‘How I Met Your Father’ gives gender flip on ‘mother’ format

The main twist involves showing up to mom, this time in 2050, played by Kim Cattrall. She’s telling the story of how-to-me-your-dad to her unseen son, which opens up some additional possibilities for who his father might be.

Furthermore, the show is about assembling a new cast of friends around the rather dutifully younger version of Cattrall, Sophie, played by Hilary Duff. Desperate to find her mate, Sophie is relying on dating apps when she drags an Uber driver/teacher, Jesse (“Private Practice’s” Christopher Lowell), and into her class, those mixed-up-the-phones. through one of the scenarios that only happens in sitcoms.

It’s a more diverse group, which is welcome, but there’s also the inevitable feeling of checking the box given the whiteness of the original show. The expanding gang includes Sophie’s sexually adventurous, name-dropping friend Valentina (Francia Raisa) and Jesse’s adopted sister (Tien Tran), who have just moved from a small town to New York.

Filmed in a traditional sitcom format, audience laughs often sound more plausible than jokes, which only reinforces the feeling that Hulu is an odd place to practice.

Duff makes for a likable lead, landing here after backing Disney+ Planned “Lizzie McGuire” revival, for his part, Cattrall Abandoned The “Sex and the City” reunion on “And Just Like That,” which offers an odd kind of symmetry.

There is a certain universal quality to the show in its ongoing pursuit of love and romance. Yet while the mystery surrounding Ted’s dating journey becomes a part of the appeal of “Mom”, once that scenario is experienced, this time there is a strong inclination to wish Sophie the best of luck on her discovery, and Ask him to wake me up when it’s almost over. ,

“How I Met Your Father” premieres January 18 on Hulu.

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