MovieChat Forums > Retired at 35 (2011) Discussion > Why's the son so unlikeable?

Why's the son so unlikeable?

posted 13 years ago by perfectpawn
10 replies | jump to latest

I can't bother to look up the actor's/character's name. He's just such a smarmy punk...like "Henry," Shatner's son in the similar "Bleep My Dad Says." I mean, is Hollywood incapable of writing mid-30s characters without making them appear like spineless jackasses?

I watched the first episode of this and couldn't imagine watching another. But of course, as the TV Land ads would have it, this is the greatest show since "Everybody Loves Raymond." (I better be careful what I write; they might pull off the last half of that sentence and use it in their latest round of self-praising commercials!)

[–] Man-O-Man 13 years ago

I just mentioned in another thread that he is just not that special, not that good of an actor, and totally unmemorable. He is unappealing, drab, and most of all, very generic. Probably a nice guy in real life, who knows but I think they should have cast someone else and even then I don't think doing that would save this horrendous show or make much of a difference.

[–] sjbradford 13 years ago

Because he's unattractive, unfunny, charmless, and can't act.

[–] dogluver1970 12 years ago

Because he's unattractive, unfunny, charmless, and can't act.

Wow, really?? Obviously, it's your opinion and you have every right to it (like that of several previous posters), but the bigwigs at TVLand don't seem to think so (nor the fans, since the show was picked up for another season) and I really don't get it!! I think that Jonathon is extremely talented, handsome and all-around wholesome, likeable actor.

I'm a 40 yr old woman, and I was just wondering if more women like him (as an actor, for his looks, etc) than men do (???)

I'd rather have a a bit of a "flip-flopper" (Romney) than a total "FLOP" (Obama).

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] sexorcist6969 13 years ago

HORRIBLE NOSE JOB.

[–] dmyriounis 13 years ago

I agree that the show is generic, although that doesn't mean it can't be fun or have its moments, but overall I find the son very likeable. The actor of course isn't a comedic genius and he often gets repetitive but I wouldn't go as far as to call him talentless or unlikeable. He doesn't elevate the mediocre material he's given, but neither does he ruin his lines, he does a very good job with them. And in particular the fact that he looks like a normal, everyday person and not like a tree-tall, ab-machine Ken doll is a plus for the authenticity of the show.

[–] redkeno 13 years ago

He looks like Mickey Mouse.

Fate is what you call it when you don't know the name of the person screwing you over.

[–] fortunesfool27 12 years ago

i find him really likable. he's cute and relaxed. idk lol

[–] InjunNose 12 years ago

It's the Jonathan Silverman Syndrome. Sure, the '90s are long gone, but there are tons of unfunny comic actors like this guy still floating around in Hollywood--and, by virtue of their sheer numbers (and because some TV Land exec who worked at one of the major networks a couple of decades ago still operates under the mistaken impression that this sort of dreck is funny), one of them lands a job every so often.
Thank god for Antenna TV. Now TV Land isn't my only option, and I don't have to watch "Retired at 35" or twelve episodes of "Roseanne" back to back.

[–] 12 years ago

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