TOGETHERNESS REVIEWED
“Togetherness” is the television debut of the Duplass Brothers. For those that have watched “Baghead”, “Cyrus” and “The Puffy Chair”…you know what’s going to come. Heavy dialogue, lots of meandering and no attempt to hammer out a conclusion. What’s neat is that their aesthetic really works for long-form TV. But, will audiences stick around for this material?
I appreciate having a show about 30 and 40 year olds without direction. That being said, it feels like one more drop in an overpopulated bucket. What sets “Togetherness” apart from the pack is that it lives to treat the mundane of normal life with sincerity. When Melanie Lynskey struggles to work on her charter school plan, it matters. When Amanda Peet slams box wine and then wants to trash her ex-boyfriend’s place, it matters. Then, there’s series MVP Steve Zissis who stands out more on this show than in anything I’ve seen him do in the past. It takes a genius to effectively pull off a sad sack.
If you dig the Mumblecore work of the Duplass Brothers, you might find this release to be too mainstream. If you’re not a fan, you might find the show a bit depressing. That being said, there’s a quiet dignity in enjoying the steady slope of malaise into sustained boredom. Life isn’t always going to be exciting, so why force it? Just enjoy the quality moments you share together with others.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Inside the Episode featurette
- Amanda & Steve interviews
- Deleted Scenes
A/V QUALITY STATS
- 1.78:1 1080p transfer
- DTS-HD 5.1 master audio track
