MovieChat Forums > Mr. Belvedere (1985) Discussion > Love or Hate Mr. Belvedere (the characte...

Love or Hate Mr. Belvedere (the character)

posted 9 years ago by BDrums1971
14 replies | jump to latest

I grew up during the 80's, and remember hearing of this show, but I never got to watch it. I have just started catching this show on METv. I love most 80's sitcom's, but for some reason this one rubs me the wrong way.

I feel that the Mr. Belvedere character is annoying. He is supposed to be the caring, supportive "voice of reason", but to me, he comes across as pompous, know it all, smug and even flat out rude sometimes. The rest of the cast is okay, but as the whole show revolves around Mr. Belvedere, I just can't watch it. I know if I had a butler/houseman like Belvedere, I would kick him out before the first day was over.

I know it is just a tv show, but I feel if the role of Belvedere was cast differently, it would have been so much better. Just my 2 cents. What do you think?

.........................................
It's all bulls*it - the late, great George Carlin

[–] taopolis 9 years ago

Very interesting post. It proves that everyone cannot like everything and that's what makes the world go round : different opinions and that's awesome. You are not alone in your thinking because Mr. Belvedere was never a big ratings smash. In fact, it always struggled yet ABC kept it around. I'm glad they did. However, I can totally see why you say that Mr. Belvedere "comes across as pompous, know it all, smug and even flat out rude sometimes," because at times he does indeed come across that way BUT I like it. I think that's the whole point of the character, to be all those things and still loveable. I thought Christopher Hewitt was perfect for the role. He was both serious and silly at the same time. I can't imagine anyone else playing that character. Also, you are little mistaken when you say that the whole show revolves around Mr Belvedere because that's just not true. Throughout the series, each character receiveed lots of attention from the writers. Not only is Mr. Belvedere not in every scene but the lives of the other characters were always featured. In fact, now that I think about it, very few main plots were focused on Mr. Belvedere ; it was usually one of the family members who were the subjects of the main plots. But hey, if this show is not your cup of tea, there are lots of other 80's sitcoms to enjoy, as I'm sure you already know :) I'm curious to know which ones you like.

[–] pooka5472 9 years ago

Indeed, I've often felt that the Mr. Belvedere characters and story lines were much funnier and much better in quality than the incessant diabetic-like sappiness going on in the Miller-Boyett sitcoms airing at the same time, i.e., Full House, Perfect Strangers, and Family Matters.

[–] taopolis 9 years ago

Indeed, I've often felt that the Mr. Belvedere characters and story lines were much funnier and much better in quality than the incessant diabetic-like sappiness going on in the Miller-Boyett sitcoms airing at the same time, i.e., Full House, Perfect Strangers, and Family Matters.

Funny you should mention "Full House" and "Family Matters" because I tried so hard to like those two back in the day but never managed to get into them. I did like "Perfect Strangers" but mostly because I loved the theme song.

[–] pooka5472 9 years ago

I don't blame you one bit. Those shows are the epitome of "viewers are morons." It's beyond me how they could get such high numbers, while Mr. Belvedere had to languish on the bottom most rung.

[–] lonnieanixt 9 years ago

Belvedere, like most englishmen has a very dry sense of humor, which can be mistaken for being pompous, George has a similar problem with Belvedere. Sitcoms are usually built around larger than life characters and that description fits Belvedere to a tee. Belvedere is a very humane, ethical person, and he is there to impart his wisdom and moral clarity to the Owen's family. He doesn't believe in suffering fools lightly. But the family comes to respect as well as lean on him, and he needs them to give him fulfillment. Belvedere likes order, and he enjoys the chaos of the Owen's family, it gives him a challenge.
In the Owens family he has a grown-up(George) who acts like a petulant child, and in Welsley a petulant child who thinks he's an adult, and two teenagers who are full of hormones and are dealing with the ups and downs of teen romance, they give him nothing but trouble and problems to be solved ...and as he states in the Journal he writes in at the end of every episode..he wouldn't have it any other way.

[–] snsurone 9 years ago

I LOVE the "big guy".
He was the only one truly capable of knocking the often obnoxious Owens down to size.
And in the end, I think they all appreciated it.

[–] jarrodmcdonald-1 9 years ago

Good post. That's exactly how I see it. It makes them all a bit more human.

Personally, I think George is the least likable character on the show. He's the one who power-trips with Marsha and the kids; bullies/teases Belvedere about being fat and effeminate; and acts more immature than Wesley half the time.

Belvedere not only has to be the voice of reason but he has to be the one to inject doses of realism and set George right-- and anyone else who starts acting too selfish or unreasonable.

What's funny is that Belvedere himself can be quite selfish or unreasonable too. The episode where he dumps the Owens in a flash to go work for the royal family, or the episode where he writes the book about the Owens family and exposes all their foibles to the world, prove he has his own priorities/agenda.

So we can accuse Belvedere of being a hypocrite, yes. But to say he is unlikable is not fair. He has contradictions like real people do-- there's nothing cardboard about him or his reactions to those around him.

[–] jackgriffin1-1 9 years ago

Clifton Webb was a lot nastier in the films.

[–] Edermike 9 years ago

His rudeness made for great comedy, as did theirs. It was slightly darker (and stranger) humor than most sitcoms and that's why it works so much better than many shows of the time.

[–] tpcorless 8 years ago

His rudeness made for great comedy, as did theirs. It was slightly darker (and stranger) humor than most sitcoms and that's why it works so much better than many shows of the time.

I totally agree with this. I loved that Mr. Belvedere could be unlikable sometimes but that made him more human. I also liked how he would be sarcastic towards George and the kids (He seemed to have more respect for Marsha, though).

The banter between Mr. Belvedere and Wesley was an absolute highlight. Wesley's bratty behaviour and Mr. Belvedere's sharp wit made for a winning combination.

I appreciated that the show didn't try to be cloying with cheesy music overpowering scenes like on Full House.

[–] IBikeNYC 9 years ago

I never saw this show until it turned up recently on Antenna.

I am a big fool for a Renaissance Man and therefore find him quite attractive.

[–] IFeedPigeons 9 years ago

My sister and I were born one year and 9 months apart. I was the younger one. I loved the show and my sister hated it, and used to bug the shyt out of me every time it was on. A guilty pleasure for me for certain, and she had a lot coming to her for all the awful things she did to me when we were kids. Ahh, those certainly were the days. God bless this show if for no other reason than that!

Officer Krupke, what are we to dooooo?!?
Gee, Officer Krupke -- KRUP YOU!!!

[–] Vitameatavegamin 9 years ago

OP, I could have written this myself. I barely remember this show and never watched it back then. I've watched it or at least have had it on on the background dozens of times recently. I tried to like this show but I find it annoying, unfunny, and I don't like any of the characters or the actors that portray them. Just came here to see if people
liked this show and I can see they do! Just wasn't for me.

[–] arkay 9 years ago

It's very odd to come here and find such a low rating for what used to be one of my favorite shows in the 90s. A friend of mine loved it just as much. Maybe the German dubbing made it easier to like the character since he had no accent?