Fuller is the New Tanner: The Long-Awaited Revival

Fuller is the New Tanner: The Long-Awaited Revival

Emily Holleran
For The Clock
ejholleran@plymouth.edu

The 90’s were filled with embarrassing fashion choices, nonsensical toys, and nothing but wholesome family sitcoms on television, including “Full House”. The Tanners were one of T.V.’s favorite chaotic families, all crammed inside Danny Tanner’s San Francisco home.

With “Fuller House”, Netflix’s revival of the iconic series, fans were ecstatic to relive their childhood through not only Tanners, but Katsopolises, Gladstone, and even Gibbler. With high hopes, fans eagerly awaited the series premiere. What debuted was the same show, just a decade later.

The first episode opens with every fan’s favorite clean freak dad, Danny Tanner (Bob Saget), talking to his baby grandson Tommy (played by twins Dashiell and Fox Messitt). Uncle Jesse (John Stamos) and Uncle Joey (Dave Coulier) soon join, amidst the cheers of the studio audience.

It’s made apparent that Stamos doesn’t age. Uncle Jesse remains just as dreamy as he did 21 years ago, and his on-screen wife Becky Donaldson-Katsopolis (Lori Loughlin) looks just as good.

Saget and Coulier retain their charm as well, echoed by Uncle Jesse’s statement, “Damn, we all still look good!”

There is no shortage of references. In fact, the first few minutes are nothing but paying homage to the character’s old tendencies, like Uncle Jesse’s love for Elvis, and Uncle Joey’s childish pajamas. There is even a comedic fourth wall break to address Michelle’s (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) absence, as the actresses decided to focus on their real life careers.

Candace Cameron Bure returns now as D.J. Fuller (what a coincidental last name), and takes over as the head of the household. It is soon revealed that D.J.’s husband passed away and left her to raise 13-year-old Jackson (Michael Campion), 7-year-old Max (Elias Harger), and Tommy Jr., all very reminiscent to the backstory of the original series.

The similarities don’t stop there. Soon, they are joined by middle sister Stephanie Tanner (Jodie Sweetin), and the always intrusive neighbor Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber).

Refusing to leave D.J. on her own, Stephanie and Kimmy decide to move in, letting the older generation move on with their lives. Kimmy also drags her 13-year-old daughter Ramona (Soni Nicole Bringas) into the mix, truly making it a fuller house.

COURTESY PHOTO

The parallels keep coming. Kimmy represents Uncle Jesse, taking over his room, and Stephanie is the new Uncle Joey, residing in the basement. The children face very similar problems to the previous generation: Jackson refusing to share a room with his younger sibling, making friends at school, and Ramona stubbornly refusing to get along with either of the boys.

The children’s acting is surprisingly good. It definitely helps carry the show, especially the middle brother, Max. He acts wise beyond his years, although the show attempts to make him utter the new catchphrase, “Holy chalupas!” at every opportunity.

The dialogue between Jackson and Ramona is a bit cringe-worthy at times. Anyone can predict that a son and daughter of two childhood friends is a great set up for developing young love.

Of course, the reboot isn’t complete without memorable phrases like Stephanie’s indignant, “How rude!” and Uncle Joey’s, “Cut! It! Out!”.

There are many dance numbers, too many in fact. The first episode has a New-Kids-on-the-Block themed dance sequence, and a couple episodes later, D.J. and Stephanie break it down with the Chmerkovskiy brothers from Dancing with the Stars.

There is the return of D.J.’s recently divorced ex-boyfriend Steve, who characteristically raids her fridge for food, and of course sets up a prediction that he and D.J. will be together again by the end of the series.

So yes, “Fuller House” retains just about all the corny aspects of the original series, except with the genders reversed. The show knows that it exists simply to give all the devoted fans a little taste of nostalgia. It pokes fun at how Kimmy Gibbler is stuck in the 90’s, and how D.J. is “turning into Dad”.

It’s a fun experience to witness loved characters grow and develop right before you. With “Fuller House”, the indirect message is that the more things change, the more they stay the same.