Review: TNT’s ‘Men of a Certain Age’

By April MacIntyre Dec 6, 2009, 4:17 GMT

Growing old sucks, but if you have trusted good company to commiserate about it with, tragedy turns magically to comedy. It’s the reason we treasure our oldest friends who knew us when we were young, and why so many people go on Facebook searching for their past.

(Episodes 1 - 3) Review - Catch The Series Premiere Mon., 12/7 @ 10/9c

Nice change of pace, to be presented a thoughtful, quirky and decidedly masculine mid-life yarn that weaves the connected lives of college buddies played by Ray Romano, Scott Bakula and Andre Braugher in TNT's new series, “Men of a Certain Age”.

Though the men are close, their paths are divergent, and each has their rock, like Scott Bakula’s character Terry’s favorite Greek, Sisyphus, to push up that hill.

Lots of odd pop culture visual metaphors like The Incredible Hulk abound for a series that dwells in a bit of a melancholic way, despite the upbeat music. 

Ray Romano and his writing partner Mike Royce put some thought into this drama that focuses on men and their complex relationships at home, work and with close pals.  I wouldn’t be surprised if  “Diner,” “The Pope of Greenwich Village” and “The Big Chill” were favorites of Romano and Royce, as certain key scenes of “Men of a Certain Age” made me feel those great films again.

A moment of high praise for the casting, specifically of Andre Braugher, one of the finest actors out there.  He devours each frame he is in, just like his character’s voracious appetite for hamburgers.  Like Romano, Braugher has naturalness on camera that few can match.  He is completely unafraid as an actor, and is the reason I will continue to watch this series.

This is a series for thoughtful people, stories of average men that usually are overlooked.  Three near 50 year-old men navigate their daily lives, the LA landmark Norms Diner and regular canyon hikes are their spots to catch up nurture their friendship and analyze the plays of each one’s life.

Beginning with Joe (Ray Romano), separated from his wife and two kids, he is the penalty box dwelling Party Store owner who gambles and lies about it. His seemingly happily married friend Owen (Andre Braugher), is the car salesman son of the dealership owner whose overall carelessness has led to ill health and his father's disappointment (Richard Gant). Lastly there is Terry (Scott Bakula), a vain, solitary man who rejected commitment and family, a typical struggling actor.  He is fit, focused on his exterior and appears to be the least emotionally evolved of the trio.

The themes Romano and Royce play with are simple real-life struggles; disenchantment being the top of the list: Work, marriage and the man in the mirror.

Growing old sucks, but if you have trusted good company to commiserate about it with, tragedy turns magically to comedy.  It’s the reason we treasure our oldest friends who knew us when we were young, and why so many people go on Facebook searching for their past.

This is an interesting series, but it doesn’t jump out of the gate with a bang, it’s quiet and it makes you reflect. 

"Men of a Certain Age" airs Monday nights on TNT at 10/9c

Catch the series premiere Mon., 12/7 @ 10/9c