The Worst Week of My Life (2004)

The BBC’s The Worst Week of My Life came out 4 years after the USA’s Meet the Parents, and the star often resembles Ben Stiller, so there is that. However, each ensuing catastrophe in Worst easily outmatches those in Meet the Parents. Both are ensemble films, with each character getting in their own lines and licks; you get to know them through the disasters they fear and then face. And what disasters! Literally everything this poor schmuck (the would-be groom) does, goes wrong – so very wrong – and often more than once! This is a miniseries (one episode per day) depicting the ultimate train wreck in all-one-happy-family experiences. Being a British production, the characters take a heartbeat or two longer than Americans are used to seeing, when they react and pause for dramatic or comic effect. Because so many of the snafus are serious in nature, I suspect this is why some US viewers feel uncomfortable or awkward with the developments. (You wouldn’t want to be in the same county as this guy’s shoes, much less imagine walking in them.) Even his sweet homely secretary gets put through the wringer – though she also introduces the final happiest moments. (Warning to animal lovers: Part of the story line involves a beloved pet that comes to an accidental end. Best to skip this show if you can only imagine a pet being coddled and stuffed with treats.) I’m glad I got hold of this show – it was a Very Long Wait title so I stuck it at the top of my queue until it came through. 4 stars. (4-25-2016)