Modern Family (TV Series) Airport 2010 (2010) User Reviews

The adventure before the vacation.

[Ddey65 · 7/10 · 7 August 2014]

As in real life, sometimes preparing for a vacation turns out to be more hectic than the vacations themselves. Leave it to a sitcom like Modern Family to show how this can happen.

Gloria tries to bring Jay on a romantic vacation to Hawaii, but Jay's hopes for the romantic getaway diminish when the rest of the family seems to be tagging along. As it turns out, not everybody in the Pritchett and Dunphy clans are that enthusiastic about the trip either. Claire is afraid to fly, Mitchell forgot his wallet, and needs a ride back home to get it, but Phil is driving too slow for him. Meanwhile Manny is approached by some TSA agents because he shares his name with somebody on the No-Fly List, Haley is hiding her boyfriend Dylan in her bedroom who can't get out of the house without triggering the Dunphy family's alarm system, but at the airport she sees a boy who she thinks is a lot cuter.

As I mentioned in my review of the later episode "After the Fire," it's the dynamics between Haley and Alex Dunphy that makes the episode great, especially during a revelation about the boy Haley flirts with at the airport, which put Alex in stitches. Her reaction put me in stitches, and will do the same with you. I won't spoil this anymore than the previous reviewer did, but I will say that everything does work out for most of the Pritchett and Dunphys.

The trip

[jotix100 · 8/10 · 25 January 2012]

For Jay's birthday plans a big surprise for him: a trip to Hawaii! Jay is excited at the possibility of spending some quality time with Gloria at a luxury resort, where they can relax and get cozy. At the airport, while waiting for their flight to Maui, Gloria springs an unexpected surprise for her husband, she has invited the whole family to come along. Jay, who is the one paying for the trip wonders aloud whether the others will be in first class as well. No, Gloria responds, they will be in coach; did he think she was rich, or what?

It is at the airport setting where problems begin to appear. First of all, Mitchell realizes as he gets out of the taxi he forgot his wallet at home. He will have to go back to get it because he does not have proper I.D. to show for the flight. Phil volunteers to drive his brother-in-law home and back. The trip is nerve wracking for both men. To complicate matters, Mitch is a bundle of nerves because of the deadline to be back in time for the flight. Another surprise awaits him, he did not bring the house keys. What to do? Phil, the real estate man, has the solution, he shows Mitchell how to force a window open.

We are shown, in flashbacks how Claire was going frantic trying to get everyone to cooperate in getting things ready. Unknown to her, Haley had been with Dylan in her room. As she is told to come downstairs, she wants Dylan to hide for fear her mother will let her have it. Dylan tries to hide, while Claire sets the alarm and ushers everybody out. Dylan is stuck in the house!

Things at the departure lounge gets a bit out of hand when Luke knocks Jay's E-Book reader, ending his chance of reading the eight Robert Ludlum's novels he downloaded and paid for them. The atmosphere is so tense Jay and Claire end up at the bar drinking. Phil and Mitch make it on time for the flight. It has been a stressful day. Dylan escapes, setting up the house alarm, but Haley reasons the company will check it out. Gloria has another surprise for Jay: they will spend a whole week together on their own.

Another fast paced episode directed by Jason Winer, the genius behind most of the success of the series. Dan O'Shannon and Bill Wrubell wrote the script. One could only hope they had an uneventful trip to Maui.