I recently flew from Thailand back to New York after Christmas break. Being on a transatlantic flight means you have the opportunity to watch a lot of films, so I thought I would try something different for a column. Note that my opinions on them aren’t that valid because I fell asleep during three of them (plus the fact that I’m just a dumb colleg...

Warning: This review contains references to graphic material and is not suitable for children. Review: If you were interested at all in the first Kick-A** film (referred to by initials from here on out), you are likely aware by now of the sequel's many issues: Gratuitous language and sexual references, highly stylized graphic violence, and the inev...

Hi, all! I'm Trip.

I just thought I would give a quick introduction as the newest member of the CCG blogging team. I've been involved with the site for almost seven years and have been a moderator in the forums here for several years now. I joined the site seeking a safe online community that shared some of my interests, and that's exactly what I found. The funny thing is, I'm not even a huge gamer, but I liked the people here so much that I never left. If you're reading this, you've found a good place.

Things you should know about me: I've spent over half of my life in Asia. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean I can speak any cool languages or anything. I know, I suck. I'm an avid book reader and film viewer, so the majority of my blog posts will probably be things that I've most recently experienced in that realm. That being said, I might throw in a music review in there every once in a while. I play guitar like 263 other people that you know. I can eat an entire box of CTT (Cinnamon Toast Crunch for you casuals) without breaking a sweat. Like my log-line says, I'm currently a senior English and Writing major at Houghton College, without a single clue what to do after this semester. I joined the blogging team to test a little more of the journalistic waters and to publicly hone my craft; ccgr graciously let me on-board.

Things you shouldn't know about me: I never wear un...hey, wait a minute. Moving on.

Feel free to drop a comment saying hi if you'd like, or don't, whatever. I sincerely hope that you enjoy my blogging contributions!

James Chance is adrift. He's a 24 year old high school drop out who still lives with his parents, and the longest job he's ever held is working for his father in his landscaping company. So, when a frantic woman bangs on the window of his van, what does he do? He takes her home. And so, little baby Hope is brought into the world, courtesy of Jimmy and a convicted serial killer's one-night-stand.  With a new baby to care for, Jimmy (Lucas Neff) and the Chances' lower-lower-lower-middle class family discover that they all have a little something to learn about child-rearing and the bonds that hold them together.

Show creator Greg Garcia is no stranger to blue collar comedy, and fans will be able to see many similarities between this and My Name Is Earl in style and execution. The characters are a little dimwitted but they've got street-smarts and heart in spades, and that's what matters. The cast is bolstered with standout performances, especially Cloris Leachman as the senile Maw Maw, and the young-at-heart Burt Chance (Garret Dillahunt). Really, it's nothing particularly we haven't seen before, but the combination of one-liners and the characters' chemistry is positively charming. In an early episode, Virginia Chance (Martha Plimpton) tries to tell her son that her smoking had no adverse health effects on him as a child. His response? "...I had asthma the first 17 years of my life. I've got seven permanent teeth that still haven't come in. And I'm allergic to fruit....fruit!" It's all about the delivery, and the core cast carries it well. 

One of the most remarkable things about Raising Hope is its consistency and the tendency to always balance between the extremes - none of the episodes ever fall into abysmal territory, but none quite reach the echelons of comedy genius, and that's okay. The show doesn't try to be that, instead opting for a mixture of relatability and enabling the viewers to laugh at the thickheaded antics that often propels the Chance's misfortune. Lightheartedness drives the premise forward, but it is balanced with some occasionally dark moments, such as Jimmy having to cover Hope's eyes while they watch her mother get electrocuted in the pilot. The same standard of consistency can be held in terms of offensive content. It's not particularly innocuous but certainly doesn't plumb the depraved depths for material. An episode that involves Jimmy trying to get their house off the sex offender registry so that he can get Hope into a good daycare (Burt was caught canoodling with Virginia at a young age) ends up that everyone except Burt, ends up unintentionally getting charged for sexual offenses. Crazy Maw Maw frequently takes off her shirt, much to the disgust of the rest of the Chances. 

The show is already in the middle of its fourth season, but the first three seasons remain on Netflix. In fact, I've seen the first several episodes three times now and have successfully converted all of my friends into fans. If you’re able to bypass a few of the infrequent sexual references, the show remains a consistent source of entertainment. Don't start watching it expecting to be blown away by sharp dialogue and originality, instead, watch it for the comic performances and chemistry that succeed in recreating some classic sitcom magic.