Review of The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) by Ben G — 03 Jul 2007

Each character adapts his or her persona from the original series particularly well. Filled to the brim with references to the classic series, viewers are reintroduced to the Bradys re-enacting the same familiar antics.

The acting is excellent, mostly on the part of the Bradys, and the plot itself is incredibly farcical as it re-envisions much of the original series into one new script. Duly noted is the major theme of good vs.

evil, mostly between the next-door neighbors, The Dittmeyers and the The Bradys. The set and lighting is bright and glossy at the Brady home, but (most notably when Cindy goes next door) at the Dittmeyers, the look is grimy.

The shots take on more dutch angles. The lighting is dimmer. The idea of each shot is to make the outside world appear darker and more convoluted. This was a great way to show it through aspects of filmmaking.

Another is the battle of "The Old" vs. "The New." The plot puts the early 1970's Bradys into the harsher mid 1990's. The world around them has radically changed. No longer in whitebread America, their city has become one of apathy, greed, crime, and fallen morals, but they do not seem to care.

They are able to survive because they have ignored these darker characteristics of the world to embrace the happier ones of themselves. Another theme is the ever-present one of identity. Who can forget the old "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" phrase.

Jan is burdened with depression about her inability to escape the shadow of her beautiful, perfect sister, Marcia. In trying to step out while wearing that hideous, roadkill-looking wig, she's attempting to extricate herself from her self-doubt and self-title as "Marcia's sister.

" Amusing and filled with ironic innuendo for the unsuspecting Bradys, this one is a hit.