastrous (The Black Cauldron). ‘Classic’ status is given to movies that have just a few lines of dialogue and/or memorable moments that highlight an otherwise unremarkable feature (Scarface) . Even movies which are devoid of any remarkable quality whatsoever can be deemed ‘classic’, just ask Ed Wood. It seems the term has become more of a marketing tool, rather than a unanimous recognition of achievement. Of course, to then proclaim Pixar’s magnificent animation Up as a classic may seem hypocritical and an example of individual hyperbole, how is then that Up deserves to the controversial title of Classic?

The film’s opening sequences appear to situate the film in familiar territory, Pixar’s fondness for sending up old public service broadcasts and the exploration of childhood innocence and desire for adventure, as well as that familiar movie staple, budding romance. We are introduced to our protagonist Carl Fredrickson,a young boy who dreams of being the, somewhat dubious in his integrity, explorer Charles Muntz, on his way home one day he stumbles into an abandoned house where he meets kindred spirit Ellie, who too wants to travel to South America. What follows is a short but touching montage showing the children’s blossoming romance transition into elderly contentment, a life marked by more than one tragedy, not least that by the time of Ellie’s death the couple were never able to fulfil one of their lifelong dreams and travel. Carl, now elderly and living alone, unable to function in a modern world that is rapidly moving away from him, up and moves away to South America, taking his entire house with him, with the help of a thousand helium balloons.

As with all Pixar films there is plenty to enjoy visually, with the film boasting some of the richest animation and fully realized worlds seen in the genre. The narrative is particularly quirky even for a Pixar outing. Aside from the unique storybook nature of the main narrative, there are plenty of quirky twists throughout, with South America realised like somewhere from a Roald Dahl book and an army of dogs who communicate through collar translators. For as playfully imaginative and visually rich as the picture is, it is in the film’s characterization that the film truly shines. Writing and directing the film, Pete Dochter and Bob Peterson in true Pixar fashion have created some of the most memorable and likeable characters seen in any film in recent memory, with supporting players such as naive pooch Dug and overweight boy scout Russell rising above the one-note comic relief they could easily have become and into real characters an audience can emotionally invest in. Then of course there is the film’s central figure and protagonist, Carl Fredrickson (Voiced perfectly by Ed Asner).

Pixar has a track record of unlikely heroes and Carl is no exception modelled after the late Spencer Tracy, Carl is old and cantankerous, he refers to his house by the name of his deceased wife and cannot walk without aid. Yet he is endearing and a character we care about the moment we see him and of all of Pixar’s work he is perhaps the truest 3 dimensional character they have ever put forth. Aside from the nature of Carl’s quest, which itself is an attempt to fulfil the dream he shared with his wife, we understand Carl’s inner guilt, sense of loss and obsessions through delicate dialogue exchanges and subtle nuances. A key scene within the film in which Carl is able to find some inner solace and realise the consequences of his obsessions is achieved not through hack dialogue, but by body language and a simple gesture, in a scene that is both touching and true to the character, as is his eventual transformation to loving patriarch and unlikely action hero. Carl’s journey is indeed a sentimental one and more than one scene will tug at the toughest of heart strings.

Themes of loss, abandonment and obsession are all present within the film. It is all three that drive Carl to journey to South America and his ability to overcome his obsession that sets him apart from the villainous and warped Charles Muntz (Voiced by veteran villain actor Christopher Plummer). Like Carl, Charles too is obsessive, after losing public affection many years ago; Charles seeks a rare flightless bird which he believes will prove his innocence. His obsession has lead him to a murderous sense of entitlement, having spent the last 70 years in living in South Africa in an airship filled with fossils and relics from the past. Charles personifies the perils of obsession and loss, afflictions Carl must overcome to avoid a similar fate, something he does and in doing so reunites one family and founds a new one with Dug and Russell. With such dark subject matter there is always the risk of overshooting the mark, thankfully this is not the case here. Whereas films such as Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc laid on the sentiment just a little too heavy, Up ‘s moments of sentiment and inclusion of more adult themes and subject matter are perfectly judged and a tear of sadness can quickly be turned into tears of joy and laughter without causing awkward bumps in the flow of the narrative. Ultimately the film’s message seems to be that happiness is not constrained by age and more often than not, the most rewarding happiness can be found not in some distant land but in the bonds of friendship and family.

For all the impressive characterization and as moving as Up is, it is also tremendously exciting and very funny, with a reoccurring gag involving dog translators and the interaction between Carl and Russell being particularly worthy of mention. Up is also full of inventive set pieces and whether it involves Carl’s house taking flight for the first time or the climactic battle on Muntz’s flying fortress, Up provides excitement in spades, with the set pieces bridged with a fine balance of hilarity and poignancy.

For years it seems Pixar have been on the cusp of making the perfect animated film, some would argue that they already did and indeed, films such as Wall-E and the Toy Story trilogy are perhaps close to attaining that status. Up, however, floats high above the rest in terms of narrative innovation and most notably its 3 dimensional and believable characterization, which sets a benchmark for any animation that will follow it, a film that will prove to be as timeless as its message and in the not so distant future, fully deserving the title of classic.