A batty, old matriarch (Jennifer Saunders) from the country set forces her emotionally abused dimwit of a grandson (Ade Edmondson) into bringing back home her four granddaughters (all Saunders) from different precarious situations as a last wish.
A concept that is incredibly funny on paper, written by the immensely clever and comedic Ben Elton, but as Elton's first foray into adding some drama into a comedy series it ultimately fails to find balance. Nevertheless he succeeded very well in the construction of the story, with the first episode clearly setting up the next four episodes and the final sixth episode wrapping everything up while adding a twist to keep momentum going.
Jennifer Saunders has the opportunity to play five different characters that all inhabit the same world and therefore - as opposed to playing different characters in a sketch show - need to all be on a similar, believable level of crazy. And this early on in her telly career, she succeeds to find different faces, postures, voices and nuances brilliantly. She showcases her wide range of comedic and dramatic talents, even succeeding in one of the most difficult, tragicomedy.
Ade Edmondson plays the dimwitted, good natured grandson who is the 'active' connection between each episode, with most episodes focused on him trying to find one of his long lost sisters. Edmondson is an incredibly funny and clever comedic actor and writer, though at this stage of his career many of his tv appearances rely a lot on a similar type of humor and character. The chaotic, anarchic energy displayed in much of The Comic Strip and Comedy Store performances and that eventually became really famous in shows like The Young Ones taints Edmondson's performance. His character acts on a slightly different level to the rest which often leads to a jarring transition from scene to scene.
The series has an immense cast of supporting and guest actors - all familiar faces from the up and coming comedy scene of the 80s. The three main names attached to this project, Elton, Saunders and Edmondson, are all joined by their frequent collaborators: Dawn French, Helen Lederer, Chris Barrie, Rik Mayall, Lenny Henry, Nigel Planer, Ruby Wax, Harriet Thorpe, Christopher Ryan and many more. Supporting actor Stephen Fry and his character do a really good job at tying together the characters and storyline back at home at the family pile. Though the addition of Hugh Laurie and his scenes with Fry seem like unconnected afterthought or friendly favour - like a sketch that had been lying on Elton's desk that never found its way into a different show, only to be shoehorned in here to showcase yet another side to Elton's comedy writing.
On a whole, one of the things that brings this show out of balance, specifically out of its comedy-drama balance, is the different levels at which certain actors play their characters - ranging from quiet, tragicomedy to over the top, in your face comedy (Edmondson, Mayall). I can't help but feel that if the series was largely played in the former style, it would let its writing speak more for itself and have the most effect. Its runtime is its other major downfall. At some five minutes (or sometimes more) too long, the episodes drag on too long and specifically in some scenes. With a shorter runtime, the series would have been a lot sharper, a lot tighter.
Happy Families is a unique series, but at times a hard watch some thirty years on. Nevertheless this is masterpiece from Jennifer Saunders and very worth the time for anyone interested in her work. It's also a wonderful time capsule to see many of the comedians known from the circles of Edmondson, Elton and Saunders all come together.
