Arrested Development

Arrested Development Reviews



Overall 5 star rating4.93 of 5 (by 28 users)



Arrested Development Review Summary

Think YOU have the most dysfunctional family in America? Maybe you should try visiting the Bluth family of Newport Beach, California before you bestow that title on your clan. Justin Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Jeffrey Tambor and Jessica Walter star in Arrested Development as perhaps the most whacked out family to ever exist. "The best television show that never got a chance" about " a rich family that tries to keep the family company alive while the father and head of the company is in jail for fraud." won an Emmy in its first season for "Outstanding Comedy Series" and "Outstanding New Comedy", but was canceled after 3 seasons. Reviewers describe it as "A smart comedy with layers upon layers of jokes, plots carried over episodes and seasons, and some of the most unique characters (Caricatures!) that have ever been created.". Arrested Development grew a cult audience however and remains popular on DVD, perhaps one of the many reasons Time Magazine delcared it one of the top 100 television shows of all time. If you are into a different brand of comedy Arrested Development might be right up your tree and it just might make you feel better about your own family.
93% of people rated Arrested Development as 5 stars
93% of people rated Arrested Development as 5 stars%
93%
7% of people rated Arrested Development as 4 stars
7% of people rated Arrested Development as 4 stars%
7%
No one rated Arrested Development as 3 stars
No one rated Arrested Development as 3 stars%
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No one rated Arrested Development as 2 stars
No one rated Arrested Development as 2 stars%
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No one rated Arrested Development as 1 star
No one rated Arrested Development as 1 star%
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100% Everyone recommends Arrested Development Everyone recommends Arrested Development 0%
 

Arrested Development Ratings and Reviews

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5
helpful
votes
Likes to be entertained, comedy fan, a music lover, wes anderson fan, larry david fan, michael cera fan

NOV
29
2007
Arrested Development is undoubtedly the best sitcom of the 21st Century, and it never even got a chance to win the hearts of America. This show had a wonderful blend of topical humor and dry wit. In its three seasons - from the pilot, which was extended and became the first episode, to the epilogue in the third season - Arrested Development delivered continuous laughs.
Arrested Development is a show premised about a rich family that tries to keep the family company alive while the father and head of the company is in jail for fraud. The motley crew of characters are blended so well together, the...
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5 star rating
mightymorock
Villanova, PA



2
helpful
votes
an avid TV watcher, character-lover, Likes to be entertained, an infrequent movie goer, having a sense of humor, a comedy fan, a woman, current TiVo user

FEB
24
2008
I love this show! Unfortunately, I didn't watch it when the it was on during it's regular season, because I didn't think it would be any good. I happened upon a rerun of it one day, and fell in love.
It is one of the funniest shows on TV! My husband I TiVo every episode and watch them back to back! I cannot understand WHY it was canceled!? It is so entertaining and funny. I love Jason Bateman!!! And Portia De Rossi is so beautiful!
I even heard they are going to make a movie! I am so there! I wish they would bring this show back, we need more off beat, light comedy's to watch.

5 star rating
2008 Writer
VolFanGrl
Sweetwater, TN



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1
helpful
vote
waiting for the DVD, fun loving, into Independent Films, a comedy fan, self-employed, working in my slippers, thankful to my doctors, a creative

AUG
12
2009

My husband and I love watching "Arrested Development" on DVD.  We need to buy the series already!!  We have rented the entire 3 seasons from Netflix too many times to count.  

What I really want to know is who made the decision to take this series off the air?  I mean seriously, are they still employed at Fox or what?  I would love to hear your comments if you know the answer or even want to rant.

The lengths "Arrested Development" writer's went toward to pull off a joke, with an amazing cast of actors and voice-overs by Ron Howard no less is genius.  The main premise of the show breaks...

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5 star rating
2009 Writer
GretaJane
Long Beach, CA



1
helpful
vote
into Independent Films, Open-minded, an avid TV watcher

FEB
2
2009
"Arrested Development" was an amazing show that ended before its time.  It featured an impressive ensemble cast that each and every character shined in.  Each actor adds their own unique quirks to give the show depth and hilarity.  I was lucky enough to watch the show when it originally aired on FOX, and the final episodes were bittersweet- it was sad to know the show was ending, but the jabs the writing took at the FOX network for cancelling the show were priceless. If you are looking for a show to become obsessed with and quote constantly, then you have found it.  There looks to be a glimmer... read full review »
5 star rating
reviewer
poeh0021
Saint Paul, MN



1
helpful
vote
a comedy fan

JUL
25
2009

I had always heard about how funny and great Arrested Development was by friends and family, but just never got around to watching it until recently when my brother let me borrow his copy of the first season.  I was hooked after the first episode and watched the entire season in one weekend!  I love the dry humor of the characters and the narration by Ron Howard.  Others have described this show as "The best show that no one is watching", and I guess that's why it isn't still on the air.  The writing is brilliant, the acting well done (except for Micheal Cera...I don't care for him), and the...

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5 star rating
reviewer
Melfunkshn
West Monroe, LA



D
watching chick flicks, tech savvy

JUL
1
2009

Arrested Development truly is one of the best shows, new or otherwise, of the year: a laugh-out-loud, deeply quirky, and audacious series that has its own wacky agenda and dares to be delightfully different. There are few shows on network television right now that come close to matching Arrested's absurdist satire or twisted view of family crises. That the show mines its laughs by taking potshots at the filthy rich makes it so much more delicious.

Created and written by TV vet Mitchell Hurwitz (The Golden Girls, The Ellen Show) and executive-produced by Ron Howard and Brian Glazer (Howard's soothing...

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5 star rating
reviewer
Krystian
Marietta, GA



D
Not offended by foul language, Open-minded, a romantic, entertainment reviewer, Internet User, an avid TV watcher, noticing the details, storyteller

NOV
29
2007
Sadly this show will never make it to Season Four.  In what was dubbed a season finale for Season Three, everyone was forced to say good-bye -- the Bluths included.

This show is brilliant.  A smart comedy with layers upon layers of jokes, plots carried over episodes and seasons, and some of the most unique characters (Charicatures!) that have ever been created.

From the comedic gold of the minds of Ron Howard and Mitch Hurwitz as well as the talents of the dead-pan Michael (Jason Bateman) and comedic icons like Jeffrey Tambor, "Arrested Development" was so outstanding that EVERYONE on the show...
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5 star rating
reviewer
persiancat
Riverside, CA



D
Likes to be entertained

APR
19
2009

I cannot believe they canceled "Arrested Development"! This TV show had by far some of the most clever writers ever. The way they used a sort of "catch" pharse or word and tied it all together with each character featured on the show was incredibly funny and intelligently clever. The characters were all amazing, even those that were the "villains" or n'er do wells in the series were likable. My daughter and I were hooked on this show. One of the funniest episodes was the one when Lindsay's daughter Maybe was enrolled in a special school because she had trouble in a regular school. The special school's...

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5 star rating
reviewer
Maggiesga
Toledo, OH



D
a movie buff, Likes to be entertained, watching chick flicks, a comedy fan

MAY
11
2009

The show is a comedic gem.  It is very witty and well written.  Everytime you watch it get get another little comment they made. I'm so sad that they took the show off the air.  It should have had at least a couple more seasons.  I always thought that George Michael was adorable in a dorky kind of way.Arrested Development is about the ultimate dysfunctional family. The father is in jail for an infinate number of charges relating to the family business and the mother is a cold rich alcoholic. The daughter Lindsey married a gay guy (but not out of the closet) to piss off her parents and...

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5 star rating
reviewer
dramaqueen21
Norfolk, VA



D
a comedy fan, busy mom

SEP
23
2009

I absolutely love Arrested Development. The wry humor never fails to leave me laughing. Many shows I cannot stand to watch an episode again even once, but with Arrested Development, I can.

I first heard of the show from a roommate during college and it didn't sound all that intriguing. A couple years later my sister-in-law loaned us the DVD's and we sat down to watch. I was instantly hooked. The characters are hysterical. I love their interactions and the humor involved. The Bluth family is dysfunction at its best. Each sibling is incredibly unique and could keep the audience entertained by themselves....

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5 star rating
reviewer 2009 Writer
byubelle22
Snellville, GA



D
a comedy fan

JUL
21
2009

I loved Arrested Development when I first saw it.  It was fresh, the writing was superb, the commentary by Ron Howard really made the show.  I was hooked and couldn't wait until the next week to see what happened.  I loved following all of the different storylines.  Every character had something going on in the crazy world that was their life.  The first season was definately the best, the second season was good, but by the third season it began to get too weird.  Not as funny and unpredictable as the first two seasons.  Still a great show.  We have all three seasons on DVD and when I want...

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5 star rating
reviewer
Sirach2
Fresno, CA



D
a movie buff, a comedy fan

OCT
5
2009

Arrested Developement clearly isn't for everyone, I guess that's why they cancelled it.  It was probably too witty for the vast wasteland.  This was one of the funniest and cleverest show I've seen.  It's one of those shows that will probably be remembered n 20 years as Monty Python is now.  The show's premise is just hilarious and the characters were all hysterical.  And Michael Cera!  I have all the seasons on DVD and enjoy watching the show again for subtlties I may have missed before.   Or for the pie in the face humor, both work.  The last season wasn't as funny as the previous, I...

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5 star rating
LeleeFrankHazard
Alexandria, VA



D
a comedy fan

JAN
29
2009
This was a great comedy series from writer/director Ron Howard. I thought my family was dysfunctional, but it doesn't compare with the Bleuths.  It's a shame that they took this show off the air.  I don't know what happened but I looked forward to a new episode every week.  I know that they used to show re-runs of the old episodes but I haven't seen them on recently either.  It seems like everytime I find a show on tv I like they take it off the air.  There probably won't be a show like this anymore, there are too many reality shows on tv right now.  It seems as though reality tv is taking... read full review »
5 star rating
reviewer
rckrpwtr
Alton, IL



D
Likes to be entertained, having a sense of humor, fun loving, a comedy fan

OCT
5
2009

I recently borrowed Arrested Development from my local library.  I remember them receiving awards back when the show aired, but never really knowing what the show was all about.  I am glad that I checked out the first season (and subsequently season 2 and 3) because both my husband and I liked it.  It has great comedy in there, mixed with a little drama in a style that pleases in a "The Office" sort of way.  I wish I had watched it back when it was airing so that I could have contributed to it's ratings so it could have been aired longer than 3 seasons, but hindsight is 20/20.  I hear there...

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5 star rating
reviewer
PZarate
Selma, CA



D
a music lover, comedy fan, a fan of clever plots

DEC
20
2007
This show was well-written and well-cast. Unfortunately, it was "too smart" for the average viewer. One must actually think, pay attention, and follow the dialogue to understand what is going on with the characters. That is way too complicated for the average American sitcom viewer. Fox gave up on the show too soon. If they had stuck with it, they would have (eventually) seen the revenue they had wanted. I have never seen a show that was better written or characters that were better portrayed than what I saw on "Arrested Development." Without a doubt, this was the funniest television program... read full review »
5 star rating
imacrybaby
Saint Louis, MO



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