Toni Collette
Rosemarie DeWitt
John Corbett
Brie Larson
Keir Gilchrist
Patton Oswalt

Created by:
Diablo Cody

2009-2011
Comedy, Drama
Showtime
TV-MA

Diablo Cody’s style is definitely a big part of “United States of Tara,” but I’m not that taken with the premise: Multiple personalities are hard to convey in a comedic light. The comedy makes the premise harder to take seriously; this just isn’t believable. That’s fine, but it’s not a lot of fun. In subsequent episodes, this show will need to find a stronger voice instead of just relying on the collision of a serious subject with a comedic presentation to make it worthwhile. Plus, the pilot isn’t amusing, not even close (it’s mildly entertaining at best), and some of the writing stands out as WRITING.

In contrast, the actors are uniformly strong, and that helps a lot. You can’t go wrong with the always spot-on Toni Collette as your lead. In addition, the ensemble is worth checking out, and the episodes are only 30 minutes long.

So, I’ll continue to watch “United States of Tara” mainly because of its cast, which also includes John Corbett, Rosemarie DeWitt, Brie Larson, and Keir Gilchrist. Those actors may be able to turn this into something special. …

In the second episode of “United States of Tara,” things are toned-down a lot. This may be partly due to Alice, Tara’s chosen personality this time. I hope that this calmer tone will become a trend, because, during this episode, it’s much easier to buy what this show is selling; Tara’s disorder isn’t a distraction. Also, it’s easier to get a better sense of who the characters are. This episode has a depth and hidden warmth that makes it work much better than its predecessor. I hope that the pilot was just Cody’s way of setting things up, and that, from now on, she’s ready to explore her premise with the deft touch that shines through in the best of her work.

Verdict: Somewhat Good

About: (Source: unitedtara)

She’s got a husband, two kids and multiple personalities. Emmy® and Golden Globe® winner Toni Collette never knows what or who will happen in this smart, unique and totally unpredictable Showtime Original Comedy Series from executive producer Steven Spielberg. Tara’s Alters include ‘T’ the wild-child teenager, ‘Buck’ the rough and tumble biker dude, and ‘Alice’ the type-A homemaker. But with a family that loves her just the way she is, Tara never gives up hope that someday she can just be herself.