To preface this review: I’ve haven’t seen much of the original Malcolm in the Middle. I grew up on late 2000s-early 2010s Disney Channel, shows like Hannah Montana, The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, and Wizards of Waverly Place. Now that I’ve grown up, it really seems like wherever I go, Malcolm in the Middle has always been there. Although I’ve mostly seen it through short clips and social media videos, this show’s been consistently entertaining. The hijinks of this dysfunctional family made me laugh once my binge began. Fortunately, they continue to do so with Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair.
Picking up a few years later, Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair sees Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) trying to live away from his crazy family. Now with a daughter, Leah (Keeley Karsten), and a girlfriend, Tristan (Kiana Madeira), Malcolm is seemingly satisfied with his life. However, with Lois’ (Jane Kaczmarek) and Hal’s (Bryan Cranston) anniversary coming up, Malcolm finds himself roped back into the madness that he desperately wanted to leave.
If you’re someone who’s somewhat unfamiliar with the original series, it might take some time to adjust to Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair. The first episode does just that, not just by acknowledging how absurd the continuation is, but also eases you back into both worlds. Malcolm’s reality is much more dull and plain as his success is overshadowed by his intellectual need to uplift everyone else. The office life isn’t quite what Malcolm needs, so throwing him right back into the chaos is fitting, as is the return to the franchise’s narrative format.
The first two episodes also get you easily acquainted with Malcolm’s messy family, who bring their delightfully devious charms back to the table. Particularly, Cranston and Kaczmarek truly bring their all once more as Hal and Lois, who get into some over-the-top shenanigans. Throughout these episodes, Hal’s trying to constantly share his affection in crazy ways, whether that be Hal getting a Bruno Mars barbershop quartet or simply blowing Lois away with love (quite literally.) There’s a whole montage that sees Hal’s plans being too much, but in the perfect way possible.
All the while, Lois gets constantly fed up with the craziness, but is just generally overwhelmed with prepping for their anniversary. The way that she clarifies this to Francis (Christopher Masterson), who’s in the middle of having his own momentous occasion, is pretty funny to watch. It turns out that keeping a list of things to prioritize when it comes to family can make for a hilarious moment or two. That said, Malcolm’s siblings are also off doing their own things, all while having their own plans of revenge, against Hal and each other.
The other side of the comedy in Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair all comes from these characters fighting each other. For example, Reese (Justin Berfield) is constantly trying to get their dad to believe that he’s successful, but often puts Hal in oddball jobs to make clickbait videos. Francis and his wife Piama (Emy Coligado) live in Hal and Lois’ garage, making for a tight living situation. Dewey (Caleb Ellsworth-Clark) is mostly present through video chats, but the show does give him some moments to drop an odd joke here and there about his musical lifestyle. Jamie (Anthony Timpano) makes sparing appearances due to his time in the Coast Guard. However, new child Kelly (Vaughan Murrae) fills that void by trying to be the straight-man to everyone’s madness.
However, the heart of this sequel series comes through the rebuilding Malcolm has with Leah and Tristan. Leah has almost adapted her father’s entire personality, resulting in her recognizing her peers’ mistreatment. Yet, Leah being a smart cookie allows her to gain the right amount of emotional understanding as the show also leans into those empathetic moments. These scenes show that you can grow up to be your own person while still being open to that support. It’s an overarching message that resonates with every character, but mostly shows through Malcolm’s new family.
Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair is the cherry on top of this chaotically hilarious, yet heartfelt, franchise. It’s reverent to the original show in nearly every way, all while leaving room to explore the other parts of Malcolm and his family’s world. Unabashed and unyielding to hold back, this sequel miniseries does a great job carrying the torch that was left nearly two decades ago.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
_
Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.