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Two and a Half Men or three big babies? I'll admit to watching the show on a regular basis, but I won't claim to be proud of it. The jokes are funny, but tend to be low-brow. Cheap shots at cheap sluts and offensive outbursts on obesity tend to overwhelm the viewer. Over-drinking, over-sex, and over-indulgence to the max. When I'm not laughing at the jokes, I'm shocked at the nerve of the writers. The show harps on the undeniable fact sex sells. I frequently find myself ashamed to be of the male persuasion every time Charlie Harper makes another drunken conquest. I'd like to believe the real world doesn't reward such brazen cockiness, but I know better.

Jon Cryer as an introverted wuss wallowing in self-pity may be played to a tee. To have the misfortune of being brother to the opposite end of the confident spectrum makes for confrontations not to be missed. Charlie Sheen plays the over-confident womanizing cad with an air of arrogance that can only come from true experience. Angus T. Jones is so effective as an ignored self-denigrating low I.Q. husky lad, Jake, that it keeps me worried about the permanent effects his role may take on his psyche.
O.K. I'll admit the modern family unit is often composed of divorced parents and the show does cover that aspect with a humorous spin, however it hardly does the ex-wife justice. Alimony is akin to being sucked dry by a callous leech. Anyone contemplating marriage is likely to think thrice after an episode or two has flashed across their television screen.
Frankly I'm surprised the show has lasted as long as it has. Despite Angus T. Jones strong performances and the well-written sibling rivalry gags I find far too many offensive remarks being fired at the fairer sex. Women are seldom treated as more than sex objects unless they're a scheming money-grubbing ex-wife, a psycho-stalking infatuated ex-girlfriend, a big-boned back-talking Harley Davidson maid, or a tormenting upturned nose shrew of a mother. The best part for me is the characters chemistry. The women of the show are unique plus they do have a small screen presence that can't be ignored. My favorite moments are when the dames destroy the men since the clueless guys so often seem to be begging for it.
Conchata Ferrell as Berta, the cleaning lady that wipes the floor with Charlie's butt, is done to perfection. Melanie Lynskey's shining performance as Rose, the obsessing stalker with a twisted heart of gold, couldn't be finer. Holland Taylor as the ex-wife out to get the former love of her life scares the "bejebbus" out of me. April Bowlby as Kandi, the light-headed bimbo and second ex-wife, thrills me far more with her cleavage than her acting. Holland Taylor as Evelyn, the hypocritical skillful guilt-wielding mother of the disturbed duo, should receive an Emmy for her performance as the wicked witch of the Upper Crust.
In short I watch the show for the humor in it and then admonish myself afterward for tolerating such a macho egomaniac look at the world. Then I tune in again next week. I suppose I look at it as one of life's guilty pleasures: chocolate, internet porn, and Two and a Half Menaddictive, but hardly something to brag about.

Learn more about this author, James Sarti.
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