Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

It was based on Ohio and starred Michael J. Fox, before we knew him as Marty McFly and Doc Hollywood. Sorry, but almost every joke in this series is absolutely pointless. The only thing that keeps it afloat is the sensitivity of the bilaterally desperately needy relationship between the main characters. I suggest you enjoy the first nine or so episodes for what they are and let your mind play around with the opportunities there can be to make something interesting. The real centerpiece of the series is its acting; Yothers' performance in particular sticks out. And why did they base it in Ohio, the least funny place I can think of?

To all of you who had nothing nice to say about Family Ties,I get that this show wasn't obviously for everybody and it even had its moments of annoyance if you enjoyed it,but I'll gladly take this even over most sitcoms that aired in the same era,let alone those of today.I actually was one of the yew young boys who crushed on Tina Yothers(Jennifer Keaton),which is no knock whatsoever on Justine Bateman(Mallory Keaton)because she was a hot number then and even still is.Most of the political jargon that came out of Steven,Elyse,and Alex's mouths mostly went over my head then,but it was still entertaining how it was all delivered.I didn't watch as much of the final 2 seasons and that was mainly because it was switched to Sunday nights,it became apparent to me in the few episodes I did watch that the show had finally ran its course.At least it went out strong,unlike many of its counterparts.

I remember watching this show occasionally when it originally aired. Definitely not must see TV. A few years ago, TVLand aired the reruns, and I hated it! I dubbed it the sitcom that's all sit and no com. OK, now it's back on the Hub, and since I'm into masochism I thought I'd give it another try. I admit, it's not as bad as I thought. There are actually a few laughs to be had here and there. Most of them come from Mallory. At the time the show originally aired, I remember most people treating Justine Bateman as a joke. Michael is the real star, blah, blah, blah. Maybe it's because I'm a liberal, but I don't find the APK character or MJK to be all that funny. But Mallory...she has that subtle comic timing down, something missed by the other cast members. Justine, you were the true star of this show. By the way, who said Steven Keaton died in the last episode? He did have a heart attack somewhere in or near the last season, but he did NOT die. I never saw the actual final episode until the recent HUB reruns. I was expecting this big emotional episode, with Alex deciding to give up his Wall Street job and stay home to be the man of the family, but NO, Steven did NOT have a heart attack or DIE in the last episode. I was so disappointed. Aside from the funny comment about Mallory knowing the meaning of life, the finale was a letdown. I think the producers saw it as a big showcase for their acting "powerhouses" MJK and MBB. Yeah, right. Yawn!

There are such a number of great things to talk about this TV series, but one very important thing about Family Ties, is that, the inconvenient, irresponsible, but very funny Elyse's (Meredith Baxter) young brother, was played by the two times Academy Award winner, Tom Hanks, (he had at the time 28 years old and any big hit in his career) which did several chapters during 1984. Besides, it had Michael J. Fox in his earlier American fame, long time before he become worldwide famous with Back To The Future, in 1985. None of the actors in the main cast survived to the fame after that (Fox continued for a little more time), but Family Ties is a chance to see these actors in very good shape.