Home Improvement

Reviewer: Alyice Edrich

Movie

Home Improvement, 1999

Plot

A comedy that ran in half hour segments from 1991 to 1999. A married man constantly finds himself in comedic predicaments as he hosts the local cable show, Tool Time, and raises a family of three boys.

Starring

Tim Allen, Patricia Richardson, Earl Hindman, Debbe Dunning, Taran Smith, Zachery Ty Bryan, Richard Karn, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and more.

Review

From the very first season of Home Improvement, I was hooked: hook, line, and sinker. Not a perfect family, by any means, but a good, strong, emotionally stable family never-the-less. Each member of the family grew strength from one another, they knew how to lean on each other in times of trouble, and most importantly, they could not only laugh at themselves but at each other without guilt, shame, or consequence. And while friends have come and gone, the true remained until the end.

In this, the final season, the middle son, Randy, has left the family for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, which only builds on the convictions we’ve watched him struggle with over the years—to preserve planet earth. Randy leaves to help save the Rain Forest in Costa Rica and while truly missed isn’t mentioned much in the preceding episodes. But as they say, the show must go on and it does.

While I still thoroughly enjoyed season eight, I have to admit that it pales in comparison to the earlier seasons. I’m not sure if the writers just gave up—knowing this would be the show’s final season—or if because it was the final season they thought trying new things would spice things up a bit, but I miss the originality that made the preceding seasons so great.

Some may argue that there were plenty of “original episodes” in season eight and I’d have to agree, but those episodes weren’t Home Improvement—as I knew and loved it. I missed the familiarity. I missed the chemistry. And I really wanted to see more of Tim and Jill parenting the two remaining boys. It seems to me that the writers missed out on a great opportunity for some great material!

In season eight, Tim has a new boss and isn’t happy. All the changes being made to the parenting company, Binford, are destroying Tool Time, the cable show, as Tim knows it and it’s not sitting well. His discouragement and frustration also takes its toll on the show and Tim’s growing dissatisfaction in his job has one wondering if he’s headed for an early retirement.

Jill continues to move more towards full-time psychiatry but in doing so she’s sort of become a little miss know it all and that can be rather annoying—even if she’s right on the money or if her intentions are good. Case in point: her brother-in-law moves in with his girls during his divorce and Jill takes it upon herself to constantly correct his parenting skills.

The boys, Mark and Brad are still part of the show, but not as visible as in the past. (And I, for one, miss that!) Mark’s no longer the butt of Brad’s jokes and Brad’s no longer the dumb jock. In fact, he’s begun to take his studies more seriously in hopes of earning a soccer scholarship. As for Mark’s dark demeanor in season seven, it’s been completely eliminated—no rhyme, no reason.

Wilson is still Wilson. Mysterious, smart, and fun loving. His knowledge about things still baffles me as I am sure they do anyone who watches the show. Seriously, where does he find all that time to study and do and be?

Al doesn’t change much. He’s still the naïve guy with an open heart and a good head on his shoulders. But in this season, he finally meets the woman of his dreams and marriage plans are in the works.

There are 28 episodes in all. Below are a few of my favorites:

Adios: Randy leaves for the Rain Forest. For me, this was true Home Improvement. Everything just clicked. There was laughter and there were tears. There were signs of joy and signs of sorrow. And it dealt with an issue every parent must one day deal with—the parting of the ways as our children grow into adults.
Taylor Got Game: Another Home Improvement classic. Brad shines in this episode and it deals with a very real issue that many teenagers, and adults alike, struggle with: the lure of success.
Bewitched: I’m a big fan of Tim’s Halloween pranks and season eight would not be complete with out one. In this episode, Tim’s pranks seem to bore his family and friends and he’s really upset by it. Little does he know that they’ve decided to “out prank” him!
Home For The Holidays: Have you ever wanted to go home so badly you could taste it only when you get there things aren’t the way you remembered them and you find yourself having a hard time adjusting? That’s just what happened to Randy as he returns home for a holiday vacation.
Love’s Labor Lost Part 1 & 2: Jill’s showing signs of early menopause and makes a trip to see the doctor, only it’s not early menopause. It’s something much more serious and she must undergo surgery. During the surgery, complications arise that cause the removal of her womanly parts. When Jill learns of the results of her surgery she hits mood swings like nothing you’ve seen before. It’s heart wrenching to watch her struggle with the changes in her body—changes she wasn’t mentally prepared to accept. But it’s also encouraging because she comes out stronger than ever, thanks to her loving and caring support system.
The Long and Winding Road Part 1, 2, & 3: The season finale. Enough said. Oh, and by the way, AL GETS MARRIED!

Your Task

As you watch Home Improvement, I’d like to encourage you to think about your own family and the memories you’ve shared over the years. What stands out the most? What causes you to laugh or cry? What makes you feel blessed or sad? Then ask yourself, “If this was my last episode—my last day on earth—how would I like it to end?” Whether it be a huge family reunion, a dream vacation with those that matter most, or a career change that allows you to truly enjoy life more go out there and make plans to make that happen.