The relationship between Lindsay Bluth Funke and her husband Tobias Funke is one of the strangest parts of “Arrested Development,” and rewatching the series again right now, I’m struck once again by how gloriously dysfunctional they are.
I think the world of David Cross. “Mr. Show” is a tremendous showcase for his comedy brain, and I think he’s a fascinating actor. His work as Tobias is endlessly interesting to me because of the way he finds reality in the person who is by far the broadest persona on the show. Tobias is such a buffoon at times that it would be easy to just play him as a cartoon, but Cross always plays something under that as well, something uncomfortable and genuine and sad, and it makes the funny stuff even funnier. His never-nude fixation, his inability to understand the parade of boners falling out of his mouth, and his painful desperation to become an actor all combine in a performance that I think offers Cross more meat than anything else he’s ever done on film.
Portia de Rossi must be completely free of ego to have signed on to play Lindsay, who may be one of the worst people I’ve ever seen depicted on television. Horrifyingly self-absorbed, her relationship with her daughter Maeby has a few decent moments in the three seasons of the show, but for the most part, her behavior is basically criminal at all times.
Sitting down with the two of them together, though, I was immediately struck by the very real chemistry that the two of them have as comics performers, and they’ve managed to step back into their roles with ease. I couldn’t resist poking them just a bit during the interview, and I love watching Cross when the question lands.
Overall, a great duo, a great pleasure, and a great indicator of just how easily the entire “Arrested Development” team stepped back into the world of the Bluths.