A Major Disappointment

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Two supporting actors from Everybody Loves Raymond failed to make it on their own. They thought they had a magic that three of the Seinfeld supporting actors severely lacked. Evverybody loved Raymond and loved the supporting actors because of Raymond. No Seinfeld, no show; no Raymond, no show. When will they learn? This show is a montage of politically left ideas, anti-moral lessons and dull humor. The 'laugh tract' after every not-so-funny line is the only funny part of the show. We at home recall when Robert on ELR was tempted by the gorgeous Italian visitor and Robert resisted because he loved Amy. Awesome! But in How To Live, he promotes the opposite in others. Sad!

Polly Green-Tatham (Sarah Chalke) leaves her husband Julian Tatham (Jon Dore) and is forced to move back home with her daughter Natalie. Her mother Elaine Green (Elizabeth Perkins) is a free-thinking liberated woman. Her stepfather Max Green (Brad Garrett) is traditional. Her husband keeps coming over. She befriends her much younger co-worker Jenn (Stephanie Hunt).The parents are both just caricatures. It's hard to see the love or chemistry between them and the family. Sarah Chalke is the only good thing in this show. And it's not enough to keep the show going. Half a season is all there is and that's probably enough.

I'd written this show off after the ghastly pilot but my husband mistakenly DVR'd the second ep, so we gave it another go.Grandma's raunchiness is dialed back considerably in the second ep but that's just about the only good thing about it. Sarah Chalke's character is annoying -- several times the writers have her giving orders to her parents in the form of "Old people, do this" or "Old people, do that." This go-round she decides she wants to recreate her activist youth, so with no training whatsoever she decrees she's going to run a 5k to "save the whales." Practicing for this event she falls down and hurts her back a few steps into the run. From there on, everyone must cater to her every whim because she decides it's important they understand how tough it is for her to be a single mom.**Stop right here if you don't want to know how the second episode ends.** Because the parents nicely told her intrusive ex-husband to get lost -- she is after all supposed to be getting a divorce from him, not having him rub her feet every day -- she decides to "punish" them by pretending to be disabled and laying on the couch for three weeks while they take care of her child. Only then, you see, can they fully appreciate what they're going through. It's so hard, sniff.Unbelievably, the writers have the parents apologize over and over again, at which point she demands further apologies and delivers another lecture.Appalling show that is apparently written by refugees from Occupy Wall Street. The actors are probably doing the best they can with the thin unfunny material supplied.

I watched this show judging from the review here on IMDb and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. IMHO it's quite funny, I think it just needs a chance. It needs some fans to get behind it and room to grow.I gave it an 8/10 from the first episode but i can see it changing in the future. I hope they can get some good ideas in for episodes in the future. It'd be a shame to see another decent show go down the drain.I think the characters are pretty strong too, apart from the ex who I don't think should really have as big a part as it feels like he's going too. It needs to feel more like she's moved away from him and is fully moving on.P.S. It's awesome to see something new from Sarah Chalke! I can't help but wonder if this character is going to be a lot like Elliot. She seems the type.