Pop-Ed: Best TV Shows Adapted To Movies

Daniel Cohen: The Brady Bunch Movie

While The Brady Bunch Movie isn’t the greatest TV to film adaptation ever made, I wanted to give it some love on this list. While a solid film overall, it’s the concept that I found absolutely brilliant. In the mid-nineties, there was no shortage of awful television shows that were brought to the big screen – Dennis the Menace, The Little Rascals, Leave it to Beaver, The Avengers (no, not those Avengers). All these movies did was recreate the exact same show in the modern world. It sucked. The Brady Bunch Movie took this concept, but completely turned it on its head. The Brady’s acted exactly as they did from their hit show in the sixties and seventies, but here’s the twist – everyone called them out on it.

What makes The Brady Bunch Movie so great is just how oblivious they are to the world around them. To see the carefree Brady’s in the grunge infused nineties was perfect. The more they didn’t get it, the funnier it got. Greg Brady (played flawlessly by Christopher Daniel Barnes) is the funniest victim of this world. To see him take on the persona of “Johnny Bravo,” and play a song with lyrics that include “Clowns never laughed before, and bean stocks never grew” in front of a 90’s high school crowd is comedic genius. I’d also be remiss not to mention Jan Brady (Jennifer Elise Cox) walking into a high school dance wearing a giant afro wig. That works on all levels.

Not only does the oblivious card work in spades, but they play off the actual show beautifully. These actors emulate the original cast to a tee. Gary Cole is especially fantastic as Mike Brady. His sitcom fatherly speeches are delivered with such care and comedic timing. If you recall, this was also Christine Taylor’s breakout role, playing the self-absorbed older sister Marcia Brady. Shelley Long was great as Carol Brady, although she’s fairly underutilized. You don’t see too much of Alice, but Henriette Mantel’s portrayal was uncanny to the original Ann B. Davis. Speaking of Ann B. Davis, the film is infused with well-timed cameos from the original cast members. They even rip the score right from the show.

While I think this movie could have been even funnier, I was disappointed that the concept didn’t really stick. Although, it’s sort of creeping back with the recent success of the 21 Jump Street films. I would love to see this idea used for a Full House movie. That could be hysterical. As far as The Brady Bunch Movie goes though, all you have to understand is the basic concept of the Brady Bunch, and you’ll find this just as funny as I did.

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