Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
The Four Seasons is a drama/comedy about three married couples who reevaluate their relationships after one of the couples gets divorced.
It’s spring, and a group of five friends who have known each other since college are going away for the weekend. The couples are Nick (Steve Carell) and Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver); Kate (Tina Fey) and Jack (Will Forte); Danny (Colman Doming) and Claude (Marco Calvani). While Anne, Nick, Kate, Jack, and Danny are all college friends, Claude was brought into the group via his relationship with Danny.
When Nick, Danny, and Jack are out hiking, Nick reveals that he’s going to divorce Anne. Danny and Jack are surprised to hear the news and unsuccessfully try to talk him out of it. Later that evening, Jack tells Kate that Nick is going to divorce Anne, which makes both of them to question their own marriage. And with that, the drama begins.
Some Thoughts:
I would have enjoyed The Four Seasons more if the gay couple wasn’t such a stereotype. When we first see Danny, he strikes a pose and gives an ultra-gay remark that’s uncalled for. He tamed down some after that, and I was ready to forget about the unfortunate incident until his husband, Calude showed up.
Claude is annoyingly cheerful and hot tempered simply because he’s Italian. Since he doesn’t work, all his time is spent doting on Danny and whining. Is this how the writers think gay people act? Why are the straight couples depicted as having normal relationships while the gay couple is viewed as an over-the-top mess? Why can’t they be two men building a life together the way the straight people are shown?
The acting, direction, comedy, and pacing are all fine. The story never feels too long, and giving each season two episodes keeps things moving along without feeling rushed. There are also some touching moments and honest interactions between the characters. I just wish the introspective parts of the Kate and Jack story didn’t feel so forced. While it’s plausible that Nick and Anne’s divorce would make them re-examine their own relationship, the scenes where this happens are clumsy and forced. Many of Kate and Jack’s reactions are out of character, and the part about the couples’ counseling feels like it was only added for laughs.
If the gay couple had been given more thought, this would have been much more enjoyable even with some of the forced drama. The cast felt comfortable with each other, and many of the interactions have some depth and emotion.
The Final Verdict:
While there are some honest and tender moments in The Four Seasons, the story is poorly handled, and the gay couple has much to be desired. It’s a waste of a good cast.