But while Uncle Buck certainly fits the sitcom mold, that doesn't mean the series does anything new or interesting with that mold. The only thing resembling a bold storytelling choice with this show is skipping the laugh track. The pilot episode is little more than a bag of generic characters and tropes. It's essentially a streamlined, 22-minute retelling of the movie, right down to recycling some pretty specific story beats. But even if you've never seen that movie, it's all too easy to predict where the story is headed. From the moment the rowdy, self-centered Buck Russell (Next Friday's Mike Epps) is tasked with babysitting his nieces and nephew, it's obvious that viewers will be subjected to yet another take on the "lazy slacker buckles down and learns some responsibility" trope.None of this is a death sentence for the series. Sitcoms are almost inherently generic and fueled by tropes. This is a show that will live or die on the strength of its character dynamics. Unfortunately, Uncle Buck doesn't have much to offer in that area, either. Epps is fine in the title role, but he hardly stands out in the same way Candy did nearly 30 years ago. Epps is essentially playing a watered down version of the same loud-mouthed loser he played in the Friday sequels and various other movies over the years. I say "watered down" because Uncle Buck has a very sanitized and family-friendly brand of humor. Other than one fairly creepy subplot involving high schoolers sexting, the humor is very standard. pedestrian sitcom fare. That goes against the grain of Epps' usual R-rated brand of comedy, and he doesn't have quite enough on-screen energy to stand out anyway.
This episode also fails to dig beneath the character's carefree, happy-go-lucky exterior. It never really addresses why Buck is so prone to self-sabotage and why he'd be so eager to leave behind a fiancee and a promising job opportunity in order to babysit his nieces and nephew for a weekend. For that matter, to babysit nieces and nephews he apparently hasn't seen since their respective births. It seems like there's a darker and more interesting story to be told in terms of Buck's (until recently) almost nonexistent relationship with his family, and the hope is that the show will eventually get around to telling that story.
It's tough to pass judgement on Will (Las Vegas' James Lesure) and Alexis (Third Watch's Nia Long) since the very premise demands that they remain separated from both Buck and their three children. There's very little time devoted to exploring the brotherly dynamic between Buck and Will, which is disappointing. As for Alexis, she does little more than glower at Buck and fret about getting home to her children. Both characters are pretty one-note in this premiere. The hope is that this will slowly change and that not every episode will find contrived ways of getting the parents out of the house so Buck can struggle in his duties as a "manny."
It's actually the younger cast members who prove to be the bright spot in this episode. Elder daughter Tia (newcomer Iman Benson) initially comes across as your standard cranky, sulky teenager, but she begins to stand out as the plot unfolds and the episode digs deeper into her dilemma as a lonely nerd trying to fit in. Her arc in this episode dabbles with a lot of familiar teen comedy stereotypes but still feels genuine in the end. Even better are Miles (Alex Cross' Sayeed Shahidi) and Maizy (Key and Peele's Aalyrah Caldwell), two impossibly precocious youngsters who have taken it upon themselves to put each new nanny through a childcare gauntlet. Shahidi faces almost as big a challenge as Epps as he takes over a role first played by a pre-Home Alone Macaulay Culkin, but he's clearly up to the task.
If Uncle Buck is going to find a lasting appeal, it's probably going to come from exploring the bond between Buck and his three wards. As generic as this premiere is, it still leaves you to wonder where the show will head now that it's finished regurgitating the plot of the movie. Like I said, there seems to be a story worth telling in terms of why Buck is the way he is. With the initial setup out of the way, maybe the show has a chance to become more than formulaic sitcom fare.
