“The Unit” Review: You Want Some Laughs?

Once upon a time I was a big fan of Dennis Haysbert.

That is until he whined to anyone who would listen that “24” killed his character, David Palmer, for no reason. Apparently being the event that drove the best season of the show that eventually won an Emmy was not reason enough for him…

So considering my disdain for Haysbert, I didn’t expect to enjoy the premiere of “The Unit.”

But I actually did enjoy it. It was one of the funniest shows I’ve seen so far this season…

And yes, I’m well aware that “The Unit” is a drama. Apparently, the writers are not…

It’s clear that the show, which follows an elite Army secret ops team is trying to borrow a little from “24,” hoping that Haysbert’s Jonas Blaine will come off like another Jack Bauer. The problem is that Dennis Haysbert is no Kiefer Sutherland. Everything that comes out of his mouth comes out stilted. And any attempt at sarcasm falls flatter than a pancake.

But let’s be honest. The writers don’t do him any favors with some of the worst dialogue I’ve ever heard in an hour drama…

When a female officer from another unit offers herself to Jonas’ team as a shooter, Jonas yells at her, “You want some?”

How could you not burst out laughing at that?

But the laughs don’t stop there. When someone asks Jonas if he’s a loyal American, he answers, “That is one thing in my nature that is not at fault.”

He couldn’t just say, “Yes, sir”?

And when the show begins its action-filled climax, Jonas tells his men, “Someone say something clever because this is where we make our stand.”

I guess that was supposed to be clever…

It’s not fair to just pick on Haysbert because he doesn’t shoulder all the blame (just most of it since he gets most of the dialogue). Max Martini (Mack) mumbles and groans his way through every scene and Robert Patrick (Tom) is overacting so badly he’s gnawing the scenery…

For the record, the premiere does have a story. Within the first 10 minutes, the country is attacked in a number of places simultaneously. But the way it’s revealed is so mundane and boring, you just don’t care.

Honestly, the most interesting story belongs to the Unit’s wives, who get a big shock in the premiere that will change everything…

And just when you think the laughs are over, we see the reaction when a two-season old secret finally spills out. Hearing “the rules” of The Unit provided some of the biggest laughs of the night…

If you want a high octane, powerful drama, “The Unit” is not for you.

But if you need a good laugh, I’d give it a look…

“The Unit” premieres Sunday, September 28th at 10 p.m. on CBS…

Photo Credit: Sonja Fleming/CBS