‘We Are Men’: “We Are Dognappers Review”

We Are Men is probably going to be cancelled soon. The show is only mildly entertaining, which is never a good sign.

Two of the four main characters, Frank Russo (Tony Shalhoub) and Stuart Strickland (Jerry O’Connell), are total morons, who show few signs of character development. Frank’s aging Casanova ways show no signs of stopping. If anything, Stuart looks up to him and wants to live the same way. Frank still parties like a college student. His idea of a good party is one you can’t remember, which is why he loves Tiki Night. Stuart goes along with it as long as his second ex-wife, Amy, isn’t busy trying to empty his bank account.

It’s clear that Frank leads the group. In the episode “We Are Dognappers,” Stuart has the chance to finalize his divorce as long as he’s willing to give his ex-wife his dog, which he has had longer than his wife. Stuart gives in, but finds out that his wife ignores the dog. Frank’s solution is to have the group steal the dog. For some reason, the entire group agrees to this idea. Even Gil Bartis and Carter Thomas, who are the sane ones, don’t bring up the myriad of problems with this solution. Grown men try to go threw with a plot that a thirteen year old wouldn’t do because it’s stupid.

The group predictably fails because everyone can’t resist going through Amy’s stuff. Frank even goes as far as stealing an expensive bottle of wine. Also, Amy figured out that Stuart would steal the dog. While the men shouldn’t have broken into her house, Amy doesn’t deserve sympathy. Stuart may be a moron and only care about sex, but he doesn’t deserve a bitter ex-wife, who is only after his bank account and uses his dog as a bargaining chip.

In the garage, Carter finds Stuart and Amy’s wedding tape. The group watches it, including the honeymoon night. Stuart has no problem with his friends watching him have sex. He thinks it’s their problem and that they need to see each other naked more often. Stuart’s a narcissist and oblivious to how others feel. Frank may have a different woman every night, but at least he cares about their feelings and doesn’t make his friends listen to him having sex.

Carter and Gil are the only likable characters. Gil wants to take his daughter, Maisie, camping. After an initial canceling on Maisie’s part, Gil and Maisie do go camping. That scene is the sweetest one in the entire episode

When Carter isn’t helping Stuart and Frank break the law, he flirts with Frank’s daughter, Abby, and wants to date her. Frank doesn’t want them to date because he’s an overprotective father. Also, he wants Carter to sleep around, since Carter has only been with one woman. Even though Frank may think Abby will be Carter’s rebound girl, Carter actually seems like one of the best people his daughter could date. Carter is nice, handsome, and afraid of Frank. Frank may not realize it, but he’d have total control over that relationship. Instead, Carter settles for flirting when Frank isn’t around.

We Are Men is moderately funny, but that’s not enough to keep viewers coming back. Stuart and Frank are unlikable, but because the people who are trying to hurt them are worse you root for them. Even so, Gil and Carter, who both want to be family men, need to find better friends, who won’t try to push a partying lifestyle. Neither one of those qualities makes for a good show.

About Allison Lips

I am the Toastmasters District 83 Public Relations manager and President of Freehold Phrasers.

Posted on October 9, 2013, in CBS, Comedy, Network Television, Primetime, Sitcoms and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.

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