Thirty years ago one of the most iconic sitcoms in history, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, aired for the first time. In order to celebrate the success and the camaraderie of the show, Will Smith gathers the talented former family in order to discuss their, and the show’s, greatest moments. The event sees Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Alfonso Ribeiro and the rest of the cast gather on the set of the show for the first time in years for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion. While some things have changed, one thing is clear, the impression that The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air made on the world is everlasting.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was groundbreaking in the early 1990’s as it was compiled of a group of individuals who were so astronomically different but had so much in common. Their passion for acting and for one another was apparent early in the show, and viewers from around the world were provided nearly endless laughs that hit just as hard thirty years later. How does Will Smith manage to bring the same amount of gusto to the set of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion? That can be hard for a reunion, but it seems incredibly natural on this set and looks almost easy for this cast to come back together, reembody their characters and give viewers a reason to be excited about The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air one more time.
As the numerous stories about the auditions, relationships, emotions and culture are spilled out into the world of Hollywood for the first time, viewers of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion, and long time fans of the sitcom, are able to see actors such as Joseph Marcell and Daphne Reid in a new light and better appreciate what they, and the rest of the cast, were able to bring to the table each and every week.
One of the most interesting parts of the documentary is that as the cast attempts to explain how and why things played out the way they did viewers are clearly aware of these things already. It’s not because the audience is so intelligent, but because of how brilliant the writing, directing and the acting was during the show's initial run. The most important aspects of the show were made clear very early on when it first aired, making viewers aware of how vital it was and what role it played in the world. To see the cast at table reads, just moments after filming, embracing one another, and living in the moment of the show, it solidifies what viewers have known for years, this group was more than just family on the set, they were (and are) family in real life.
From the testimonies from the cast, to bitter differences resolved, to a tribute to the late, great James Avery, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion is a tearjerker from beginning to end. The love that these individuals have for one another has never lessened, if anything it’s grown stronger than it was thirty years ago. It’s clear, like the love they have for one another, not much has changed since The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air went off the air in 1996. This consistency among the cast invites viewers back into the living room and the lives of the Banks Family. Finally, as the cast walks off the set, once again, viewers can’t help but feel nostalgic and appreciative of the fact that they had the chance to relive one of the greatest shows of all time. As Smith exits the set he can be heard in the background saying “See you in ten years,” and while viewers hope it won’t be that long before they can see this cast together again, they can’t help but to pray that ten years down the road they will have the opportunity to relive the magic of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air with the cast once again.
Directed by Marcus Raboy. Starring Will Smith, Tatyana Ali, James Avery, Alfonso Ribeiro, Karyn Parsons, etc.
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