Need a laugh after a rough week? 'Shifting Gears' is the comic pit stop you deserve
The cast of 'Shifting Gears' tickle the funny bone.
Image: Supplied
It was one of those weeks where I wanted to just have a good laugh, and I found a sure-fire bet to do that - “Shifting Gears” on Disney+.
With Tim Allen (“Home Improvement) and Kat Dennings (“2 Broke Girls”) heading the cast, it looked like the perfect vehicle to help me unwind.
In this frenzied binge-watching era, where you try and keep up with the deluge of content across several streaming platforms, not forgetting traditional TV offerings, it can drive you mad.
This 10-part dysfunctional family comedy, following the traditional American blueprint, allows you to simply pause and enjoy.
Look, it’s not a trailblazing offering that flips the genre on its head. It’s just a well-written, well-cast and side-splitting offering.
Still grieving over his late wife, Matt Parker (Allen) keeps busy at his auto restoration shop. A stickler for details, he’s not the easiest boss to his staff, Gabriel (Seann William Scott) and Stitch (Daryl “Chill” Mitchell).
However, his daily routine is disrupted by the return of his estranged daughter Riley (Dennings) and her children, son Carter (Maxwell Simkins) and daughter Georgia (Barrett Margolis).
Kat Dennings as Riley and Tim Allen as her stubborn dad, Matt Parker, in the comedy, 'Shifting Gears'.
Image: Supplied
While not a fan of the shift in dynamics in the household, he allows Riley to stay while she gets back on her feet. Also, he enjoys having his grandchildren around. While Carter is an introvert who struggles to make friends, Georgia is feisty and wise beyond her years.
However, finding a job isn’t as easy. At first, Riley agrees to work for her dad. But that was short-lived due to their chalk and cheese personalities.
So she starts working at a dance studio across from her dad’s garage. This doesn’t sit well with him as he is not a fan of the owner, Eve Drake (Jenna Elfman).
Aside from parking issues, Eve’s enhancements to the place send Matt off the deep end.
Other upsets include Gabriel unable to confess his true feelings for Riley, who is conflicted about getting back with her struggling musician ex, Jimmy (Lucas Neff).
The script's humour is rooted in relatable modern-day struggles and current trendy issues, which significantly strengthen its appeal.
If you need a therapeutic laugh after a trying day, watch this.
Rating: *** solid and enjoyable, though not groundbreaking.