"Modern Family" has always borne a striking resemblance to "Arrested Development" in its portrayal of an expansive, eccentric family dynamic: parents often found wanting, children precociously wise, and silent, wide-eyed reactions aplenty. Even Manny's recent, nuanced attempts to court Haley resonate with the legendary maneuvers of George Michael and Maebe. Yet, "Modern Family" seldom ventures far enough ahead to consistently match "Arrested Development"'s comedy prowess. However, last night's episode came closer than ever, thanks to an array of physical humor, relentless silliness, and abrupt non sequiturs.
The Pritchett-Tuckers
This week, each couple navigated their unique domestic disputes. Cameron and Mitchell's daily spat centered on their listening skills, a theme somewhat weightier compared to the clan's squabbles over karaoke machines and salad preferences (though, to be fair, last week they clashed over a clown costume). Cam is a paragon of attentive listening (his deft handling of Mitch's grocery list amidst toothbrushing, and their whimsical shower curtain, were delightful), whereas Mitch falls woefully short. Their分歧culminates at Cam's grand, opulent gala, a fundraiser for the Friends of the Third Street Overpass Music Society. More than just a charity event, it's a personal vendetta against Cam's arch-nemesis Andrew, who hosted the same bash the previous year. ("I never thought I'd relish having a nemesis, Mitch, but I do. I truly do.") Cam enlists Luke as junior event coordinator, and the sight of them in matching earpieces, fussing over caterers and Chiavari chairs in their "upscale casual" attire, was a joy to behold—a bond the series has rarely explored. But there's a twist: Mitch forgot to send out the invitations. No one knows about the party except Andrew, the very man Cam intends to outshine. While Cam frets at home, compulsively devouring hors d'oeuvres and delaying the proceedings, Mitch takes to the streets, rounding up a meager group of unsuspecting students, and returns to redemption: "This is double what Andrew had last year for Cello Submarine!"
The Pritchett-Dunphys
If you caught any previews for this episode, you knew ABC was billing it as Phil and Claire on the brink of divorce, double homicide, or something equally dramatic. Not quite. Instead, they engage in an all-out brawl over something utterly trivial. As the episode opens, the Dunphys are bleary-eyed, confronting each other after a night spent sleeping apart. They had a fight: Claire understands the cause and claims to have moved past it. Phil, however, is clueless about what they were arguing about. They eventually recount their versions of the altercation—Claire to her dad at the mall, Phil to Gloria during a revealing haircut. Was Claire upset because Phil didn't adequately convey a message about her friend canceling their lunch date? Was it his casual remark about her recent fender bender? ("You insult a woman's driving, and you invoke the air bunnies? I'll kill you," Gloria warns him.) Or was it any of the other seemingly insignificant yet annoying things he said? Gloria decides it was a combination of all. Meanwhile, after an uncomfortably loud chair massage ("You sounded like a Tijuana hooker," Jay teases her), Claire tells her dad she's furious at Phil for mentioning trying a wedge salad at his friend Skip Woosnum's suggestion. She's been urging him to try it for years! And there are countless books and movies she suggests that he ignores until his friends introduce him to them. It all makes her feel ignored and unappreciated. Duh, Phil. Duh, indeed! The actual fight scenes, seen in flashbacks—flying broccoli, torn bathrobes, mutually discharged fire extinguishers—are far more gratifying than the reason for the fight itself. Besides, after talking to her dad, Claire is completely over it. Right? Right! Absolutely!
That evening, the entire family, with the exception of Luke, who was in the midst of his "Party Down" training, embarked on a dining expedition to the barbecue restaurant where Haley was ostensibly moonlighting to finance her car. Little did they know—oopsie daisy!—that Haley was merely perpetuating a charade on her unsuspecting parents. It was Alex, the ever-perceptive sibling, who uncovered the deception.
Last week's episode had us cringing as myriad trivial subplots were clumsily interwoven, but this week's narrative fared much better. The premise, though absurd, served as a delightful respite, especially since we hadn't witnessed much of the Alex-Haley dynamics lately. At the restaurant, Alex, intent on orchestrating a grand reveal, grilled her sister about the specials and ordered the most intricate smoothie conceivable. However, her master plan was derailed by Phil and Claire's recurrent spat from the previous night. Phil, in a bid to apologize for any perceived transgression, ill-advisedly suggested Claire indulge in a wedge salad. Claire's explosion ensued. Truth be told, we were more exasperated by Phil's salad suggestion in a barbecue haven, but oh well. (We often ponder how these two maintain a mostly functional and happy marriage when one is blissfully oblivious and the other hoards emotional grievances like a contestant on an existential edition of 'Hoarders'.)
Called upon to fill empty seats at Cam's melancholic cello gathering, Phil unearthed an ancient photo album from the living room, highlighting how Claire had positively transformed him (apparently, this involved ditching the ponytail and feather earrings). They sealed the reconciliation with a kiss, quite literally making up. Although not groundbreaking in comedic terms, the preceding chaos was sufficient to overlook this cliché.
As for the Pritchett-Delgados, Jay gifted Gloria a karaoke machine for her birthday. She adored it, albeit her vocal prowess left much to be desired. Jay loathed it. Manny despised it. Yet, we adored Sofia Vergara more than ever. (Should the eventual DVD release of this season omit even a half-hour of bonus footage of her belting out tunes—loudly, off-key, and more self-loving than ever—it would constitute a grave injustice.) Manny eventually stepped in, urging his mother to cease tormenting the family aurally. Later, in a secretive moment at the episode's close, Jay was caught sneaking back to the karaoke machine for a surprisingly melodious rendition of "Danny Boy," only to be interrupted by Manny, who yanked the plug, warning, "Keep this up, and you'll be unplugging more than just this machine."
