Togetherness - The Complete First Season

The nuclear family and all its aberrations is the fundamental staple of the TV sitcom. It's hard to be innovative with such a well-worn theme, but the HBO original series "Togetherness" takes a run at the subject admirably.

Fans of independent film, the Sundance Film Festival and the mumblecore movement will doubtlessly recognize the Duplass brothers, the prolific filmmakers Jay and Mark.
They are the creative force behind such films as "Baghead," "The Puffy Chair," and "The One I Love." Both often write, direct and produce, while Mark also acts in most of these movies.

In "Togetherness," Brett (Mark Duplass) tries to be the 21st Century version of Ward Cleaver while struggling to be creative and have some integrity as a sound designer on the Hollywood assembly line. He doesn't ask for much from life, a few days at the beach, backyard barbeques and some dull, predictable sex with his wife Michelle (Melanie Lynskey).

Michelle loves her straight-laced husband, but wants a little more, namely something different and more exciting in the bedroom -- some BDSM, some dirty-talk and maybe the attentions of someone other than Brett.

The two of them have come to the point where it's easier to masturbate than get down with their spouse, but they both understand the importance of trying to make an effort.

Meanwhile, Mark's brother Alex (Steve Zissis) is evicted from his apartment because he can't make a living as an actor in this soul-crushing city, so he gets Mark and Michelle to take him in. This wouldn't be so bad but Michelle's sister Tina (Amanda Peet) wants to get out of Huston and expects to move into the household as well.

Michelle's a popular and pretty woman, who has never seemed to make a relationship last and feels like she's running out of options, all the while trying to launch her bouncy-castle business. Alex is more of a lump, nice but overweight, not particularly attractive and hardly the type that movie directors want to put in front of a camera.

Still, Alex has a quality that both attracts and repels Tina. And she's someone that he would gladly remove his pants for, if she doesn't drive him crazy first.

There just enough silliness and sentiment in this comedy to accentuate some fine performances. Which is why many people are binge watching this humble, little series (with just 8 half-hour episodes, you can get through it in an afternoon). And the two Blu-ray collection also includes never-before-seen deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes interviews with Amanda Peet and Steve Zissis and HBO's inside look at each episode.

"Togetherness"
Blu-ray
$34.98
www.hbo.com/togetherness