Critic Reviews

Leads Justin Kirk and JoAnna Garcia Swisher charm. [10 Aug 2012, p.70]

It's more like M*A*S*H* for the four-legged, a subversive and perversely funny workplace comedy.

The show is cleverer than you'd expect. [20 Aug 2012, p.41]

Not terrible--really--but not yet remotely the winner NBC so badly needs either.

Animal Practice might devolve into a lot of jokes about mammalian reproduction and/or defecation, or it might evolve into a goofy workplace drama with reasonably sparky leads and occasionally frisky pythons. Given the quality of the core cast and the mildly pleasing (if broad) nature of the pilot, I've got my paws crossed and I'm hoping for the latter.

Between their personal history and their decidedly different approaches to running the place, they're dealing with plenty of built-in conflict, but if the show's a hit, I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually united, just as Perry and his fellow "Friends" stars once did, to demand an end to (or at least a dialing back of) the monkey business.

The show may not be comedy gold, but it generates enough laughs to make it worth checking out before hitting the sack Sunday night. But is it a keeper in the long run? We'll see.

It's knowingly dumb and aiming for smart-dumb, and over time it might get there.

It's too cringe-worthy for overempathizing animal lovers, but general audiences might tune in for lighthearted, escapist fun.

Like a lot of pilots, Animal Practice is messy, and if you don't like the monkey, well, you're probably not coming back.