Note: this is a review for the first season of House of Cards that covers all eight episodes. I'll discuss the general plot, characters, structure etc. but avoid any major spoilers.
On paper, Netflix's latest original comedy series sounds like a perfect storm of talent. Flaked reunites Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz with co-star Will Arnett and features several episodes directed by The Dark Knight cinematographer Wally Pfister. But rather than playing out like the most epic episode of Arrested Development ever, Flaked proves to be a low-key sort of comedy that's sometimes formulaic and sometimes humorless, but somehow oddly watchable despite itself.
Created by Arnett and Mark Chappell (My Life in Film) and executive produced by the duo, Hurwitz and several others, Flaked is the latest in a long line of comedies about an affable but maladjusted white man approaching middle age. The series shares DNA with shows like Californication and Netflix's other recent comedy debut, Love (whose close proximity really doesn't help this show to stand out). Arnett stars as Chip, a recovering alcoholic and struggling business owner whose become something of a local legend among the community of hippies, hipsters and oddballs that populate Los Angeles' Venice neighborhood. Like so many comedy protagonists before him, Chip is full of charm and profound wisdom but can't seem to sort out his own life. As one character tells him in the first episode, "You've got a serious platitude problem." Which is probably the most overtly funny moment in that first half hour.
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On paper, Netflix's latest original comedy series sounds like a perfect storm of talent. Flaked reunites Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz with co-star Will Arnett and features several episodes directed by The Dark Knight cinematographer Wally Pfister. But rather than playing out like the most epic episode of Arrested Development ever, Flaked proves to be a low-key sort of comedy that's sometimes formulaic and sometimes humorless, but somehow oddly watchable despite itself.
Created by Arnett and Mark Chappell (My Life in Film) and executive produced by the duo, Hurwitz and several others, Flaked is the latest in a long line of comedies about an affable but maladjusted white man approaching middle age. The series shares DNA with shows like Californication and Netflix's other recent comedy debut, Love (whose close proximity really doesn't help this show to stand out). Arnett stars as Chip, a recovering alcoholic and struggling business owner whose become something of a local legend among the community of hippies, hipsters and oddballs that populate Los Angeles' Venice neighborhood. Like so many comedy protagonists before him, Chip is full of charm and profound wisdom but can't seem to sort out his own life. As one character tells him in the first episode, "You've got a serious platitude problem." Which is probably the most overtly funny moment in that first half hour.
Continue reading…
Continue reading...