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PILOT REVIEW: No Ordinary Family

NO ORDINARY FAMILY










Starring: Michael Chiklis, Julie Benz, Christina Chang, Kay Panabaker, Jimmy Bennett, Autumn Reeser, with Tave Donovan, and Romany Malco
Created by Greg Berlanti and Jon Harmon Feldman
Teleplay by Jon Harmon Feldman, Story by Greg Berlanti and Jon Harmon Feldman, Directed by David Semel

No Ordinary Family is a new big-budget drama from ABC about a family who acquires superhero powers. When the Powell family takes a trip to Brazil to reconnect, their plane crashes and they are thrown into some strange water. When they come back home, they begin to discover superpowers one by one. Patriarch Jim (Michael Chiklis) has Superman powers - massive strength, ability to leap tall buildings, and won't get killed by a gun shot (unless it was very very close). His busy and highly successful wife Stephanie (Julie Benz) has the power of speed and for a woman who doesn't have enough time in the day, this proves very helpful. Teenage daughter Daphne (Kay Panabaker) discovers she is a telepathic and with her powers finds out that her boyfriend is sleeping with her best friend. Son JJ (Jimmy Bennett) initially believes that he didn't get any powers until he suddenly discovers he has an insane amount of intelligence, a welcome relief for someone who was considered an underachiever. Among the others who know is Jim's buddy George (Romany Malco) who is assisting him in his new plan to fight crime with his powers.

This is a stellar effort for a new and different new drama series. The pilot doesn't hit on all cylinders but it hits on enough to give hope for the future episodes. The acting and premise are strong, the dialogue is good for the most part, and there were some good twists towards the end. It has the feel of a movie and once it got past some early canned dialogue and an abrupt cut to the plane turbulance, it found its groove. Chiklis and Benz are solid as the married Powells and it's an interesting role reversal from traditional married roles as wife Stephanie is the successful breadwinner and husband Jim is saddened by the lack of family time. Kay Panabaker had some poorly written dialogue towards the beginning but got better as the episode went on and Malco is great as Jim's friend George. The interview style of the first episode from Jim and Stephanie's point of view but it shouldn't get overdone.

No Ordinary Family is a promising pilot. Hopefully it will be able to find an audience on a crowded Tuesday night. Yes, the premise is similar to the Pixar film The Incredibles, but this, as a serialized drama for adults, can explore deeper themes and problems that come with super powers. The first rate cast and the few twists at the end of the pilot give it enough to be an intriguing start to the series. I will be coming back for more.
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