The multi-camera, laugh-track sweetened sitcom The Millers has a bit of a retro style that hearkens back to live-filmed shows of the 1990s, not to mention an air of both Two and a Half Men and Married with Children thanks to the bawdy, broadly obvious, and borderline juvenile situations fueling the comedy. The setup has newly-divorced Nathan (Will Arnett) suddenly saddled with his over-involved mother (Margo Martindale) after she and his bumbling father (Beau Bridges) also decide to divorce. The elder Mr. Miller goes to live with Nathan's nearby sister (Jayma Mays), providing ample territory for forced dysfunctional family comedy. Regardless of how mom, dad, sis, and Nathan mix it up, it's Nathan who always seems to be the butt of the lowest-common-denominator humor here. Arnett has been much more appealing in almost everything else he's done, although he does display his signature manner and comic intuition in small, welcome ways on occasion (his bits as a reporter on the local TV news are vintage Arnett). But even with the thespian powers of Martindale and Bridges--both fine actors with long and varied careers--The Millers is still pretty pedestrian stuff. Compiling all 23 episodes from the 2013-14 debut season, extras include an episode commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a gag reel. Optional, at best. (T. Fry)
The Millers: The First Season
Paramount, 3 discs, 493 min., not rated, DVD: $48.99 December 15, 2014
The Millers: The First Season
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