Review of "Merry Happy Whatever" on Netflix From The TV MegaSite
 

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Merry Happy Whatever cast poster 

Review of "Merry Happy Whatever" 1/5/20 by Suzanne
Dropped November 28 on Netflix

 I found this on Netflix and wanted to watch it because I just watched "Dracula," which is scary. I wanted to watch a mental palate cleanser - something fun and frothy to take my mind off the horror.  Well, it did do that, but it's not a great show.

It tries to be funny, but yet heartwarming (it is a Christmas show, after all). It's not very funny, and it has a laugh track which really doesn't work.  Dennis Quaid stars at the domineering police dad of the family, Don. I love Dennis Quaid, but this is not a good vehicle for him.  Frankly, this feels very similar to the recent FOX miniseries "The Moodys," and they did a much better job.  Those characters seemed real, and they felt like a real family (and they were all great actors, and very good looking). This family doesn't, and most of the people in it are bland and boring (aside from Quaid). Tyler Ritter (one of my favorite actors) has a very small part as Alan.  He was one of the few things I liked, but his part was boring.

Even most Lifetime and Hallmark Christmas movies are better than this. Skip it. I predict it won't have a second season.

The show is about a family, The Quinns, that gets together for Christmas. One of the sisters, Emmy, lives far away, so she and her boyfriend, Matt, are coming home for Christmas.  Matt tries to get in Don's good graces, but it doesn't work.  Matt is warned by two of the other in-laws that the Quinns spend way too much time together and will suck he and Emmy back into town if they're not careful.

This would have worked better as a light drama, with no laugh track, and better casting.

I apologize for the lateness of this review. I usually watch one or two episodes and then put up the review as soon as possible. However, between the holidays, getting sick, and finals, I fell really behind on watching and writing reviews.

MORE INFORMATION:

NETFLIX ORDERS HOLIDAY-THEMED COMEDY SERIES MERRY HAPPY WHATEVER STARRING DENNIS QUAID

  • In Merry Happy Whatever, Dennis Quaid plays Don Quinn, a strong-willed patriarch who must balance the demands of his complicated family with the stress of the Christmas season when his youngest daughter comes home for the holidays with a new boyfriend.
  • Note: The first season of the show takes place over the week or so around Christmas. Future seasons of Merry Happy Whatever might explore other holidays.
  • Dennis Quaid will star as Don and serve as an executive producer
  • 8 Episodes
  • Writer / Showrunner / Executive Producer: Tucker Cawley (Everybody Loves Raymond, A Million Little Things)
  • Director: Pamela Fryman (One Day at a Time, How I Met Your Mother)
  • NWEPs: Aaron Kaplan, Wendi Trilling (The Neighborhood, Fam) and Dana Honor

Tucker Cawley Headshot (download only, do not post link)

Dennis Quaid Headshot (download only, do not post link)

Dennis Quaid Bio

Dennis Quaid is renowned for his distinct portrayals in both comedic and dramatic roles over the past forty years.

Quaid will next be seen starring in Sony’s movie THE INTRUDER which will be released May 3rd as well as in Universal’s A DOG’S JOURNEY which will be released May 17. Quaid will also be starring in the third season of Amazon’s “Goliath” starring opposite Billy Bob Thornton which will premiere later in 2019.

On the big screen, Quaid was most recently seen in Roadside Attraction’s faith-based film “I Can Only Imagine,” which was released to wide critical acclaim as well as in Universal’s A DOG’S PURPOSE. On the small screen, Quaid starred in Crackle’s auctioneering drama “The Art of More” on which he also served as an executive producer as well as in the BAFTA award-nominated series “Fortitude.”

Quaid began to gain attention in the late 1970s for roles in such films as “Breaking Away” before gaining public and critical acclaim for his role in the 1983 release “The Right Stuff.” Other notable credits include “The Rookie,” “The Day After Tomorrow,” “Traffic,” “Vantage Point,” “Frequency,” “The Parent Trap,” and “Soul Surfer.” For his role in Todd Haynes’ “Far from Heaven” he won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. In 2010 he was nominated for numerous awards including a SAG Award®, an Emmy©, and a Golden Globe© for his portrayal of Bill Clinton in the TV Movie, “A Special Relationship.”


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