Yes; somebody had to do it.
A Very Brady Christmas (1988)
Despite Robert Reed not having been in the final episode of The Brady Bunch TV series. Despite Eve Plumb not returning to play Jan in The Brady Bunch Variety Hour. No matter how much a cast member may have tried to escape the clutches of stereotyping and saccharin sweet story lines, ultimately they could not free themselves of the flypaper known as The Brady Bunch. The entire original cast, minus two supporting characters*, has returned to razzle-dazzle us on the holidays, and make some of us regret there ever was such a holiday.
*The role of Sam the butcher was not reprised by Allan Melvin, but was played by a stand-in for one scene with his face hidden. Tiger, the family dog, who would have been dead by this time anyway, was not even mentioned (the original Tiger died after the first season and was played by a second dog). An add-on family member, Cousin Oliver played by Robbie Rist (not to be confused with The Addams Family's Cousin It), has not been seen since the original series and rumors of him joining a cult and selling flowers at airports are unfounded.
The Basic Plot
Mike and Carol Brady* are planning to surprise each other with a vacation for Christmas, without the other knowing, of course. They find out each other's plans by mistake when they simultaneously book travel plans on the same day and don't have the funds, in their vacation account, to cover it. Rather than choose a vacation, they just decide to have the whole family get together for Christmas (Yes, it seemed like a long way to get there to me as well).
*In case you have been living in a cave, Mike and Carol each had three children of their own, three boys and three girls respectively. They got married, kept the housekeeper Alice, and became the Brady Bunch. TV viewers have had mixed emotions about it ever since.
The Plot Thickens
Couldn't they just get together for Christmas without issues coming into the picture? Of course not, this is the Brady Bunch after all, and it would make for a boring reunion if they did not (stay tuned, it does not improve).
Alas, each of the children have an issue with which to contend: breaking up; quitting school; losing a job; yadda, yadda, yadda. Mike and Carol both have a cheapskate developer causing problems with them. Even Alice has split from Sam and ends up staying with the Bradys for the holidays.
The Plot Gets Executed
Err....I meant to say 'the plot execution', I think.
In an episode of The Brady Bunch, one of the kids, or more, would have a problem, or even one of the adults. As in family sitcoms of the time, we would see how they deal with problems, family issues, good and bad times, and how they learn from it. In A Very Brady Christmas, with six children and their families coming in for Christmas, each with their own issues, not to mention the parents and Alice, quite a task is at hand to deal with all of these issues within a 2-hour TV movie (90 minutes runtime).
The producers set quite a task for themselves and did not deliver. They try to spread the plot out so thin between each of the characters that it lacks development. Even worse is the problem solving aspect of the movie. Unlike in the series, where problems would be dealt with through example or learning from one's mistakes, problems are solved with a few words or a quick remedy. This 'life is a breeze' attitude shows a disconnection between the producers of the movie and people, who do make up their audience after all.
If they had tried a singular family crisis which brings the family together to deal with it, as they did in a later reunion movie, they could have delivered something with more heart that would have possibly been an enjoyable entry in the movies available for holiday viewing. What they end up with, instead, is a fluff piece which does not embrace the audience in any manner, other than seeing the kids all grown up.
One Down, Two To Go
Robert Reed was on his decline, healthwise, after this movie was released. He only did two more movies in the following four years after the movie was released; one being another Brady Bunch reunion. He passed away in 1992 from intestinal cancer, complicated with AIDS.
Robert Reed was a top caliber actor who seemed to be an unusual choice for the role of Mike Brady. His abilities as an actor, and his wisdom and humanity as a person, added something special to his role as Mike Brady in The Brady Bunch and helped others who worked with him to be the best they could be.
Reed was not as stereotyped as the others from the series, largely due to his range as an actor. When he took on a role, he was able to deliver that role and not make us think it was Mike Brady. Although he did not attain a status as a 'big star', he nonetheless was successful and well respected (he garnered three emmy nominations in his career).
It would have been nice to have a memorable holiday movie with Robert Reed in it. At least A Very Brady Christmas does give us a holiday movie with him in it, playing his most memorable character.
Trivia: Robert Reed was the first actor to portray a man going through a sex change operation in a 1975 episode of Medical Center. He got an emmy nomination for the role.
This was on FOX last Saturday afternoon. We took our kids to the zoo.
Excellent reveiw, btw. I saw this years ago, and, well, you brought back those memories.
I'll GET you for THIS, Menard! *shakes fist menacingly*
[PS: which Brady post-season movie had Mike trapped in a mine, or well, or some such? I thought it was the Christmas one.]
It was in this one in which Mike is trapped in a building which has had part of the structure collapse. As with the rest of the movie, rather than play it out, the family reminisces about, in flashback, when Carol had lost her voice and Cindy asked Santa to give her mom's voice back. They start singing the Christmas carol, Hark the Herald Angels Sing I believe, and Mike walks out of the building. It lacks any drama and they give no explanation of how Mike was able to free himself after being trapped.
Robert Reed only got the part of Mike because he was on contract to the studio. It's rumored at one time that Gene Hackman was up for the part.
It's really scary that you know so much about this Menard.
trek_geezer Wrote:
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> It's really scary that you know so much about this
> Menard.
I was going to say that but you beat me to it.
It's amazing how much info you can get with a Google search. That, or ask the ultimate Brady Bunch/Gigli fan: Scott. (http://www.smileys.ws/smls/action/00000042.gif)
Brady Bunch was one of my favorites. Trying to think which was my favorite.
1) The UFO one has to be my favorite
2) The Silver Platters singing episode
3) The Jesse James episode
4) The One with Vincent Price in Hawaii
5) The One were they are trapped in Jail by the prospector (i think that is the Grand Canyon one)
6)The One were Cindy is made fun of because of her speech and Bobby defends her.
7)The One with Joe Namath
8) When they go to Disney and lose the archetech blueprints
9) Greg moves to the attic
10) The one when the Dodger pitcher shows up and Greg gets a big head.
11) The one with the singer/celebrity comes to town promising that she knows him.
I don't think I saw the 1988 movie. Might have to run out and buy a copy today. Well, maybe not................Great review Menard. Here is a video clip of the intro to A VERY BRADY CHRISTMAS (1988) (http://www.bradyworld.com/episodes/very.htm).
(http://www.barrywilliams.net/bio/xfamily.jpg)
I personally like Pee Hermans Christmas special with guest star Grace Jones singing "little drummer boy". Use to own the VHS. I think I bought it for $2 one year.
Okay Scott, now you're really starting to scare me dude.
I had successfully repressed each and every one of those episodes, until Scott mentioned them. Then it was like ticking them off, one by one, "yup, I remember that one."
Scott Wrote:
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> I personally like Pee Hermans Christmas special...
What happened to his Wee? (http://www.smileys.ws/smls/grinning/00000021.gif)
Yep, time to put him out of his misery. (http://www.websmileys.com/sm/violent/sterb035.gif)
Scott Wrote:
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>
> 6)The One were Cindy is made fun of because of her
> speech and Bobby defends her.
>
Brady Bunch trivia nitpick, and I'm gonna get slammed for this, BUT...
Wasn't it Peter who defended Cindy's honor in that episode?
ulthar Wrote:
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> Wasn't it Peter who defended Cindy's honor in that episode?
Another diehard fan of The Brady Bunch.
Scott has company. (http://www.smileys.ws/smls/grinning/00000021.gif)
Oh, man I hated that show. Everyone was just way too nice. Makes my head hurt just thinking about it. Time for Jack Daniels to the rescue, and his trusty sidekick Tuborg beer.... hehe went to Denmark today.
Menard Wrote:
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>
> Another diehard fan of The Brady Bunch.
>
> Scott has company.
>
You are the one who brought up the Very Brady Christmas, provided all the detailed Robert Reed trivia and answered the question about Mike getting trapped (to bring the family together around a trajedy).
Dunno, but it sounds to me like all this focus on Scott, and now me, is just an attempt to draw attention AWAY from your fixation, nay, shall I say OBSESSION, with everything that is Brady.
They say the first step is denial. ;)
I deny everything. (http://www.smileys.ws/smls/action/00000042.gif)
I didn't know Reed had AIDS. I remember catching the last 15 minutes of this on t.v., it was bad. So bad, I want to see it in its entirety.
Your probably right Ulthar about Peter defending Cindy instead of Bobby. Haven't watched the show since the late 70's reruns.
To bad about Pee Wee losing the show Menard. What a genius of a show Pee Wees Playhouse and initial movie were and just about anyone could enjoy it at some level. That is one of those things that nobody had to release to the press. People are just so stupid.