Family Tree

Christopher Guest is a legend in the world of mockumentaries beginning with the sublime 'This is Spinal Tap' and it continued with movies such as 'Best in Show.'

Not everyone gets the joke in this genre of comedy and some of it is rather subtle.

It helps that Guest has a bank of actors that he can rely on.

So with great fanfare the BBC unveiled Family Tree. A mockumentary of genealogy shows such as 'Who do you think you are?' which has been successful for the Beeb.

Chris O'Dowd plays Tom very charmingly. He embarks on a search for his roots which takes place both in the UK and the USA.

The USA segment gives us the chance to encounter the Guest regulars such as Ed Begley Jr and Fred Willard.

The oddest character is his sister, Bea who carries with her Monk, a puppet monkey which allows her to state her feelings. Tom's best friend Pete accompanies him in his search and he can best be described as a pillock.

Another Guest regular, Michael McKean plays Keith Chadwick, Tom's father who loves old British situation comedies and they are gently parodied in the early editions of the show.

McKean and the comedies he watches are the real scene stealers in the programme. In a way he parodies the characters in sitcoms such as The Royle Family.

What is amazing is that McKean looks like a stalwart of British comedy and drama. An actor whose face is familiar but you cannot put the name to it.

So it was a shock when I told people that he is an American actor who has appeared in films such as 1941 and shows like Star Trek: Voyager.

The problem with Family Tree it was just not that funny and when Tom's father was missing it lost a vital spark.

The USA segment did not work and made the show less funny. At times it was a humour free zone.

Chris O'Dowd is an extremely lovable actor and simply perfect for the role of Tom. He carries each episode well, being charming to almost everyone, even when embarrassed. He shows enthusiasm for each new branch discovered and participates willingly in all family activities. The scene stealer, however, is Monk, the constant puppet companion of Tom's eccentric sister, Bea. Nina Conti is delightful. I also enjoyed Tom Bennett as his daft best friend, Pete. The show gently mocks the "Who am I?" documentaries, plus other genres via characters' televisions. The script-less format means there is some miss, but mainly it works well. The actors are creative and are having fun with each other. The relationships between everyone, especially Tom and Bea, are touching. I hope this can get renewed.

Just finished watching this on Amazon and thought it was great! Very funny dry humor and exceedingly watchable acting from loads of familiar faces from the Christopher Guest pool of talent. In particular ventriloquist/actor Nina Conti is impressively hilarious.

The show has a nice quietude to it which is akin to the vibe in other Guest productions but also never loses it's comedic steam. It's got a lot of mockumentary style cringe-humor through word-play, cross-cultural fire and general quirkiness. And there is even a fairly compelling romance which takes a back seat to the main character's genealogical quest but is still a warm element of the show.

Here's hoping that HBO gets off their fat arses and makes Season 2!

As a family genealogist and lover of British humor, I love this show. I actually found out about it from our local genealogy library's newsletter. It is truly a mockumentary of the popular genealogy shows. It doesn't need the foul language or sex, but it isn't that bad considering this is Hollywood.

Some of the funniest parts relate to DNA testing, immigration from the New World to the Old World, Civil War soldiers and re-enactments, ancestor occupations, the fact that the current cousins have the same disagreements as the ancestors, fear of cats. As this is a series, it keeps you wondering what is coming next in the journey to know one's relative

The subtle use of language and play on life's uncertainties make this show one of HBO's greatest. Chris O'Dowd and Nina Conti are superb throughout the eight episodes, illustrating a sense of humour that is both nuanced and delightfully absurd. This show is a pleasure based both in London and Los Angeles, with vivid eccentrics who transcend cultural contexts. If ever there were a show that deserves a second season, it is this one.