NinjaKitn

I didn't mind Season One. Wasn't super hooked in but thought it might improve and deepen. There was some humor I enjoyed. I also enjoyed the lead, it seemed to have potential. It did exactly the opposite in S2. It slid into repetitive patterns. I felt like I was watching the same scene/conflicts/schtick over and over. It decided to be shallow masquerading as profound. One or two humorous moments don't make a series. Harrison Ford has ONE NOTE: grumpy and I'm completely over it. Can't look at the hideous plastic surgery victim any more either. She really kicked it into high gear this season. Ugh. The dialogue gets incredibly pretentious. It seems to think it's clever and witty with a side of human foible but it.becomes increasingly irritatingly smug and self conscious. I've had enough. Two shows into S2, I'm out.

These actresses who have done good to superb work in the past, ought to be ashamed. They chose this. To reviewers who justify that in some way they aren't fully responsible for their part in bringing this sludge to the screen (the writing "let them down"), please see that they have, in fact accepted this gig and committed fully to the ghastly mess that it is. They knew what they were doing.

Midler has decided that if it's good enough for Diane Keaton to grossly overact in tremendously trashy movies, it's ok for her too.

Do they need to pay owed taxes?

It's mind boggling the depths that these women have sunk to. But it's not all down to the script, the directing, the premise...They ALL do some massive heavy lifting in the unmitigated cheaply horrific acting department.

I am open to light fare. Distracting, fun, superficial and meaningless movies are not something I necessarily reject out of hand. (My preferences are generally more intelligent and challenging though, in my defense). I do, however make space for dreck on occasion.

This is the kind of dreck that I can tolerate for, I think it was, 10 minutes. The writing was on the wall quite quickly, And Bette Midler's compete lack of self awareness wrote it.

It's hard to make a romance drama or comedy that isn't irritating or patronizing or fake. Too many lean on stock characters with average outlooks saddled with idiotic dialogue and unbelievable transitions.

This one doesn't talk down to us, is very well cast (the leads are really terrific young actors we'll no doubt see much more of - warm, appealing and subtle), and the supporting cast is delightful across the board. Great to see some familiar faces putting in some warm and sincere performances.

Writing/directing isn't trying to reinvent anything, and that's...ok. The story isn't especially challenging and locations don't particularly feature. But still, because of the real and natural appeal of the leads, its very enjoyable.