Working the Engels

[The Canadian comedy all-stars] give it good vibes. But the scripts, despite mad moments of whimsy, can't keep pace with the cast's comic timing and tone.

There’s a bit of a free-form Arrested Development vibe in play, but not enough to elevate Working the Engels to anywhere near that level.

Neither ["Welcome to Sweden" or Working the Engels] is awful, neither will make you cancel other plans.... A few bright ideas enliven the half-hour. But how many meddling mother jokes can they pile on before we’re weary?

The fish-out-of-water aspect intrigues but it also frustrates.

Though the series may have some passing connection to Arrested Development in terms of setup, it isn't able to capture the depth or tone or charm that elevates a comedy out of just being mediocre to being something really great. That requires more work.

The family dynamic is not unlike the one on “Arrested Development,” only Working the Engels leaves out the humor, inventiveness and sophistication. “Zany” is a word that mostly applies to antic comedy that isn’t funny, and that includes Working the Engels.

Nothing about Engels works: the tired premise, the strained performances, the empty abyss of silence into which the groaning jokes dissipate.