Curb Your Enthusiasm (TV Series) The Rat Dog (2007) User Reviews

Sign language

[jotix100 · 10/10 · 15 August 2012]

Watch your hands if you are speaking in front of a deaf mute person, which is something that happens to Larry when he meets Jean and Hal, as he brings Loretta's kids to school. Jean, who can read lips, as well as sign language, is appalled by Larry's behavior.

Larry has a way to insult people without really even trying. Jean's little dog, which reminds Larry of a big rat is the object of the hatred feelings he awakens in Jean. Not content in what he has done, he has an occasion of insulting Hal indirectly when the man, who happens to be black, calls Larry at home and gets Leon, who is really black to answer the phone. Hal believes he is being ridiculed and patronized even if he is not talking to Larry himself.

Loretta's kids are appearing in a school production of Grease. One day, before the play's opening, he is at Jeff's house and Mike, the exterminator, happens to hear about the play, wanting to go. Larry has no other choice, and takes him to the show. Jean, who happens to be attending the play, spots Larry and have words with him. Mike, spotting the little dog, does what comes naturally to him, with horrendous consequences.

This was an inspired episode where all the elements seem to fit well together. Larry, a master in offending everyone, is at his best to fulfill his role. Larry David's screenplay is one of the best of the 2007 season. Directed by David Steinberg, this chapter in the series works well and the regulars, as well as the invited guests are seen at their best. There are a lot of laughs in this installment.

"It's a rat.. it's a rat !!"

[elshikh4 · 26 September 2011]

I'm not a fan of Curb Your Enthusiasm or, of course, Larry David as an actor. So when I love this episode, then it's an "event"!

This is meaty as a comedy. It has so many wonderful lines: flirting with the wife since she's sick (meaning: vulnerable). Larry and Leon get their phones mixed up, which leads to more mixed up matters for both of them. Larry's faulty toaster makes it hard for Loretta to get a job. Larry jokes about the dog of his friend's deaf girlfriend. And Larry had to befriend with an exterminator to find someone, instead of his sick wife, to take to a middle school production of Grease. In fact, with all of this stuff, the line of Larry's father and his girl seemed eventually extra, and in comparison; flimsy!

As Larry David's profession since Seinfeld, the lines are brilliant. The lying, through the phones' problem, is a must. Being embarrassed turns an exterminator into a date. The world is full of cold people (Loretta and Leon want to live in Larry's home, being indifferent towards his references about getting a flat), impudent (Larry's talk about the "deaf" people in the bathroom), and extremely sensitive ones (the woman who hates Larry for running over a spider!). And, sure, the huge misunderstanding that "kills"!

I got the biggest laugh when that mistaken-for-a-rat dog got exterminated. It's the misunderstanding with a funny side. While everyone in this show is in question, it's the only place to say offensive remarks, the whole book, and get away with it. Look at the things said about "deaf, black, sensitive people" throughout the episode. And they were all punished one way or another at the end, including (it's: as long as) the lead as well; being rejected from the play and at least 3 friends, not to mention getting sick / a target of coming on to!

It's Seinfeld all over again. The middle-class is accused and condemned. However, this time it's written by Larry David AND starring Larry David. That's one huge misunderstanding that I won't get over it at all!