smithnumber Reviews

Mother and Son (2023– )

The only way is up, I hope.

[1/10 · 29 August 2023]

I should say right now that I'm not actually a fan of the original. Both lead characters really annoyed me. Having said that, at least the entire cast could act and had great chemistry, something that's not evident in the 2023 version.

This show hints at what could've been a great little screwball series about the pull of family and real estate. What if the sister was truly evil and wanted get the ailing mother out of the house so she could sell the property and split it with her brother? And what of said brother had second thoughts about that plan? So many possibilities.

The diverse cast doesn't bother me, but the diversity of acting skills and styles does. Denise has a very physical, theatrical approach, while Matt does his usual lovable loser routine. He's got a lot of talent and I hope he finds the right vehicle for it. Other cast members who will remain nameless are very poor actors which only harms an ensemble comedy like this.

Laughs in the pilot are in very short supply, but the best one being, intentional or not, was when Matt's ex announced that she doesn't want a boring family life so she's taken a job in ... Canberra!

Glamorous (2023)

Oddly dislikable and boring

[2/10 · 2 July 2023]

On paper, this must have looked like a sure-fire hit. Take The Devil wears Prada, update it with gender ideology, throw in much-loved actress Kim C, add a pinch of Ugly Betty and what do you get? A badly acted, badly scripted mess that just barely hangs in there by its acrylic nails.

It's great to see Kim C on screen, but I've come the conclusion that she's only as good as the script and the director she works with, which is why she's only ever really been great in her SATC role. Here, her acting seems stilted and out of place. The business scenes are just ridiculous. A pride eyeshadow palette is the 'brilliant' marketing plan that one of the characters comes up with? Really?

The younger cast members can't really carry their roles off. The only one that seems to bring anything to the role is Zane Phillips, who plays Kim's son with a cartoonish flair that perfect for aspiring fluff like this. Ditto LIsa Gilroy who plays it for all it's worth. The rest just seems to be saying words at each other, none of which ring true.

It's a shame it's not working, but I think the time for shows like this has just come and gone. Like the word 'glamorous' the whole idea behind this show has seen better days.

Pepsi, Where's My Jet? (2022)

Annoying Americans trying to out-annoy each other

[5/10 · 10 May 2023]

The story seems like a fun, David vs. Goliath story and it would be if only everyone involved wasn't so dislikable. If you've read anything about this story, you'll know that it's about John, an annoying teenager who tried to make Pepsi make good on their advertised offer to give a jet fighter to anyone who can raise enough points. He teams up with annoying investor Todd and what follows is a very drawn out tale of this dislikable duo taking on Pepsi and trying various futile avenues in order to get that jet. There is one point where Pepsi supposedly offered John a million to go away. Rather than take the money and running, he wants that jet and continues to pursue it. A million buck back in the 90s was a lot of money, but stupidity wins again he's back on course in search of the jet.

Interviews with his mother, the ad execs and even Cindy Crawford (!) only serve to pad out this story to the point where you'll be reaching for the ff button.

The only person that comes of as sane is the judge who ruled that the offer was clearly made in jest and nobody is getting anything. While they've tried to make Pepsi out to be the bad guys, I was actually glad that Goliath (and common sense) eventually beat David.

Swarm (2023)

Takes its time but in a good way

[8/10 · 21 March 2023]

I'm on the old side (50s) and not the target market, but I have to say that I'm really enjoying this series. Basically, it's about an obsessed fan and her murderous journey as a superfan of the Beyonce-inspired pop figure Ni'Jah.

As others have noted, it is slow, but I'm enjoying the buildup and character revelations. Unfortunately, it's probably too slow for a younger audience, but oldies like me grew up with slow so I've got no problem with it. For a series, it's filmed, edited and scripted in a very cinematic way. I do love all the oversatured colors and the monotonous, grinding soundtrack. Paris Jackson shows off her screen presence and great comic timing in a small role.

What I like is that the main character, played by Dominique Fishback, comes across as an actual person, living an ordinary life punctuated by flashes of mayhem and murder. She's not all that sympathetic, but almost like a lost soul whose obsession with food and her idol are the driving forces in her life. Dominique plays her as a blank canvas who slips on various personalities, depending on the situation. She incredibly talented in this role, because you can see the psychopath within at every turn and that's not an easy thing to achieve.

I'm not sure where it's going and that's what keeps me watching.

Party Down (2009– )

Brought to you by Just For Men

[4/10 · 3 March 2023]

I was a huge Party Down fan. Seasons 1 and 2 were just great and I, like many people, was disappointed that it wasn't picked up for a third season ... until 2023!

It pains me to say it, but after 2 episodes the old magic is just not there and the new magic is just not funny. It's hard to say what isn't working. Is it the script? Is it the fact that the characters seem basically the same despite the passing of the years? Is it the overuse of beard and hair dye? Megan's woeful wig? I'm really not sure.

I feel this would've had more potential if it was just Ron at the helm of a whole new younger cast, and that would make more sense too. The younger cast are very good in their individual roles, but just don't seem to fit with the rest of the ensemble. Come to think of it, the old ensemble doesn't seem to fit together, either.

Maybe things will improve, but I doubt it. To think that I once wished for a third series. Be careful what you wish for, I guess.

The Playboy Murders (2023– )

Basic crime series with tenuous links to Playboy

[6/10 · 24 February 2023]

I thought this series looked good in the promos, but after 4 episodes its turned out to be a somewhat formulaic, low budget crime series. I like Holly Madsion, so it's good to see her on the screen as a narrator/insider of sorts, but it's the stories themselves that are the problem. At this point, none of the women covered are actually centerfolds, but rather employees of associated Playboy enterprises. Most don't come from great backgrounds, have unrealistic dreams of what Playboy will do for their lives, and then drift into less than desirable lifestyles with drugs, abusive partners and all that sort of thing. Not too many surprises, really.

A good edit would've cut the episodes by half and made them more compelling - there's a a lot of repetitive ground covered.

Holly presents well and looks great - better than she did in her mansion days, but her Californian vocal delivery seem a little out of place covering stories about the gruesome deaths of her fellow alumni.

UPDATE: The 5th episode actually covers the story of a centrefold Star Stowe and her tragic decline. It is the most interesting story of the series, but even then you get the impression that while Playboy could've done more to help her out, hers is a case of self destruction more than anything else.

Black Snow (2022– )

A lot going for it, but too much going against it.

[5/10 · 5 January 2023]

This series does a great job of showcasing the QLD locations. Unfortunately, it also showcases the limited acting abilities of most of the cast. Travis Fimmel is an interesting choice for the role of detective, but his American-style approach to acting, with all his mumbling and twitching, is very much out of place with the rest of the cast. It's like he's in another production altogether.

The age of the actors was also no indicator of their abilities. You would think that older actors would be much more effective in their roles but sadly that's not the case here. The story also runs in two timelines, the 1990s and current day, although stylistically it's hard to see much difference between the two, apart from the video store. Some characters didn't even seem to have aged at all, which was just odd. I personally thought the 90s story was the most successful, as it seemed less stilted and more realistic and twitching Travis was not there to distract from the ensemble cast.

The resolution makes sense, but is somewhat predictable - middle-aged, toxic, white masculinity strikes again! However, there is no way the viewer could have used clues in the film to work out who was responsible. A series of events are introduced right at the end which is annoying for anyone trying to solve the mystery as it unfolds. At one point, elements of the occult are alluded to and I couldn't help but think how much more interesting it would've been to explore that angle, as there's a strong religious theme throughout the series. Instead, every character is thrown out there as a red herring and it becomes annoying after a while. I found it a bit of struggle to maintain interest past episode 4.

And while I'm at it, are set designers EVER going to stop using the ridiculous visual of a wall filled with post-its, photos, pins, string and maps when it comes to a detective solving a murder? There is this amazing new invention called a computer and most detectives would be storing their information on there. I did get a laugh at the detective in this series creating not one, but two wall art solutions - one in the police station and the other in his hotel! It's a sad, pointless, cliched trope that needs to be retired.

Xanadu (1980)

I'm a real-life Sonny Malone!

[8/10 · 17 September 2022]

It's funny how some movies comes back to you when you watch them as an adult.

Like every boy in the 80s ,I thought Olivia was just beautiful and saw Xanadu as soon as it came out. Being young, I was pretty undemanding and thought it was great, although I do remember being bored at times. What really struck me was the life Sonny Malone was leading. The whole struggling artist thing really intrigued me.

Years go by and I found myself employed as an illustrator and an artist. Soon I realized that it's not easy to make a life from those things, so studied and became a graphic designer. One day we get told that we have a new celebrity client ... Olivia Newton-John. I was picked to assist on the campaign. They played the movie in the staff room and it occurred to me that I had built a life like Sonny Malone and now I was working for Olivia, my very own Kira. She was scheduled to come into the office one day but it cancelled at the last minute and the senior designers met her in her motel room. We were all a bit crushed, but by all accounts she was just as sweet as you'd expect, although one woman said she had too much lip filler!

It's strange that a movie destroyed by critics, should have such a influence on the shape of my life without me even being aware of it. As the song goes, you have to believe we are magic... and I do.

Loot (2022– )

Uproariously uproarious

[10/10 · 25 July 2022]

Maya Rudolph shines with the radiance of 1,000 suns in this fresh, completely original comedy. The plot revolves around a newly-single wealthy woman, who by chance finds herself working for a charity organisation she acquired before her divorce. Basically, you could say she's a fish out of water and hilarity ensues when she comes face-to-face with reality.

It's a never seen before story and the entire cast runs with it like the comedy Olympians they are, taking gold, silver and bronze in every category! Easily the funniest comedian of all time, Maya deftly delivers a rapid-fire comedy script that will have you gasping for air between laughs.

This show is destined to become a true comedy classic, making shows such as Seinfeld and Friends look like a cast of worn-out sock puppets performing in a shoe box. Loot's support cast only serve invigorate the script even further. A bunch of lovable sidekicks, they manage to turn every situation into comedy gold. Each cast member represents a new frontier in characterization, and it's amazing that no writer before has conceived characters such as these. No doubt they will serve as the gold standard for all comedies to come.

Apple continues to create comedy that is so cutting edge that they have not only raised the bar, but they've also pushed it into an unchartered comedy universe. I'm sure anyone who views Loot will agree that we should all clone the entire cast now so generations to come can experience the joy of comedy beyond anything known up to this point.

For all you viewers out there, make sure you have both a defibrillator close by and slide on a pair of adult diapers. That way, you won't die laughing but you can wet yourself without any worries!

;)

Angelyne (2022)

I thought it was fun

[8/10 · 29 May 2022]

I actually remember seeing Anglyne's billboards on my first trip to the USA. At the time, I thought she was not that attractive and a bit too old to be doing what she did, but here we are a few decades later and she's still at it! Good for her I say, although real-life footage of her hocking her merchandise from her trunk seems more depressing than empowering.

I liked this series. It's part biography, part sci-fi schlock but always interesting. The lead actress does a fantastic job and the aging makeup is generally great - something that typically doesn't happen. For someone so fixated on selling her physical appeal, the script goes out of its way to not portray her as a s*xual being, which is odd. She has a seemingly platonic relationship with a family man who financed a lot of her posters, which is hard to believe. She's also not that likeable, to the point where she comes across as a shameless grifter in the later episodes.

The visuals are great and the sets really do an excellent job of recreating LA in the 80s/90s. There's not a lot of story there, but maybe that's the point. Her billboards are her story.

Hacks (2021– )

And over the cliff we go ...

[5/10 · 28 May 2022]

I loved season 1 but season 2 seems very off. Have they changed writers? The focus has shifted off the Deborah/Ava dynamic and into less interesting, boring characters. The Marcus story is completely dull and pointless. Wealthy, handsome guy can't get a boyfriend (for some inexplicable reason) and has to answer to his sassy Mom. Really? That's the story? Also ridiculous was that he would be hanging out at a club with a bunch of really screechy guys. Like everyone here says, the assistant is not funny, not necessary and needs to go. It might have been more interesting if Deborah had managed to get her daughter in that job.

So much of it doesn't make sense. There has been an increase in the "down with the patriarchy" lines which is very ironic as Deborah is going to sue Ava to bankruptcy. The Laurie Medcalf character was a disaster and played far too broadly. Clearly, the writers knew it wasn't working and were smart enough to get rid of her, but it all happened so quickly. And why would Kiki just randomly show up and do a leg of the tour leaving her child at home? So they call all go out drinking together? And the stand up material is some of the least funny parts of the show, yet Deborah is all hyped up about it and ready to take on the world? Nope.

It's like they've laid all the groundwork and now they've got nowhere to go.

Senior Year (2022)

Funny sometimes - a bit like Rebel herself

[6/10 · 16 May 2022]

Like a throwback comedy from the early 90s, Rebel plays the shallow teen cheerleader who wakes from a coma 20 years later to find that she now has lip filler, botox, hair extensions and a desire to finish school. So back to school she goes, dealing with social media mean girls, gender fluid teens, sassy gay dudes and a male friend who still has a crush on her 20 years later. And if all that wasn't CRAZY enough she has to master Apple products placed strategically throughout the film!

Basically, this is an easy watch. I did like how it actually poked fun at politically correct tropes, but then it also threw a few of them in there as well. You can pretty much guess where the film is going from the start, but it's a reasonably funny ride. For some reason, Rebel is a bit miscast. The film never really takes off and lags in parts. What it needed was the romance with the friend to develop into something. They sort of skirt around it before abandoning it and topping the the whole thing off with one of those now standard "everyone is awesome" message endings.

Overall, this is something you can put on to not be bored, but not be necessarily entertained.

White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch (2022)

25 years ago, when I was studying and needed a job ...

[4/10 · 23 April 2022]

The first part of the doco, charting it's inception, marketing strategies and place in mall culture was fascinating, but when it started focusing on disgruntled former employees it dissolved into a online-forum style of reporting with everyone saying the same thing in different ways. A&F is not the only store to select their employees on looks and hotness, but they were stupid enough to have it incorporated into their induction materials and actually state it to the press. Naturally, they were fried for it and a whole heap of people who worked there (and happily took the money at the time) have joined the pile on.

I can understand those in management being annoyed with the company, but who really wants to hear some part-time students moaning about how they had their hours cut or had to work in stockroom instead of behind the counter 25 years ago?

Also, now that A&F has changed their management and approach, why was there was no examination if this strategy is working for them at a business/profit level?

Hard Cell (2022)

50% less Catherine Tate would've made it 50% more enjoyable

[5/10 · 14 April 2022]

This isn't a bad idea. A bunch of characters in a womens' prison come to together to make a musical. The main problem is that there is just too much Catherine Tate. She takes on a number of roles and, apart from the male warden, looks basically the same in all of them. I've enjoyed her brand of comedy in the past, but unfortunately Catherine is at a stage where she can no longer play roles significantly younger than her age without it coming across as just plain odd. The mother/daughter visitation scene was just painful to watch, with Catherine taking both roles and not being convincing in either of them.

I'd like to see a second series of this. Get some other actors in there and keep the CT roles which are working and it might just stand a chance. There are a lot of inexplicable 10/10 reviews on here, which also makes me wonder if Catherine has also extended her range to play 50% of the reviewing punters.

Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (2022– )

LIzzo lets everything hang out but her real personality

[6/10 · 9 April 2022]

I have to say upfront that as someone in their 50s, I am not the target audience for this show. So while all the "you go girl" and "slay queen" sentiments make me wince, I can see that a younger audience would find it inspirational.

Lizzo herself comes across as a fun lady, somewhat bawdy and sweet at the same time, but I think the show has pigeonholed her into being a hyper-positive role model. All people are a combination of good, bad, positive, critical, mean and kind, but we are only allowed to see the good facets of her personality, making her a one-dimensional host.

I would love to see what her full personality is like. The parts where the camera lingers after she delivers yet another platitude are quite telling - she's almost laughing at herself, joking around. I would have like see more of that.

The contestants themselves aren't really all that exciting - LIzzo is the star of the show, and I think most people are aware that shows like this only exist to prop up the host and increase their fan base. Their journey also lacks any real tension because the eliminations are not part of every show, and it's reasonably obvious who is going to make the cut.

All in all, it's a a good time passer and for some it will be more than that. Someone a lot younger and less cynical than me.

The Batman (2022)

Arthouse Batman lacking charisma

[7/10 · 8 April 2022]

People on here have said that this was too long and boring. I didn't find it to be either of those things. But I did think the story was far to light for the playing time. Robert P is actually pretty good, but doesn't really have much to do apart from stare at things and talk in a low, raspy voice. Zoe K is a really interesting actress, but she's miscast here. I was hoping she might crack a stupid joke, or laugh at something but that was not to be. She's a 24 hour vigilante and don't you forget it. Unfortunately, she's very petite and it just doesn't ring true that she'd be able to do all the fighting that she does. The Riddler is a really repugnant, incel-type character, but for some reason it just doesn't seem to work. Not sure why.

The arthouse approach to the production would work better if the actors had chemistry and presence, but they just don't. Out of all of them, I'd say Zoe has the most screen presence, mainly because she's actually given something to do and has a few fashionable costume changes. As for the others, they almost look like part of the scenery, as everything is muted and dark, including the costumes. Everything just blends together after a while.

All in all, it's an interesting dud. Would be almost unwatchable on the small screen so see it on the big screen of you can.

Life & Beth (2022– )

Does every character HAVE to be off the wall and quirky?

[6/10 · 27 March 2022]

I've always enjoyed Amy's wry humor and loved Trainwreck. Unfortunately, this series seems to revisit Amy's comedy heyday with mixed results.

It's a familiar story about Beth, a woman in a relationship with some quirky jerk. Unsatisfied with her life, she randomly meet some quirky, kind guy. When not talking about life at length with her quirky friends, she pursues the quirky, kind guy. All of this happens at a snails' pace with various quirky situations and side characters thrown in. It's just a bit too much after a while. None of the relationships ring true and the plot is full of ridiculous points that also don't make much sense. A flash mob proposal after a funeral? C'mon, guys.

While this is slow (probably too slow for a younger audience), I like that the story takes its time to develop and some attention is paid to the mood of the scenes with great camerawork. Amy isn't in top form and I think she may have "aged out" of the role she's been playing for the last 15 years - it seems more suited to someone in their 20s/early 30s. I'd love to see her play the mother she is and bring her unique perspective to that situation.

Life & Beth proves that while Amy is down, there's enough spark to prove that she's not out.

Phoenix Rising (2022)

Raises questions but doesn't explore them

[7/10 · 21 March 2022]

I've enjoyed the work of both Rachel and Marilyn at different times, so was curious to see what the doco had to offer. As the old saying goes, 'there's he said, she said and what really happened'. This is definitely from the 'she said' perspective.

Marilyn was all about testing boundaries and his music and visuals would not be given a pass in today's hypersensitive times. I'd pretty much forgotten his video clips and they really are pretty full-on. I remember there were a lot of conservatives and concerned parents rallying against him agt the time and it turns out their concerns were valid, if Rachel's story is to be believed - her accusations remain just that at this point.

She claims to have suffered multiple forms of abuse and I think she probably did. He was one pretty weird dude. What is not explored in greater depth is how her family, particularly her brother, felt about all this and why she stayed for so long. Surely she told her friends what was going on. What did they say? Did anyone offer her a safe haven for escape? Did she have any therapy during this time? What was the result if she did? I don't ask these questions from a victim-blaming perspective, but one of genuine curiosity.

What could be interesting is a 'he said' companion piece, but that's not going to happen. I guess the one thing to take away from this doco is that exposing a child to showbusiness at an early age is not a good idea, no matter how exciting it may seem.

Bel-Air (2022– )

I'm not really jiggy widdit...

[5/10 · 23 February 2022]

I'm going to be the only person on here that WASN'T a fan of the original back in the 90s. I though Will and his wacky cast members were pretty lame - note my 90s slang!

I was curious about this show, and I actually think it's okay. It's got the usual political leanings, but those are to be expected now and are annoyingly commonplace. It's a reasonably solid drama but what really lets it down is that the cast are remarkably charisma-free. There isn't one compulsively watchable actor in the bunch.

The main guy mugs a bit like Will in his youth, but they're all fighting against character cliches (The good boy from the hood, the snobby rich kid, the sister who wants to make it on her own terms and the wise, all-knowing mother). It's all been done before, and a lot better than it is here. It's soap-opera-ish in both looks and storylines. I think they were going for an Empire-like feel (now THAT was a show full of charismatic actors) but instead it looks like it was filmed by the same crew that does that Dynasty revival dud. It just looks so generic and it's hard to believe that anyone in the cast actually lives the life onscreen.

I couldn't help but wonder how much more interesting this could have been if the whole storyline was reversed. Right-leaning rich kid ends up in the hood and sees life on the streets for the first time, grappling with moral and social expectations. Of course, that wouldn't allow for as much product placement as they have now, but it might have made this more than just something that will likely fly under the radar and be retired quietly after a season or two.

Janet Jackson. (2022)

If you've seen one American bio...

[5/10 · 29 January 2022]

This is a fairly typical American biography.

Overly humble, talented star looks over her life with a lot of child-like wonder and a small amount of wisdom. Other players are introduced and they all bang on about how she was a force, a talent to be reckoned with, a true artist hungry for it and all that. Add to this mix a few standard angles about being a queen, owning the stage and working hard and you have a bio like this one.

The main problem is that it doesn't really give away anything that most fans don't already know or have seen online. Archival footage is always fascinating and while there's some unseen footage here, it's pretty everyday stuff and certainly not particularly revealing. Janet is never painted as anything more than a sweet, talented woman with a saintly nature.

So far, it's like a souped-up episode of Intimate Portrait and that's not a bad thing. It's not terrible by any means, but if you're looking for something new, you're not going to get it here - so far, anyway.

And Just Like That...: Tragically Hip (2021) Season 1, Episode 5

I'm actually angry that it's this bad.

[2/10 · 31 December 2021]

I absolutely do not understand what is going on with this show. It's just so painfully woke. Like really, utterly, obviously, overwhelmingly woke. Just when I think the story is bopping along nicely they switch to some dull overdressed, supporting character or sprout some finger-wagging social/gender lesson line. Every now and then there are glimpses of the old magic but they are so few and far between. Even the acting is sub-par and getting worse with each episode. It's like all three main actresses have forgotten how to actually act for the camera.

The scene with Carrie going to the bathroom with Charlotte was so cringe it was unbelievable. The sex scene with Che and MIranda was handled well, but it just feels like Cynthia NIxon has decided that her character's life must reflect her own, even if it makes no sense at all. And will Carrie please stop banging on about "this podcast thing". It's not new technology and would be a walk in the park for someone with her background.

Just appalling.

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Ponderous study in character cliches

[4/10 · 20 December 2021]

If this was made 20 years ago it would have been truly groundbreaking. As it stands, it's just another addition to the paint-by-woke approach to character development. That's not to say it doesn't have any merit. It most certainly does. It looks great. The acting is pretty much flawless. Casting is spot on.

But for me it all falls down when it comes to character development, or should I say lack thereof.

The repressed gay guy (Phil) is the most vocal in abusing the gay teenager (Peter), and makes for the most interesting character. The good husband (George) is loyal, kind and completely sexless. The woman (Rose) is fragile, protective and neurotic. The gay teenager (Peter) is quiet and gentle but behaves more like a shy gamer than a young man of the time. This makes the ultimate twist surprising and unbelievable at the same time.

I couldn't help but think how much more interesting this could have been if there had been more complex interactions between the characters. If Rose, bored by her sexless husband, had developed an infatuation with the macho Phil it could have made for an interesting way to reveal Phil's repressed desires. I was also disappointing that Peter did not interact in any meaningful way with his new stepfather, who would have been the perfect person to come out to, possibly creating a tension between him and his mother who had not directly addressed his sexuality. Or what if his mother had found out about his plan to kill Phil? Would she have remained silent? There are no many unrealized possibilities with these characters.

Overall, it's a missed opportunity with a lot of the cast wandering around looking into the distance, beautiful as it is. It will no doubt win awards but bore audiences, as most award-winning moves so now.

And Just Like That... (2021– )

Older but not wiser, apparantly

[4/10 · 13 December 2021]

Yes, they do kill Big off in episode 1. While I can see that they needed to do it to give Carrie something to do, it ends any potential exploration of such topics as the impact of being childless in old age (good and bad) and the changing nature of long term relationships, both sexually and emotionally. The There is a truly awful scene where Carrie asks Big to do something in the bedroom. It's such a weird, awkward scene and I'm surprised he didn't die of embarrassment at that point. They save that for when he hops off an exercise bike.

I think many people who are the same age as these actresses (like me) will find them selves thinking "Do I look that old?", "Do I look like that when I wear heels?" or "Would I wear that now or would I just look silly?". For those of a certain age it can be disconcerting to see yourself reflected back on the screen. What I do like is the fashion, although that does sit uncomfortably in today's climate. I think as society has become increasingly more casual, so their "outfits" look out of step, even if they are beautifully styled and look great, particular SJP's.

I quite like the direction of the story but it keeps getting interrupted by the endless insertion of obviously "woke" characters and lines. It doesn't help that Carrie and MIranda keep apologizing for practically everything they say and do. The way they see things is always being framed as "wrong" and that does a disservice to all older people, particularly women, who are often subject to pressure to be compliant in their views.

And speaking of disservice to older people, the amount of cosmetic surgery on practically all of the older women, not just the main characters, is frightening. But it's not all bad surgery news. It works for some, and less so for others. Someone who did get it right is ... Mario Cantone as Anthony! He looks great!

One thing the previous series did get get very right was the use of relatable storylines. That's missing now. Only a very small number of people can relate to having a potentially trans child or becoming an alcoholic at 50+. What about exploring the impacts of menopause on women? Apprehension over the loss of beauty and the role of cosmetic surgery? Being seen a irrelevant in the workplace and, in some ways, society in general? What if Carrie's new podcast manager saw her as a dinosaur that needs to be outed from the podcast? These are things that many of us face as we approach middle-age and beyond.

So far, it's not that good. The absence of Samantha is obvious (as would be the absence of any of the 4 main women), but more than that is the absence of a strong perspective. By trying to please everyone you only end out pleasing no-one.

Santa Inc. (2021)

Not as bad as they say, but still pretty bad

[3/10 · 3 December 2021]

You have to hand it to Seth Rogan. He's manged to reinvent himself as a patron of woke movies after a career based on highly questionable movies and personal behavior that would see him cancelled if he hadn't decided that he had to call himself out, throw previous friends under the bus and then insert himself into projects like this. That's some pretty calculated deflection and it's working.

I thought this could be kind of funny but it's just not. It's just really heavy-handed with the checkbox ticking. Stereotypes on both sides of the political spectrum abound which makes the whole affair so predictable, because the winning side is obvious from the beginning. It also annoys me that the whole "old white men" thing is perpetuated by ... other white men on the verge of being old themselves.

Sarah Silverman (old white woman) seems to be stuck in a twentysomething comedy groove. He voice is very cute in this but once again the predictability of the character lets her down. It's a shame because there is a lot of potential in this story, a sweet little girl power fable. Instead, you have Seth trying to convince everyone he's not the man he was in the first 20 years of his career and Sarah trying to convince us she's an activist 20 years younger.

You (2018–2024)

Third time not so lucky

[5/10 · 25 October 2021]

I've enjoyed this series but it's time to shake things right up or call it a day. Penn is back as Joe, the handsome but deranged serial killer who has now married an equally deranged woman, had a baby and moved to the suburbs. It definitely has more politically correct overtones than before. I didn't mind the vax stuff so much but was annoyed by the saintly portrayal of Joe's new obsession, the world's hottest librarian and former addict Marianne. She is a talented actress but looks straight off the cover of Vogue which makes her character more than just a bit unbelievable.

Now, I'm not an American so I have to wonder if all American middle-class suburbs are hotbeds of sex, deception, murder and mayhem. Are all the teenagers all well-spoken, articulate and wise? Does everyone live in an under-lit house straight out of Architectural Digest? In the world of You they certainly do and that's on one of the issues I have with many other Americans productions - will you guys lay off the over-styling? Not everyone has to look amazing all the time - even the blind guy at the library looked as if he'd stepped off the pages of GQ. It's just getting out of control.

This season of You offers nothing new but does build on the many talents of Victoria Pedretti as Love, Joe's murderous wife with a mother that looks like her older sister. She's just GREAT and magnetic on screen, easily slipping between logic and twisted logic with ease. In fact, I was hoping that Joe would get killed off and she would take over as the lead of the show. That doesn't happen, BTW.

All in all, a little too familiar, a little too tired, a little too political and a little too over-styled to be must-see TV. Worth a watch, though.