'Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair' review: Fans will love the 4-part revival

WHAT IT'S ABOUT Hal Wilkerson (Bryan Cranston) is bereft after learning his middle son Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) — now a nonprofit executive who manages food bank distributions — doesn't want to come to his and Lois's (Jane Kaczmarek) 40th anniversary party, more shocked/ bereft to learn Malcolm has a teen daughter, Leah (Keeley Karsten). Malcolm has stayed away because his family triggers him, but for the 40th — and for dear old mom and dad — he'll reluctantly make an exception. (Oh, did I forget to mention? Hal and Lois now have a teen daughter too: Kelly, played by Vaughan Murrae.) Erik Per Sullivan, who played younger brother Dewey, did not want to participate; the role has been recast with Caleb Ellsworth-Clark.

This 20th anniversary four-parter reunites most of the original cast of "Malcolm in the Middle" (Fox, 2000-06), including brothers Reese (Justin Berfield), Francis (LI native Christopher Masterson), his now-wife Piama (Emy Coligado), and Malcolm's best friend Stevie (Craig Lamar Traylor).

MY SAY Up until now, "Malcolm in the Middle" seemed like the only show from the 2000 network schedules that had yet to be rebooted (a slight exaggeration — "Daddio 2" is still looking for takers). But why? 151 episodes. Among the most beloved sitcoms of the decade. Cranston's breakout role, Muniz's too.

The obvious reason this took so long is most likely Muniz himself. Now a successful NASCAR driver (ranked 20th in the Craftsman Truck Series division), he'd moved on, and clearly had zero interest in jump-starting a role he left behind 20 years ago. Instead, it was Cranston who got this ball rolling. One of the greatest TV actors of his generation felt there was unfinished business here, or homage, or perhaps an old debt to be repaid. "Breaking Bad" fans might be surprised to learn that pre-Walter, there was Hal, and before Hal, Jerry Seinfeld's dentist (and re-gifter), Dr. Tim Whatley. "Malcolm" not only made his career but demonstrated his comic versatility. (And what versatility: It's remarkable, or absurd, that Cranston never got an Emmy for this role.)

With this bit of background, you now have a better handle on what this four-parter is really all about. It's about Hal. Cranston looks like he had a glorious time dusting off the old gags and slapstick. (Of course the infamous full-body shaving routine returns.) There's a scene where he reverts to infancy, squalling and squirming on the floor, completely naked. Classic Hal, and he's so over the top that even Lois can barely keep up.

As sitcoms go, "Malcolm" was never subtle, but "Life's Unfair" is a good reminder of just how unsubtle. No one ever talks in an indoor voice when screaming is an option. The Wilkersons were, and remain, a mashup of the Bundys, Griffins, Bluths and — when they really wanted to get crazy — the Gallaghers of "Shameless." Adult Malcolm's fury at times seems so real, even visceral, that you struggle to remember what Lois or Hal did exactly that could have been so bad.

Nothing, really. They were loving helicopter parents whose rotor blades just got a little too close to their kids' heads at times. 

Besides getting most of the core cast back together, the unique feat of "Life's Still Unfair" is getting so many others back on-screen too. It's impossible to list all the callbacks, but to give you a sense of just how crowded the screen is, even Gretchen Mannkusser (Meagan Fay), of the Dude Ranch, has a walk-on. True-blue fans will know them all, and smile (or laugh, or cry) when they appear. That's the real power of nostalgia, and maybe why those fans won't have to wait another 20 years for "Life's Still Unfair 2."

BOTTOM LINE Strictly fan service, but fans will love it.