Although the remake was not true to form, (what remake is) and also too campy, the actors in the show were paid to do a job, and did not control scripts, music, etc. I think it's really harsh to judge them and the range of their talents by a poorly done pilot that they had no control over. I can personally vouch for the extreme range and talent of one of the actors, and although it may have been a poor choice of vehicles for them, they all performed to the best of their given roles. Blame VH1 or the writers and directors for their part in this. Not the actors. Hopefully, someone with the talent to write and direct a future remake of a beloved classic will take this where it needs to be. Let's remember- even if The Brady Bunch movies were not exactly true to form- they were amusing and even managed to make some money.
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kamille7 December 2022I read all the reviews here - but I disagree with them. In my opinion, it's not the actors (I thought they were great!), and it's not the writing that made this version of The Partridge Family a Fail. It's the camera work and the reality show format.. but especially the camera work (which is why I didn't rate more stars).
Hand-held camera cinematography is the worst! It makes one feel physically ill, and makes everything on the screen look shaky... makes you feel like you want to pop a xanax. One of the things I liked most about the original is the still camera sitcom format. It was relaxing, and it drew you into the subject's world. Hand held? You know you're watching something from afar.. you're not temporarily suspending your reality and entering the Partridge Family world.
The reality show format was also a bad idea, pretty much for the same reason .. it does not draw you in. If this show had been filmed with still cameras and done in a sitcom (not reality show) format, I believe that viewers would have liked it and accepted it. True, it's not exactly the same. The actors are different. The time is different. But the story is very similar and entertaining. My favorite is the new Danny Partridge - that's some good casting. I also loved seeing Danny Bonaduce enter the scene. Not too crazy about making him gay though.. there was no purpose for that twist.
Some reviewers found French Stewart too "mean" as Reuben Kincaid. I did not. Sure, they made him out to be a real a-hole initially (as the impetus to cost him his job and insert him as manager to the Partridge Family), but before the 20 minutes were up he greatly softened, having typical Reuben-type repartee with Danny while lying on a bunk bed like one of the kids. That's very "Reubenesque".
I actually never heard of this remake until today (in 2022), but if I had seen it, and if it had excluded the hand held camera style and reality show format, I would have loved it.. and I think many other viewers would have loved it as well. We want to relax with family shows like this - not feel like we've had 5 cups of coffee! -
Reno-0075 February 2006As Bill Murray's character said in Scrooged, "Gosh, does that suck!". I watched the search for the actors and actresses on VH1 and thought that it was a fun show. Mainly because I liked seeing David Cassidy and the other people from the original show. But when it started showing on VH1 I absolutely hated it period. What was a cute show was pathetically reinvented to be a reality show. Are you kidding me? It had absolutely nothing in common with the original and the people portraying the characters didn't even look like the original characters. Plus the fact that when they were doing the tests for the prospective candidates I found it a funny thing to watch. An American Idol type search. Sorry but if you want to do a remake of a classic show like The Partridge Family, get known and/or trained actors. Don't do this asinine talent search with wannabe morons who are hungry for their fifteen minutes. I was glad and relieved when this train wreck was derailed quick after it's start. Hey VH1, if you want to remake a classic show hire regular actors and then you may have something there, otherwise you're wasting the viewers' time and energy!
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RMNavy5 December 2005This show absolutely SUCKED!!!!!!! VH1 totally ruined The Partridge Family. Some changes they made:
1. Tracey is now OLDER than Chris. 2. Ruben is obnoxious. 3. Mr Partridge is alive.. but now is GAY! (Mr Partridge turned out to be Danny Bonaduce).
It's been a while since I've seen this but these are the things that stood out in my mind.
Stick with the original Partridge Family until VH1 can do it right.. or let someone else do it for them. VH1 has proved they can't do it correctly. It's a shame all the hype VH1 gave this show and it turned out to be such a bomb. What's even more surprising is that, Shirley Jones, David Cassidy, & Danny Bonaduce actually participated in this God awful show. (Hmmm wonder why they haven't voiced their opinions on this show.)
Thank GOD the original series is coming out on DVD... (If you've missed it, Season 1 and 2 are already out). -
GucciNinni20 March 2005When VH1 did In search of the new partridge family, i was more than exited (i think all partridge fans were) The show was awesome, i got to see my favorite actor/singer, David Cassidy. First off, I think that they chose ALL(except Spencer)the wrong people. I think better people might have helped the show. The person who was cast as Ruben Kincaid, was not only a horrible actor, he gave Dave madden a bad name for being the original. The new Ruben was not like the original, and frankly the new cast (sorry Leland, but its true) cannot sing, or act at all. The ONLY thing great about the show is the wonderful producing and directing the SHOW had. I am glad the show didn't last, I LOVE THE ORIGINAL PARTRIDGES, THEY ARE ORIGINAL FOR A REASON
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ray-28013 December 2006How did they ever think they could top a cast that included Shirley Jones, David Cassidy, and Danny Bonaduce (who did return for this)?
This was unwatchable. Horrid. If you can't say anything nice about something on IMDb, you still have to fill ten lines.
What is there to say? Oh, I need a few more lines?
Okay, it stunk. The original was better.
I can't believe they did this. Why? Why?
Okay?
I'm serious, IMDb, why do you make me write ten lines about this abomination?
My god. What is next?
Sheesh. -
IMKidHunni27 January 2019My Review of this, the new version was bad, I mean the new shirley said her ex husband & in it's original show Shirley Jones's Character Shirley was a widow & Reubin Kincaid did work & had a job & in this version he was fired & so I think The Originial Was Alot Better Then This New Version!
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nanetten18 February 2009Well, what can one really expect? In a nutshell, NEVER turn a popular T.V. series into a movie. Nine out ten times...It's not nearly as good(not true to the original/bad actors/actresses). Leave "classic" T.V. show alone! I saw this. It was indeed, horrible. I could'nt watch the entire run, though...it was too contrived, like most of today's(post 1990)television is, anyway. Look what they did to "Miami Vice". They made a movie out of it, &...it bombed. No wonder. "Colin Ferrell" playing "Don Johnson's" part? Please! There is only ONE Don Johnson...and Ferrell could'nt come close to doing that part justice. Ferrell just did'nt have the moxie & swagger to pull off as Johnson did. Jamie Foxx" as "Tubbs"? Jamie Foxx is a decent actor(much better than Colin Ferrell is, anyway), but again... The "Partridge Family" is a classic T.V. series & it should just be...left be. VH1 has done a great job on many of their specials, though. This just was'nt...one of them, sadly.
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nhomer9 October 2007I loved the show. It was so amazing. The people they got to play the partridges did a wonderful job.They were good actors/actresses and singers. You really shouldn't compare it to the original, thats just wrong. The people are different and should be treated differently. This show rocked!!!!!!! You people need to see that the show was a good show, unlike the original. They are two different shows, think of them like that. Leland Grant is an amazing actor and singer. Leland you rock, shame you weren't in anything else. French Stewert is an amazing actor when i found out that he was playing Ruben Cincade i was very excited. These people are amazing actors and deserve a congratulations for their efforts.