F is for Family | TV Review
*article originally written in 2016*
F is for Family
Created by: Bill Bur, Michael Price
Voiced by: Bill Burr, Justin Long, Laura Dern, Haley Reinhart, Sam Rockwell
F Is For Family is a Netflix original that follows a typical nuclear family in the 1970s, offering a cartoon version of life during that era.
The show immediately reminded me of That '70s Show, but with less family-friendly humour and more of an edge. It paints a fairly realistic picture of life in the '70s, not shying away from domestic issues, general dissatisfaction with life, or strained father/child relationships. From what I understand as a British viewer, it also captures the American experience of the time with reasonable accuracy.
The script features some great quotes and smart writing, though it can be abrasive at times. It’s the type of humour that resonates more with the baby-boomer generation, as they might find it more relatable based on their own experiences from the era.
Visually, the show does a great job of capturing the older cartoon style, making it feel as though it could have been made back in the '70s. The attention to detail is evident, from the decor to the town they live in—everything feels authentic to that time.
The opening sequence stands out as particularly creative, visually telling the main character Frank’s life story without using words. It’s a standout feature of the show and one of the more inventive credit sequences I’ve seen in a while.
However, F Is For Family is certainly not for everyone. For someone like me, who isn’t white, suburban, or from the '70s, I struggled to connect with the show. While some may view it as an insightful look into the past, I didn’t find anything particularly new or groundbreaking. It felt like a cartoon version of many sitcoms from the '90s.
Overall, F Is For Family didn’t feel very captivating to me, and I found myself forcing my way through it. While the show offers some good moments, I’m unsure of its future and find it difficult to pinpoint its target audience. It wasn’t a show that left a lasting impression, though it certainly has its moments.