The Movie Review Of Arrested Development Season 3

Directed by Paul Feig, John Fortenberry, Robert Berlinger and produced by Chuck Williams, it stars Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Portia de Rossi, Michael Cera, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, Jessica Walter, Jeffrey Tambor, David Cross.

Screenwriter: Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely, Richard Day, Sam Laybourne, Jake Farrow, Karey Dornetto, Chuck Tatham

It is no surprise that Arrested Development was a big hit as a magnificent sitcom . What is surprising is the abrupt end to all the fun and wit of screen writer Mitch Hurwitz. What seemed like a brilliant pick-up at the end of the second season, really ends in a whimper with the third. For one, Season 3 has only 13 episodes, instead of the usual 22 and there is no Season 4.

There is of course no dearth of good fun and laughter in those 13 episodes. The story line meanders through various hilarious situations in the once-upon-a-time rich but currently morally depleted Bluth family, which follows its leader, the good son Michael (Jason Bateman). In the Season 3, misty eyed Michael finds his soul mate in Rita (guest star Charlize Theron), an attractive woman holding a secret up her sleeves. As you go on watching it, you might just guess the secret and the dramatic revelation but the hilariously obvious clues will have you in splits.

According to http://FilmCritic.com's Jesse Hassenger ?Arrested Development is probably the most densely self-referential sitcom ever, but not in the sense that it goes for self-mocking meta-jokes like The Simpsons (though there are some of those too, especially in "S.O.B.," where Michael tries to enlist help to "save" the floundering Bluths, hoping that maybe the "Home Builders Organization" ? HBO ? will come to the rescue).?

One of the most relieving part of Season 3 is that none of the jokes, motifs are repeated ? it is simply improved and by-passes the rest of the show in excellence.

In short, Arrested Development grows on you. Its end arrests everything. Here is what http://FilmCritic.com had to say ? everyone on this show is so damn good. That includes the writers, who, during the show?s run, had a virtual monopoly on verbal wit in TV comedy, and directors like Paul Feig (Freaks and Geeks) mixing a fast pace with a deadpan documentary style.?

FilmCritic.com review published with permission.

Beverly Kane is a staff writer at http://www.1st-in-dvd.com and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including http://www.theshoppinggazette.com.