British and American comedies are similar at face value, but in terms of humour they are distinctly different. American humour comes from an extensive use of punchlines while British humour comes from the sheer absurdity of the situation at the character's reactions.
A British sit-com in an American format is a bizarre concept, and one that sounds like a potential disaster, but somehow My Family managed to capture the hearts of the audience, and it all started with its first episode: Serpent's Tooth.
First of all, these characters are all great. Their relationships are so cleverly written that it makes this cast of dramatically different characters feel like a proper family that you know well and gossip to your friends about behind their backs.
The character of Ben is a perfectly written character in that he's so fundamentally unlikable due to his toxic outlook on life, and yet he's likable because of his impeccable sense of humour and dry wit, and despite his constant complaints and aggrieved moaning he really does love his family deeply.
Susan is a brilliant character as well, being the source of wisdom and the comforting character in the tightly wound family relationships, while still maintaining the feisty personality that keeps her family in check.
The children are the main source of the humour in the family. Nick being the jobless layabout who is constantly giving his parents grief. Janey, the fashion obsessed man- chaser, and Michael, the intelligent and crafty younger sibling.
They have similarities, none of them have much respect for their father and do little more than fleece him for his money.
It's a great cast of characters and they make for some brilliant moments within the episode. There are some hilarious moments and some great lines that exude wit and intelligence.
The actors are superb. Robert Lindsey is a perfect piece of casting with his deadpan performance and dry tone. Zoe Wanamaker is a lot of fun to watch. Kris Marshall is highly entertaining, Daniela Denby Ashe gives a solid performance and Gabriel Thompson, despite many claims that he's not a good actor, gives a perfectly good performance.
Overall, My Family got off to a wonderful start that is still highly entertaining 16 years later, and set up the next 11 years with characters that resonate with the audience or an intellectual level as well as one in which they capture our hearts.
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