In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Starts out strong but goes flat fast. You can pretty much predict every line of dialog. It's a sitcom not Alexander Pope. We get it, but there's not a single unexpected laugh. Paint by numbers. Which is weird because it's intended to be satire. But it's more a satire about satire. Like 'The Grinder' is a fake show in a show, the real show is a show inside a show about a show. Like a fake TV show the fake writers in 30 Rock would pretend to write. It's like an American show making fun of a Mexican telenovela. Setting that aside it relies on two things pretty common in all sitcoms; one- the big lie that always goes horribly wrong. And two- the family member who's a passive aggressive lunatic narcissist who everyone always sides with at the expense of the 'good' person. Not hard to see why this got canceled after 1 season. It had nowhere to go. They flogged that horse for 20+ episodes and 20 more wasn't going work.

I have to admit I never liked Rob Lowe. I mean he is too pretty to be a guy that I would root for and he always seemed pretentious. Somehow, now he has made those very qualities work for him. Reminds me of Alec Baldwin from 30 Rock and makes me wonder if they stole the idea from that. I'm only into the first six episodes but I'm finding it hilarious. Also Fred Savage is great. Always liked him since I was a kid. I think together these two make a great team. It has been a while since I found anything like this to be really funny. Mostly the jokes are just a repeat from other past TV shows. So this show also gets points for originality. Funny and original. Since when, right? Lastly, I think Rob Lowe might be winning me over. There was another movie, "Melt With Me" or something like that, I've been avoiding just because he is in it. I'll have to go back and give it a chance now. I strongly recommend this show to anyone who needs a good laugh. The only reason I give it an eight instead of a 9 or 10 is just because the humor is PG, but that's no ones fault. Falls on me more for having a dirty mind.

So, let's face it ... we all have seen too much bad TV, too many cookie-cutter legal dramas, too many predictable cop shows, way too many sitcoms that were forgettable. The Grinder is the reward, and Rob Lowe knows it; every time he looks out into the distance and says " (pause) ... or ... is it!?", he knows he earns a gold star. He's the center of a very good cast that teams him with Fred Savage; their chemistry as contrasting brothers is so effortless that it's a pleasure to watch. But Mary Elizabeth Ellis is also a major pleasure as Savage's wife, and his two kids also nail it.So this is a show ("subtextually", as Toby Loobenfeld might be told) not only about a family (how original is that?) but about bad TV, and bad acting and - shudder - how the ad that starts with "I'm not a doctor, though I play one on TV" can be transmuted into someone believing in their identity as a glamorous TV star. (Wasn't that the basis for "Sunset Boulevard"?). Rob Lowe is the perfect choice for this role, but the writing is what makes this show a very particular pleasure. I have no idea whether it will last, but every episode is a gem.

I enjoyed the pilot but thought I'd wait for a few episodes before reviewing. Often the pilot is the best episode you're going to see, so I don't like to jump in too soon. But this series just keep getting better and better. Strong acting from everyone, including relative newcomer Mary Elizabeth Ellis who plays the wife. I say "relative" because with such TV staples as William Devane, Rob Lowe, and Fred Savage it's hard to steal a scene, but Ellis does a great job. Let's hope they keep up the good work.This latest episode had a guest appearance from Timothy Oliphant, one of my favorite actors ("Hitman", "Justified"). It was good fun and let's hope they have more guest appearances, perhaps from past cast members from "Parks and Recreation" or "The Wonder Years".