LOVE BITES
JUNE 2, 2011-JULY 21, 2011
At first glance it has the feel of "Love, American Style" with only threads that pull the stories together. The show was originally to be spun around Annie Matopoulos (Becki Newton) and Frannie (Jordana Spiro) who would bring the audience along with life on the dating scene.
They began retooling the premise so that there would be more focus on Annie. After viewing the first episode it is clear the female characters have been dealt a blow and become second fiddle to the male dominated premise. There are several stories taking place but unlike "Love, American Style" where 20 minutes segments would be dedicated to a single quick story, they jump and bump into each other throughout the hour.
The characters are less than defined and have limited growth for the future. Judd Rouscher (Greg Grunberg) and Colleen Rouscher (Constance Zimmer) are a young couple solid in their relationship but still finding bumps along the road of happiness. Judd's friend consistently leads him on wild goose chases that lead to a disruption in his marriage but colleen is a very understanding young wife. This romantic-comedy is a widdled down version of a date night movie. There is some funny dialogue but for the most part this is more romance than comedy.
The tales are typical, predictable and are less sparkling than a glass of tap water. Stronger writing could give the concept a better base because the 10pm slot is great for couples who have young children and only have an hour to enjoy their time together. Lifestyles have become very hectic and movies require a bit of planning so this could be a great alternative.
6/2/11