The journey to Disneyland embodies an enduring American ritual—a sanctum of wholesome family merriment intertwined with blatant indulgence. It's also a television archetype as omnipresent as the egg-sitting shenanigans or a character comedy-wrenching their back. Shows like "The Golden Girls" and "Roseanne" have traversed this terrain, and so did the lion's share of ABC's TGIF lineup. Last night, it was "Modern Family's" turn to embrace the corporate synergy and don their mouse ears with a dash of flair.
As with numerous sitcom stereotypes, "Modern Family" bore the responsibility to breathe new life into this worn-out trope, if not revolutionize it. While last night's episode didn't break any new ground or rank among the show's finest hours (with an amusement park as the special guest star, scenery often steals the narrative spotlight), it was still an engaging spectacle replete with zingers and heartfelt moments. This blend of humor and sentimentality is "Modern Family's" stock-in-trade—or, in Disneyland's context, its colossal turkey leg and churro.
The family's Disneyland escapade was as whirlwind as ever, with scenes flashing by almost too quickly to savor. Yet, Jay emerged as the focal point. With a glass of scotch cradled in his lap, he recounted to the camera a tale from when Mitchell and Claire were mere tots. He'd had a monumental spat with Dede (messing with a woman's "Dallas" tape? Never, Jay), leading him to whisk the kids to Disneyland solo. There, he experienced a series of Disney-induced epiphanies: His marriage was starting to resemble the chaos of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and he yearned to disembark. It wasn't until he witnessed a robotic Abraham Lincoln discussing the duty to uphold the union that he realized he couldn't abandon ship just yet. The notion of enduring a loveless marriage for the sake of the kids is a somber contemplation at the Happiest Place on Earth, but the show briskly sidesteps such melancholic musings.
Instead, we zero in on Jay's karmic dividend for persevering and maintaining his dysfunctional union until the kids blossomed into adults: Gloria. Has it ever struck you that Gloria herself is somewhat cartoonish? A fusion of Jessica Rabbit and Minnie Mouse, this becomes all the more evident when Jay, observing Gloria hobbling around in impractical stilettos for most of the day, buys her a pair of cheerful yellow slippers from the Bippity Boppity Boutique. "I'm in agony just contemplating your discomfort," he remarks. While he displays a level of caring and consideration towards Gloria that eluded him with Dede, there's also a hint that he tends to her like Cam and Mitchell nurture Lily. She's akin to a voluptuous toddler. If there's a bizarre undertone of infantilization, it stands in stark contrast to Manny, the perpetual grown-up engrossed in his phone throughout the trip, overzealously immersed in a school stock market project ("Reuben, if you hear about a stock at a birthday bash, you've missed the boat!"). Gloria's rebuke, urging him to act more childlike as they sit together on the Dumbo ride, presents a delightful juxtaposition.
Meanwhile, the evening's segment featuring the Dunphys revolves around the theme, "It's a small world after all." Throughout this season, Haley's romantic endeavors have remained somewhat of a mystery, but Claire is convinced that Haley has inherited her penchant for attracting the so-called "bad boys" (Phil's smirk says it all). Now that Claire's political aspirations have waned, she finds herself with ample free time to meddle in her eldest daughter's love life. She invites the generically handsome Ethan to Disneyland, hoping to pair him up with Haley. Despite Claire's obvious attraction to his captivating blue eyes and impressive 2200 SAT score, both Alex and Haley are sufficiently impressed by Ethan, sparking a playful rivalry for his affections.
Yet, amidst the myriad of theme parks across the globe, who should make an unexpected appearance but Dylan? Dylan, who was once a shining beacon in seasons one and two, shattered our hearts when he abruptly left in the season premiere to stay at the dude ranch the family visited on their last vacation. It's anyone's guess who is more thrilled to see him – Haley or Phil (at this juncture, it's definitely Phil, who clearly has a softer spot for the bad boys than Claire does).
It transpires that Dylan has returned to town and is taking on a variety of humbling jobs at Disneyland. Haley's rebellious boyfriend is now engaging in decidedly un-rebellious activities, such as portraying Dapper Dan in the Disney version of a barbershop quartet (his voice is nothing short of enchanting!). He neglected to inform Haley of his return out of embarrassment. The episode's standout moment undoubtedly occurs when Dylan, disguised in a borrowed Little John costume and executing an odd little dance (we're still scratching our heads over the movie inspiration), eagerly seeks to outshine Ethan and reclaim Haley's love.
When Ethan pushes Dylan to the ground, where he wobbles like a French Bulldog puppy, Haley's (and our) heart melts into his oversized fluffy hands. Much to Claire's dismay, Haley and Dylan are officially back together, and we eagerly anticipate the impact their renewed relationship will have on Haley's post-high school plans.
While Phil is thrilled to see Dylan, his Disneyland experience leaves much to be desired. One would think that the ultimate man-child, Phil, would be reveling in the magic of the park, especially now that Luke has grown tall enough to ride all the rides without spiking his hair. However, Phil has aged beyond his thrill-seeking days, and he's now plagued by debilitating motion sickness. He spends much of the episode looking like a character from "Dark Shadows," dizzily chasing after his eager son.
Some of the episode's most heartwarming and unpretentious moments arise when ever-stoic Luke expresses his love for his father. He reassures Phil that they will continue to discover exciting adventures, even when Phil is older. Luke vows to push Phil's wheelchair at top speed or even push him to the top of a hill and let go (luckily, that won't be necessary anytime soon). Claire feels Phil's forehead and realizes he has a fever. Phew! Never has a man been so relieved to discover he has the flu at Disneyland.
The episode's crowning comic gem revolves around Mitchell and Cameron's ingenious yet unconventional method for managing an overenthusiastic Lily—they attach her to a child safety tether, akin to a leash for a pet. This sets the stage for an array of hilarious Lily-as-a-puppy puns, ranging from her becoming entangled with a pair of twins (one appropriately named Rex) to her chasing after squirrels (albeit mistaking Chip & Dale for chipmunks in the process). Mitchell, in particular, feels rather self-conscious about this arrangement, even drawing disapproving glances from Mr. Socks-with-Sandals himself. Thus, when Jay ultimately resolves the dilemma by adopting a strategy straight out of Gloria's playbook, it comes as a welcome reprieve. He equips Lily with miniature high heels, straight out of a "Toddlers & Tiaras" fantasy, rendering her unable to bolt but only to toddle along. It's a whimsical, everyday storyline that resonates deeply with countless parents. Yet, amidst a social landscape where same-sex relationships and civil rights dominate the American political narrative, perhaps this seemingly ordinary plot about two gay dads taking their adopted daughter to Disneyland on the nation's most watched sitcom is, indeed, a groundbreaking moment in television after all.
