Carstairs Considers....: TV Show Review: Full House

Saturday, March 30, 2013

TV Show Review: Full House - Season 7

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: A great show continues to entertain.

Cons: Cheesy and corny at times as always.

The Bottom Line:

A family sitcom

With plenty of laughs and heart

Still with cheese and corn

"I Laughed. I Cried. But Mostly I Laughed."

For six seasons, we've watched the Tanner family laugh, love, and learn together on the sitcom Full House. Patriarch Danny (Bob Saget) leads everyone in the best way he can, helped by the other adults, his best friend Joey (Dave Coulier), brother-in-law Jesse (John Stamos), and Jesse's wife Becky (Lori Loughlin). The kids are growing up fast. Eldest daughter D.J. (Candace Cameron) is entering year two with boyfriend Steve (Scott Weinger) and still hangs out with neighbor Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber), much to everyone's dismay. Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) is entering junior high, while Michelle (Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen) continues in elementary school. And if you are looking for the cuteness factor the show used to have, look no further then Jesse and Becky's twins Nicky and Alex (Blake & Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit). season seven finds the entire clan back in action with lots of antics for everyone to enjoy.

Everyone continues to grow and learn. D.J. is finding facing the SAT's a nightmare in one of the highlights of the season. On the other hand, her boyfriend Steve has moved into his own apartment, a definite plus. Stephanie has to make all new friends at a new school. Meanwhile, Michelle must decide between her old best friend and her new best friend when Teddy (Tahj Mowry) moves back from Texas.

The adults face new challenges as well. Danny must make a hard decision with his fiancee. Joey has a new girlfriend who doesn't impress the family. Jesse and Becky deal with disciplining their twins. Jesse inherits his band's old stomping grounds, that is, if he can keep The Smash Club open. And the entire family gets into the act when Michelle's missing bike sets off a neighborhood crime wave.

There are also some episodes with more serious themes. Stephanie leads an anti-smoking episode. Michelle enters a soap box derby and learns that girls can do anything, too. And the whole family learns some lessons when Jesse's grandfather unexpectedly dies.

Since this is season seven, most everyone has already made a decision about the show. And those who don't like it will find nothing to change their minds here. The show is still sugary sweet with most every problem being resolved with a heart to heart talk. Not to say that there isn't laughter along the way. Who can't laugh at a cement truck dumping its load in the kitchen or Jesse's grand entrance on opening night of the Smash Club? And there's the family's attempts to get revenge on Joey for an early April Fool's prank.

Since the girls have grown, they are facing challenges for their age. This means they aren't as cute as they once were. The cuteness quotient is now handled by Nicky and Alex, who do a great job of it. Instead, the writers find new topics to handle the keep the show interesting. Having watched the entire series to this point in the last year, I didn't find myself thinking "Here comes this topic again." And with so many episodes already under their belt, that's saying something.

I think it would be a surprise if I said the actors are struggling with their characters. They aren't. It's quite obvious that everyone is comfortable in their second skin. Now this isn't to say the acting is bad. Everyone still gives it their all every week. And yes, I am including Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen in that assessment, even if they are still the weak links of the cast. Famous cameos this season include Vanna White and Little Richard.

This set is identical to the last few season sets we've gotten. The 24 episodes are presented on 4 discs with absolutely no bonus features.

I realize this show is not everyone's cup of tea. It's aimed squarely at families and specifically kids. But those who enjoy those types of shows will continue to enjoy this fun family sit com with season seven of Full House.

Season 7 Episodes:

1. It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

2. The Apartment

3. Wrong-Way Tanner

4. Tough Love

5. Fast Friends

6. Smash Club: The Next Generation

7. High Anxiety

8. Another Opening, Another No Show

9. The Day of the Rhino

10. The Prying Game

11. The Bicycle Thief