In
the hilarious show "Modern Family," Rico Rodriguez's depiction of
Manny as an unintentionally hilarious, naive and kind little boy adds a
uniquely adorable character to the cast list. Manny is the son of Gloria, who
is married to Jay, the patriarch of the "modern family." He's a round
character, displaying a variety of traits which make him a realistically
complex person. This child is sort of a foil to the other kids; he acts like an
adult and is unusually responsible for a thirteen year old. These traits
transform him into a special, memorable character.
Manny
is a riotous boy, yet he's completely unaware of the comic relief he brings to
his family. He fantasizes about an older girl he thinks he's in love with,
describing her as "like a dream, wrapped in a wish, poured into
jeggings." Other funny displays of maturity are shown when he is sitting
next to Claire, sipping a cup of coffee. Claire vents to him about her day and
children as if he is a peer, and he empathizes with her, saying, "Ugh
kids, you don't have to tell me, my school is full of 'em." When his
stepfather attempts to dance, Manny is right by his side to make another
innocent joke: "Stop marching, you're dancing not invading Poland! "
This
young gentleman's naivety is incredibly amusing. He presents a hand-crafted
centerpiece. Of course Gloria beams with pride, despite it, naturally, looking
like it was put together by a kid. He believes that it is a masterpiece (until
Jay points out how ridiculous it looks.) In another painful moment when Manny's
precious soul is crushed by a girl, he says, "I gave her my heart and she
gave me a picture of an all time sheriff. That was pretty stupid of me, wasn't
it?" Manny, like many children, naively believes in truths which adults
hate to know are falsehoods. When his biological father is on a winning streak
he exclaims, "I love gambling, it's so easy!" believing that one must
simply look into the eyes of a horse to determine whether or not it will win a
race.
Manny
is a small guy with a big heart. After claiming his cash prize from his lucky
break at the racetrack, he hands Jay some cash and tells him, "Here's a
little something for gas." His real dad is treated to a cappuccino by the
charming fellow. He also is boasted about by his son, who tells Jay all kinds
of wild stories about his brave father who once killed a bear. Other tales
include the reason "why he can drink as much as he wants"-- he was
struck by lightning. This modest little guy took pride in his father's bogus
stories, like any kid this compassionate and cute would.
Every
character in "Modern Family" will incite euphoric laughter at some
point in any given show. Manny produces this humor with his staggering
confidence and insight. His innocence is natural and expected, but combined
with the contrasting maturity and intellect, it creates an enjoyable effect.
Manny Delgado is a clever kid who will make people of any age laugh out loud.
