So much average

The acting in this movie is really good.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Black kid with Irish and Native American ancestry born in early 70's & grew up in "metropolitan" city in North Carolina. I loved this show...still do. Mom Kate reminds me of my own mom, although mine dressed less conservatively. Mom loved that Kate wasn't svelte, but still attractive as a lead actress, much like herself. Kate & my mom had the same aloofness, but my mom was more outwardly affectionate. Rules were made & adhered to...kids deferred to their parents, but were allowed to speak their minds, within reason. Mostly caught this show in syndication during summers in the 80's. I thought Kate & Doug had a great dynamic. Gary Frank's Willie-a great big ham in & out of character but believable & very much of his time. Good looking, self-assured, and finding himself. I got a bi-vibe from his portrayal of Willie, but that's just my take on things. He and Season Hubley played very well together as a couple. Nancy-not MBB's best role, but very believable and played frankly. Buddy was Kristy's best acting job hands down...she slept walked through "Summer of My German Soldier, allowing Esther Rolle to walk away with the movie & the Emmy-even in her supporting role. I haven't seen Kristy in much since that was worth writing home about, but she was outstanding as Buddy. I believe that Buddy may have been closest to her real self, and that's why she played so easily against other lead characters...just my take on things. James Broderick as Doug was a tender and subtle actor, playing straight man and confidante to Kate & his kids...a real pro-you knew he'd walked the walk with his own "Family". Sada Thompson was the greatest!!!!! She was attractive, intelligent, witty, elegant, and the perfect foil to her children's storehouse of tricks---especially Nancy's. I loved how gently she let down her recently divorced neighbor-Howard Stone-who had romantic delusions about Kate. From the long exterior shot when she briefly lands home & pleads with Doug "not to go away", to her arrival on Howard's front stoop and rear yard, she plays it with total class...such an elegant and refined woman. She knew that acting involved far more than mere dialogue. Can't say enough how much I still enjoy watching this well played and well written family drama. Nothing compares to it these days...nothing! I hope it comes back in syndication-METV or elsewhere. Sada Thompson and Esther Rolle were probably the best actresses on television during that time, and remind me so very much of my own mother and grandmother's-except mine were prettier, for what that's worth. They had grace, style-when allowed, and could deliver the most subtle and moving dialogue with profound subtlety. Thanks for indulging me folks! -easyasdell

The TV series "Family" from 1976 to 1980 stands head and shoulders above any other family based show I have seen. It is very well observed, going right to the heart of family issues.The writing and acting style is superb, allowing the viewer time to reflect on the issue and fill in the gaps them self. (This is the most engaging style of TV drama, which is also demonstrated in the family scenes in The Sopranos TV series.)It may sound a bit 'naff' but it has deepened my own understanding of the profound nature of family life. This show demonstrates how family life can be conducted with courage and style.

"Family" was consistently entertaining and insightful television, in the wasteland that was late 70's television programming.It dealt with sensitive issues in a thoughtful manner without proselytizing or being maudlin.I had the good fortune of beginning my television career by being a fan of "Family." A new resident of the neighborhood, I hung-out during the filming of exterior shots at the location of the "Lawrence" home in South Pasadena, during "Family's" final season. That same summer, in 1979, I went to work for the production company, Spelling-Goldberg Productions. Watching "Family" shoot was magic.The series hearkened-back to an era even earlier than the late 70's...it kind of had a sixties feel to it, an earlier, simpler, and kinder period among American families. However, unlike the family dramas that filmed during the sixties, "Family" was far more realistic and believable.Clearly, the break-out star of "Family" was young Kristy McNichol who stole nearly every scene she was in."Family" is long overdue to be offered in a DVD collection, and I hope all four seasons will soon be available in a video collection.Thanks for the memories.Gary L. Myers

So for many years, I remembered a show I use to watch as a small child (I was born in 1980). For the life of me, I remembered only the theme song, the word "Family" in the title, and Kristy McNichol being in the cast. The show was on (in syndication) WSMH TV 66 here around 84-86. I owe thanks to VH1 for recently running the 100 famous teen stars in which Ms. McNichol and this wonderful show were mentioned. I am happy to know that my mind wasn't playing tricks on me and that this show really existed. I loved this show as a child and my family use to watch it together. It was a great time back then, when family actually did things as a family. I remembered eating dinner and finishing up just in time to watch this show. They (TVLand) need to bring this back so that my nieces and nephews can enjoy this classic also.