“Mockingbird Lane” Review (possible spoilers)…

As per my last post: despite my misgivings, “Mockingbird Lane” (the Munsters reboot by Bryan Fuller) really wasn’t too bad.  Maybe not entirely coherent, and maybe not “The Munsters,” really – but it was clever and it looked pretty ghoulishly great. I would watch it again, for sure – though I’m pretty sure it’s a goner as a longer run.

There was some terrifically snappy Bryan Fuller dialogue, and Jerry O’Connell had some nicely befuddled moments that called to mind Fred Gwynne, however briefly.  Portia DiRossi had some nice heartfelt moments with the kid playing Eddie Muster, though I think Portia could’ve had more to work with if it went to series.  And though nobody loves Marilyn (even her mother tried to eat her, apparently!), Charity Wakefield played the part with some of the most intriguing, twisty line readings I’d ever heard on TV. Really really nice work in a brief and potentially thankless role.

Still, I wasn’t really sure that a hunky Herman and a super-sultry Lily were the right way to go overall. I missed a bit of the dynamic of the old series: the original Munsters were so clearly, obviously monstrous, at first sight terrifying everyone around them – but they themselves had no idea that their very appearance was scary or off-putting. Since these Munsters look super-attractive (save for Herman’s scars), the new show becomes a radically different creature than the old show and I wasn’t quite sure where I came down on this altogether.

And what of Eddie Izzard?  He was, predictably, droll, sly, and a sharp combination of threatening and hilarious (threat-larious?) – and it was great to see his transformation to a younger, sprightlier “Grandpa” at the last moment.  I didn’t mind the gore, but the Grandpa-as-Vampire beast were tonally a bit off, I thought. (Especially the shot of Grandpa devouring a deer, blood splattered over his chest. Still, kudos for taking a risk – try that, Al Lewis!)

Actually, that’s my overall thought: ‘kudos for taking a risk’.  This was a really unusual take on a beloved favorite, and though maybe it didn’t quiiiiite work, it was really cool that Fuller went for a reboot that wasn’t a slavish recreation, a pale imitation, a monster-movie Yuk-fest without any heart or Yuks. (There was plenty of heart, actually – Herman’s, on ample display.)  I bet given time it could’ve found a groove and an audience.

What do you say NBC? Is there enough juice in Grandpa’s basement reanimating workshop to jolt some life into “Mockingbird Lane’s” corpsy prospects?

Comments

[Andrew Altenburg]

1.

You liked it a lot more than I did. I think had they not called it "The Munsters" I would have had a different expectation and would have actually enjoyed it... but the whole concept of the original show - Hollywood monster archetypes just trying to fit in in suburbia - was sort of tossed out so why bother calling it "The Munsters"? (yes, the obvious answer is: "for brand recognition").

However, I really like the idea of networks showing pilots of shows that didn't get picked up. Seems like a no brainer in a world where they spend hideous amounts of money for something that no one outside the studio sees.