Four Seasons TV Review: Tina Fey Transforms Marital Stagnation into a Lighthearted Netflix Comedy
Rewritten Article:
In the run-up to their 25th wedding anniversary, Nick (Steve Carell) and Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver) are still surprising each other with new twists. Yet, Nick isn't aware that Anne has invited their closest friends for a heartfelt vow renewal ceremony. On the other hand, Nick plans to take Anne by surprise by proposing a divorce - an intriguing setup for Netflix's The Four Seasons. This eight-episode series is a modern take on Alan Alda's 1981 film of the same name, and it follows intertwined stories of five fiftysomething couples in a humorous exploration of mid-life malaise and marital maintenance.
Like a string of other films, The Four Seasons delves into the complexities of long-term relationships and personal turmoil. Titles such as Woody Allen's Husbands and Wives (1992) and the forgettable 2009 Vince Vaughn comedy Couples Retreat have tackled the same topics, leaving little fresh ground for this Netflix series.
However, The Four Seasons lacks the insight to offer anything truly groundbreaking. It reiterates the timeless observation that marriage calls for hard work that shapes, wears down, and challenges partners, regardless of their outward contentment. This well-worn sentiment is handled gracefully by both the writers and the charming cast.
Steve Carell skillfully manages the delicate balance between Nick's self-deception and self-awareness, immersing the character beyond tired clichés. Tina Fey and fellow Saturday Night Live alum Will Forte share a genuine camaraderie as Kate and Jack, a couple whose predatory demeanor about Nick and Anne's predicament eventually gives way to a raw confrontation about their own faltering relationship.
Colman Domingo exhibits playful charisma as Danny, a character more concerned with being smothered by his hyperactive husband than his heart condition. Yet, Claude (Marco Calvani) often veers into offensive stereotypes, mirroring the series' tendency to stray into broad humor.
The dialogue is peppered with sharp wit, amusing one-liners, and moments of both brutally awkward and surprisingly touching sincerity, ensuring that The Four Seasons provides an entertaining, breezy viewing experience. However, scenes of squabbles and humiliations may cause viewers in their autumn years with long-term partners to feel a chill of apprehension.
★★★☆☆
Streaming now on Netflix
Enrichment Data:
For additional movies exploring similar themes of mid-life malaise and marital dynamics, check out the following titles:
- Intense Dramas: "Marriage Story" (2019) provides a rawness in portraying divorce negotiations between a couple, delving into communication breakdowns and emotional burdens[^1]. "The Squid and the Whale" (2005) critiques parental separation's impact on a family, blending bleak humor with astute commentary on the disenchantment of the middle class. "45 Years" (2015) unravels a couple's marriage when a long-forgotten secret resurfaces, exploring themes of trust and aging[^1].
- Laugh-Out-Loud Comedies: "Kramer vs. Kramer" (1979) offers an acclaimed divorce drama that balances humor with poignancy in the context of custody battles and personal development. "Hope Springs" (2012) tells of a couple in marital therapy, balancing awkward humor with genuine emotional depth. "The Meyerowitz Stories" (2017) centers around a dysfunctional family grappling with rivalry and regret amid a patriarch's decline, featuring Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller.
- Unheralded Gems: "Celeste & Jesse Forever" (2012) humorously portrays a divorced couple who aim to stay friends. "Before Midnight" (2013) is the third film in the Before series, dissecting the pressures of long-term relationships during a couple's vacation in Greece. For a comparison in group dynamics, consider "The Big Chill" (1983), in which friends reunite following a death, reflecting on lost aspirations and relationships.
While not explicitly mentioned in the current results, these films share thematic similarities with The Four Seasons. For comparable recent Netflix offerings, the contemporary romantic drama Past Lives (2023) delves into nostalgia, although it focuses on earlier life stages[1][3].
[^1]: Although not explicitly mentioned in the original results, these films are broadly recognized for their thematic relevance.
- Tina Fey and Will Forte, along with Steve Carell, deliver engaging performances in The Four Seasons, showcasing the complexities of long-term relationships as depicted in movies like Woody Allen's Husbands and Wives and the sometimes forgettable Couples Retreat.
- The Four Seasons pays homage to Alan Alda's 1981 film of the same name, exploring intertwined stories of five fiftysomething couples, much like the ensemble cast in The Big Chill or the humorous critique of familial disenchantment in The Squid and the Whale.
- For viewers seeking a fresh take on mid-life malaise and marital maintenance, they might also enjoy Celeste & Jesse Forever, which humorously delves into the dynamics of divorced couples, or Before Midnight, the third film in the Before series that explores the pressures of long-term relationships, similar to The Four Seasons.
