The Mick reviews: What critics are saying about Kaitlin Olson’s new Fox show
By Hector Cruz
Critics are praising Kaitlin Olson’s performance in The Mick, but hitting the show for its over-the-top brashness and lack of character development.
Fox has given its latest live-action comedy The Mick a considerable promotional push, airing a special preview tonight after an NFL game and ahead of Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s one-hour winter finale, before moving to its regular Tuesday night time slot later in the week behind the languishing New Girl. The comedy from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-executive producers David and John Chernin gives the long-running show’s sole female cast member her own vehicle, while attempting to bring the same brand of humor to network TV.
The results, according to some of the nation’s top TV critics, are uneven thanks to the use of conventional sitcom storylines and characters that are too unlikable to root for, though Olson has received praise for her reliably funny portrayal of Mickey, a vulgar underachiever and opportunist who is faced with caring for the spoiled kids of her wealthy sister and brother-in-law, who flee the country to avoid federal charges for fraud. The plot has drawn comparisons to the late John Candy’s Uncle Buck, which got a short-lived adaptation on ABC this summer.
The New York Times quickly makes the distinction between this new project and It’s Always Sunny, which enters its 12th season on Wednesday, arguing that The Mick is “caught between its cable roots and its broadcast home.”
“Without the freedom in language, tone and general obnoxiousness that FXX gives Sunny, the over-the-top situations in The Mick are less likely to make you laugh than to make you feel vaguely uncomfortable,” writes Times critic Mike Hale, who previewed the first four episodes, noting that while some one-dimensional characters like Hispanic housekeeper Alba (Carla Jimenez) are fleshed out in later installments, the lead character is also soon forced to become a more capable caretaker due to network constraints to the show’s detriment.
USA Today‘s Robert Bianco is much more critical in his assessment, stating that the show gives the audience plenty of inconsistent characters to sneer at, but not necessarily root for. He also calls out the “hideous” storylines that involve such situations as one of the kids getting beaten by a bully for laughs, and another where a 7-year-old gets hooked on birth control pills.
“What you don’t have is anything fresh or funny, or any particular reason to watch,” writes Bianco, later adding that the show is “yet another huge waste of time and money that might have been far better spent elsewhere.”
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However, other critics were more kind, including The Hollywood Reporter‘s Dan Fienberg, who praises the show for showcasing the “underappreciated” Olson, despite the familiar situations and sense of humor that would be better suited for cable. Meanwhile, The AV Club‘s Erik Adams was able to appreciate the show’s funnier and more outrageous moments despite some flaws, arguing that the FX-style comedy “feels fresh in a network setting.”
The Mick moves to Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. on Fox starting January 3rd.