The season opens with a huge reveal and sets the tone for the season. Gloria is pregnant, and everyone dreads Jay’s reaction. Everything turns out fine, of course, but the announcement is a test of Jay’s character. It’s a test of the family as a whole, as Cam and Mitch are just coming down from a failed attempt to adopt another baby. It’s also heartwarming proof that even the grumpy old guy has a few surprises.
The season has proven that the talented cast and crew of Modern Family have really hit their stride. There isn’t an episode here that misses a beat. Mistery Date (spelled that way on purpose) is one episode that showcases all the tricks the writers have up their sleeve. It’s the perfect storm of misunderstandings as Phil plans his day off. He starts off by trying to wire up a smart house through his iPad. He invites a guy over that he meets at the gym to watch a game. Meanwhile, Cam is talking up this mystery date, Dave (Matthew Broderick), over the phone, telling him the gym is a total pickup place for guys. Everything culminates when Phil dims the lights, turns on the fireplace, and tries to console his Dave about a broken heart. Dave gets overwhelmed, gives Phil a kiss, and then leaves. It’s classic sitcom setup, but it’s brilliant, warm, and funny.
It’s almost hard to pick favorites from this season, but Fulgencio is a great episode where Gloria’s intimidating mother and family visit from Columbia. It ends in a great homage to The Godfather, orchestrated by Phil and Luke (Nolan Gould). Future Dunphys is really cute for the look into the possible future of the Dunphy family (they witness their older doppelgangers while they’re in the hospital). Every character has a chance to grow, and the interactions between brothers, nephews, sister-in-laws and many other pairings are explored. There’s a little something here for fans of each character on the show.
The special features are generous and entertaining as well. There are two episodes with commentary, which surprisingly is the first commentary to show up in these Blu-rays, but definitely worth the wait. Deleted, alternate and gag reel scenes fill it out, along with some special featurettes like "An Addition to the Family" and "A Modern Family Guide to Parenting."
Modern Family: Season 4 remains that warm, familiar place to go when you just want to hang out with people you know and love. The family is broken, connected, hurt, happy, and most important, hilarious. It's a lot like a real family. Don’t hesitate to pick it up if you’re a fan, or even if you’re just getting into it.
