TV Review: Parks and Recreation 5.12, "Ann's Decision"
rating: 4
I feel oddly conflicted about writing reviews of Parks and Recreation episodes. As regular readers may note (I must have earned at least one creepy stalker-fan by now, right?), I typically cant assess an episode of Parks without mentioning the series impeccable ability to consistently deliver solid laughs within the most textbook of structures, like a sitcom version of coloring in the lines yet somehow producing master level work. The plots in Anns Decision were entirely transparent and predictable, but to focus on this would be missing the point if you cant recognize the comedic gold in watching Ron, Ben, and Chris suffer from food poisoning together (why didnt they take sick days?), then I feel bad for you, son. It was pretty obvious from the very beginning of Aprils plot of having to conduct a town hall meeting that in imitating Leslie she would inevitably find the value in just being herself; Tom learned this same exact lesson in the recent episode where he, Ben, and Andy tried to do basketball. But knowing the resolution here didnt stop me once from cracking up at Leslies various pansuit ensembles complete with their Team Aniston patches, 1995 Fleetwood Mac ticket stubs, and old Sweetums condoms; or Aprils dead-on interpretation of a typical Leslie Knope opening line, As Eleanor Roosevelt once said to Betty Ford, Hillary Clinton is great! Maybe knowing how talented Aubrey Plaza is at one impersonation in particular helped me appreciate the gag more, but either way I can never get enough of Aprils begrudging enthusiasm in spite of herself or one of the few genuine emotions she publicly displays, her meanness. The icing on the cake here is Andy Starlord being uncharacteristically subtle in his Machiavellian machinations to help April realize how hot awesome sauce she is just being herself. The primary plot of Ann deciding she wants to have a baby was simultaneously the weightiest, funniest, and weakest of the episode. Despite Rashida Jones being gorgeous, brilliant, and hilarious (as well as the proposed star of the show when it was first conceived), the series has always struggled to know what to do with her character. The writers even began to embrace this trend by having Ann date a string of often nameless, sometimes completely off-screen men in between dating every other available male character on the show, even Tom. This running joke hit a new height of silliness when its revealed Ann has begun dating herself. Again though, the transparency of Anns aimlessness because its embraced and not neglected works. However, even though Ann says to Leslie that shes been thinking about having kids for a long time and finally feels ready, the decision feels exceedingly random, especially after having only just gotten over her nearly paralyzing fear of being awkward around children a couple episodes back. Naturally, Leslie is there to provide the conflict as only she can in the most lovingly concerned and insultingly obnoxious ways. I bet any fan of the show who didnt actually see this episode but is reading this review anyway (whats wrong with you?) could at this point predict with 100% accuracy that the resolution comes when Ann decides to put off her whole solo baby-making process even though this decision was even more random and unearned than her announcement to have a baby. What fans couldnt necessarily predict, however, was not only the appearance of Crazy Ira (Poehlers UCB alum, Matt Besser) and The Douche, but The Douches apparent evidence of being an actual human being with a degree in semiotics, brilliantly portrayed by comedian Nick Kroll. Krolls nearly bipolar portrayal of Howard Tuttlemans dual personality was definitely among the episodes highlights along with the aforementioned food poisoning and Harris extended contributions at the town hall meeting. Anns decision may have been yet another by-the-book Parks and Rec episode, but that also accurately implies it was yet another hilarious ride through the absurdity that is Pawnee, Indiana. I just hope Jean-Ralphio isnt incarcerated for too long after being found definitely guilty for counterfeiting those Euros; I really want to see his catering business and the introduction of his twin sister, the very talented Jenny Slate.