Reviews

To me, watching a good TV series is like having a chance to live in an alternate reality. I have to say that out of all realities of my favorite comedy shows - Scrubs, Arresting Development, maybe some other ones - the universe of this one feels the most I would actually want to visit. Everything about this show is so amazingly life-like, normal and crazy at the same time. The moms - the one who's always late and in a hurry at the same time, the chill mildly alcoholic one (you want to be friends with her), the queen bee in control of all the events one. The school problems - I'm from another country but so many things seem familiar here. The personal lives of actual adults - boring, tedious, funny, full of surprises.

This show is like Chekhov to me, or, in English, like Tennessee Williams meets Mark Twain. The characters are always natural, never weirdly friendly, or polite or speaking to each other as if they're each other's shrinks, not friends. Very good television. I love it so much that I even wish they don't make a fourth season if it has to be anything worse than the first three.

Jason Segel - love, love, love. He delivers really well, I sypmathize with this character a lot and his unorthodox approach with his patients is something I can personally relate to because I also like to take initiative and try new ways out of difficult situations. It's nice to watch a show about a character who is passionate about something and who cares.

Harrison Ford and the black therapist girl - both also very good. Other actors, to me, are not that impressive. But that's OK because this is really almost a 60/30% Segel-Ford show, which I'm cool with.

However, after a few episodes it started to feel like the show kind of forgets its first premise and the storyline loses pace and I found myself watching only because I wanted to see more of Segel's character's unorthodox work which I don't get to see a lot. I understand this show is not supposed to be a 'therapist circus' but I also did not expect it to turn full-on family drama. I wanted it to be like several patients parallel stories, or new patient every few episodes - which is there but the pace is just not as good.

What I'm trying to say is, after episode 2, it starts to get boring. The family issues raised in the beginning do not develop much, not a lot happens with the patients as well. Segel's acting still has me watching it though.

I got the feeling from this like I get very often with shows nowadays - like it's an unfinished room. As if someone started to furnish it but left and now there's a table, a couple of chairs but the room just feel too empty. To me, the idea is fulfilled by, like, 60% of what it could have been so I give this a 6. But it's an "interested" 6 because the Segel's character is just so fun to watch. Like, if it were a movie, it would be a B-movie to me which I would have still rewatched every couple of years.

College Humor is (or was at this point?) an Internet sketch show with a whole lore, a small universe of young millenials making fun of every aspect of life. There were great personalities on the show and one of the most memorable was Katie Marovitch - an epitome of a female comedian - quirky, with a great talent and a very distinctive look (Lady Gaga meets Bambi).

So it's not surprise that one of their best productions centers around Katie. And boy is the production good in this - only somewhat exaggerated jokes or outfits here and there give away that this is a sketch show's child but on the whole it's unexpectedly good quality product. Everything about it is so carefully picked - the supporting actors, the outfits, the locations - everything was created with a lot of love.

The show is exciting to watch and the plot is unpredictable. There are a lot of good jokes and the acting is spot on, even from supporting cast (who actually look like a bunch of very talented people - from a self-absorbed rich housewife to a gangster family member, their acting is very good). I also just love how free-spirited the show was - I mean, the whole premise is just on edge, not something you would normally joke about; I could only imagine how much fun the writers had writing the script. I would actually watch a whole behind-the-scenes series.

What the show lacks just a little to me is the right level of depth - none of the characters has any backstory and since this production is so good I would expect it could actually delve a little deeper into the personalities of the CH cast members. Their dialogues sounds very abrupt which contradicts the "life-like" settings of this show. What I'm saying is, I would appreciate them acting more like actual people, a little less camp. It also seemed to me that they interacted with very little love to each other - I understand this is not a show about CH members' friendship but if the show depicts them 'in real life', I'd expect them to be friendlier to each other.

But still this is a good, very creative production.

First of all, there was one good thing in this show - Aubrey Plaza. Amazing acting, that's it. However, even she struggled to make the dialogues - the thing that has to be good about a drama - good.

Oh my Gosh those dialogues. Written by a 9-year-old, slow, boring. It was hard work to listen to them, SO much of the conversations between people consisted of filler words and small talk that it's just painful. And I understand that it's supposed to be a psychological drama so behind that small talk we were supposed to see a whole different story unfolding, through odd remarks here and there, through body language - but the plot twists were SO OBVIOUS that what happens is you just understand what they're leading towards within the first minute (literally) and then you have to watch a 10-minute conversation about nothing - a very slow one! - to only see them come to the same result you'd expected them to come to.

So no, no silent story unfolding behind the disguise of small talk - well, maybe Aubrey Plaza tries to do this - but even she can't save the dialogue where she has 2 filler words and a fake laugh to create that drama. Bad writing doesn't create good drama, that's not a mime performance.

This felt not like entertainment but like I was there to financially support the film crew and the actors with my single view. A very unpleasant feeling. I feel sorry for the viewers who watched the whole thing and spent 7 actual HOURS of their life on this wannabe drama - a time best spent on family, friends, working, jogging, playing a trombone, drawing a caterpillar, eating a cucumber whilst staring at the window - the list goes on.

Sierra, played by Lindsay Lohan, is a usual rich spoiled girl who seems to have it all - what's interesting about her is she's not mean, she's just super rich. Like a kind but a spoiled girl. She has always been that way until she loses her memory during a skiing accident. Picked up by an owner of a lodge, she has little choice but to stay there until she has some memory back or someone starts looking for her. There, she has to learn to how to live and to do things from scratch - not all of them, but some. To me, despite being a Christmas story, the movie seemed even somewhat deep because it actually deals with a serious question - what would one be without their memories, and how much of what we do and what we like is actually our own choice.

So watching the changes Sierra goes through when she forgets that she's a spoiled girl was pretty involving - more involving than most plots of some other Hallmark Christmas stories I've seen.

Another thing that did not disappoint in this movie was acting - to me, Hallmark actors are very poor at it and make the whole thing seem like a middle-school play - in this one, many actors were very natural and made the simple lines sound interesting - the best of them being the male lead. What a relief it was that someone who has 70% of the screentime is actually a good actor. Lindsay's acting was 5/10 but seeing her on screen was nostalgic and in a way, the movie is somewhat about her, what's with the spoiled brat thing - so I think a different actress wouldn't have made the same impact.

Some bits of the movie were, of course, way too 'sweet' and cheesy and the amount of Christmas decorations was really overwhelming at times (it's like they plaster more of those every year - scared to see what a Christmas movie going to look like in 10 years) - but with the help of fast-forward I got through those. All the good bits were worth it.

This is a good dramedy about the behind-the-scenes of a shopping network with a strong set of characters, some very unusual plot twists and jokes that manage to make you laugh. It has a very unique setting - I can't remember another show about TV shopping.

And there is someone in this show who steals almost all of it - JENNIFER LEWIS, WOW. Just an incredible acting performance, pure gold. She almost becomes the protagonist at some point - should there be a spinoff, it should be about her character. The dialogues are well-written in this show and with her delivery some of them just become really, really, amazing. Made me want to check her other works, too.

I do believe this could have been a very successful comedy movie, too, maybe a shorter time would do this whole concept good. But I enjoyed it nevertheless.

Eve is a very talented rapper and I was very interested to find out there would be a series about hip hop starring her. And really, the moments in the series when she raps are the highlights of the show, she still has her talent and it's very nice to watch her rap.

A few more points I would give to Brandy's acting talent - scenes with her are the most convincing ones.

However, the show is unrealistic, corny, trying to be hood and also slow-paced. What's even more off-putting about it is how predictable every line and every action of every character is. The minds behind that screenplay are super conventional thinkers: even with all the progressiveness that's there every character does exactly what you'd expect them to do in any given situation. And they usually make the corniest choice. It makes all the 'dramatic' moments very funny - there's all this tension, the scene's building up, there is a dramatic music and BOOM! - the character says exactly what you expected her to say.

I tried to watch it just for the sake of Eve and Brandy but couldn't - better will check other Brandy's films.

This is a GREAT series. Well acted, well written, dynamic, funny and fun to watch. Every episode is a recollection of the murder night done by different characters through their eyes in a different movie genre. The creators do a great job mocking the typical moves, lines and characters of every genre.

I would give this show a 9 had it been a little bit more unforced - it is written in such a way that showcases the screenplayers' talent greatly but takes away a little bit from the - I am not sure how to say it in English - human authenticity of the characters. It is clear that this show is a parade of comedy first but at times you get a little too tired of some characters (not all of them) acting so intense. However, at the same time the writing is so good that it instantly makes you want to check out other things the creators of this show worked on.

What is most precious to me is that this series has a very strong atmosphere of creativity, vibrancy and buzz - you feel like you're in the house with those people and enjoying every minute of it. And watching it has done quite a good effect on me personally - when you hear people speak so well thought-out and fun, you kind of start doing that too.

I think this show is definitely worth watching if you like good comedy.

Acting is great and the cast - the creators 100% knew who should play who and they've done a great job.

First of all, this show has amazing production. It is really nice to see the vintage-looking building and interestingly decorated New York apartments and basically every shot looks like it was very well thought out.

Secondly, Steve Martin and Martin Short are pure joy to watch. At first, Short strikes as the most entertaining character - an optimistic ageing bohemian director who faced a series of failures but have not lost hope of directing his 'next big thing'. And later on Steve Martin's character develops in such a way that allows him to showcase some of his best work, playing a neurotic and self-conscious but gentle, kind and at times hilariously confident actor. At some point he stole the show from Short for me since his character is so interesting to watch.

As for Selena Gomez - she is OK. A tell-it-like-it-is 'modern' girl with not much of a background story. Lacking personality, but that it is 100% screenplayers' fault, not Selena's.

And here is what the show's problem is: the screenplay is not more than 5 out of 10. It is kind of slow paced, characters lack motives for some of their actions, there are very few background details and because of this you may wonder every now and then, how come this is a murder story but I feel no sympathy to the main plot whatsoever and do not even care who the 'murderer' is. You surely get involved when Short and Martin steal the scene but other times, the show feels just boring.

Add some bright sparkly dialogue to it (maybe I am being obvious but the whole thing would become alive if some Woody Allen-like kind of conversations were there), give the main female character more background story and actual words to speak, add some interesting secondary characters to fill the 'building' with life - and it would have been a 10 out of 10. Currently, by episode 4 it still feels empty - I would call it 'Only Steve Martin and Martin Short in the building' because I haven't noticed anything else.

I do believe this is the best adaptation of the famous book since this series has an absolutely amazing cast. I can't imagine a better m-me de Merteuil than Catherine Deneuve - she is naturally very cold, beautiful and smart-looking. I believe this is exactly the way one has to be to do the kind of things m-me de Merteuil does - a cold criminal mastermind. Nobody could have played this better than Catherine. Glenn Close is great, but this the next level of evil.

Dark-looking and handsome Rupert Everett did a great job as Valmont. I believe, his look is the best I've seen for Valmont as well. Nastassja Kinski created a very touching and fragile image of Marie de Tourvel. No other adaptation has made me feel so sorry for Marie Tourvel as this one since Kinski is very genuine and, I don't know, mermaid-looking or something. Fragility, femininity, sincerity.

And I also loved the time the story was transferred to - I believe, it fits the end of the 20th century well and accentuates the characters even better. It was normal that Marie de Tourvel was virtuous in the XVIII century, (after all, each romance led to babies back then). It is precious that she is virtuous in the 20th century and makes all the following events look even more serious. It is normal that being a rich person all you care about is balls and beaux in the XVIII century. It looks loathsome for the people of the 20th century.

I also enjoyed the pace, the sceneries and the dialogues. This is a great mini-series and I strongly recommend it as a two-evening watch. Don't forget the red wine! 😊

I think it is one of the greatest chick flicks I've seen. The cast is absolutely great, Aure Atika is definitely a very talented comedian and other actors do a great job, too. The plot is Cinderella meets Sex and the city but with a few unexpected scenes and turns. The dialogues are witty. It is not boring and it can help you really look at your life from a new perspective since the characters are so imaginative and energetic. I tend to rewatch it every other year.

I have no idea why the rating is so bad. It is not as sexist as it is portrayed and the whole point of the film is that the character does what she does (I can't say what to avoid spoilers) to FIGHT sexism. It is very clear from the plot. And I don't see any other reasons other than the sexism problem that prevents it from having at least a 6 star rating. Anyway, I love it.

I remember coming home from school to watch this series. I loved it! The idea of a group of children left alone without adult supervision in a summer camp is charming, the cast does a great job and the plot twists are interesting. I loved that each episode told a story and the kids faced problems they had to deal with. It taught me some good things and left a very nice aftertaste of summer and adventures. And the theme song is super.

This show has some great actors (Zoe Boyle is hilarious!), nice jokes (gags, too) and amazing costumes and the overall atmosphere.

But all of the above wouldn't even matter without the most essential quality that makes this show absolutely impossible not to binge watch - and this is the amazing plot. The twists are unexpected in a very natural, lifelike way. Sometimes a movie has unexpected twists which are very hard to believe but this show just teases, and surprises you, and sometimes leaves you wondering, just like life does. The original Four wedding and a funeral movie had this feeling to it as well; it was very untraditional in terms of the events and the plot twists. Few romantic movies unfold like that and the British humor made it even better. This show, however, doesn't rely on the original very hard but at a certain point you realize that it has the same manner, like an aunt and a niece born in the same family would have. I strongly recommend it to anyone who misses a movie which is not oversexualized or has bad jokes. My rating was partially motivated by the understated rating that I see but It's a solid romantic comedy/drama that deserves at least a 7.5. P. S. You know it's a good one when you want the characters to be your friends.

I do not understand why there are so many bad reviews. The film is very good.

I was intrigued by Emily Blunt's presence in the film so I downloaded it and was very surprised because it turned out to be so much better than I expected. There is one noteable thing about it - almost all the situations that are supposed to make you laugh are at least 1/3 unfunny as they are. This is a very believable quality about the film - it makes you look at life from a distance and understand that all those stupid actions and decisions that people make are just funny as hell. And with a little love you can even come to a happy-end (I don't think it's a spoiler, this is obviously not Macbeth, you knew a happy end was there). But this is what makes this film an actual challenge for some people. It is NOT PLEASANT. It does not put you into a dreamy or giggly state. It is actually quite raw, sarcastic and real. I do believe that we live in times when real things are considered unnerving and even evil. Some people would very much rather have safe spaces built in every corner of the city and not deal with reality. Well, in true love there are no safe spaces. True love makes you stay with a person through all the ugly things and through the funny things and through the good things, obviously.

Acting is on the spot. Everyone knows that Emily Blunt is one of the most talented actresses. Jason Segel is handsome and compelling, support cast entertain you in every possible way. The dialogues are great. Everything sounds very natural.

7 our of 10 - because 10 is Fellini and Visconti. One of the best modern chick flicks I've ever seen.

This comedy series depicts life of Diplo, a star DJ. Diplo is a real person and he very well knows about this show since he is an executive producer of the series and he definitely takes part in writing the scenario. Somebody on the Internet called this show 'Spinal Tap' for the dance music world and I do believe that it is the best possible way to describe it. There is a movie, 'Spinal Tap' which is celebrated for the way it depicts a story of a fictional rock band. It mocks all the existing clichés related to a life of a rock band in a grotesque and elegant way. (Run and watch it if you haven't, it's golden.) This series does the same to the world of popular music, constantly referring to the stars that we all know or have at least heard of once like Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift or Calvin Harris. Some of them are featured in the series, played by actors, obviously. The humour is definitely above-the-waist, the show is witty, the jokes sound neither vulgar nor cheesy. The dialogues felt like a holiday for my ears because after piling through first 10 minutes of dozens first episodes of dozens of comedy series I finally found something that sounds smart.

Played by James van der Beek who showcased his comedy talent in 'Don't trust the B-- in Apartment 23', Diplo is nothing but a talented, naive child who wants to have everything delivered to him right this instant. What's precious is that he is absolutely impossible to be seriously mad at, like Peter Pan. His crew is constantly moaning about how unbearable Diplo is yet you can see that none of them would trade the chance to spend their days in such a fascinating way for anything else. Other actors did a pretty good job as well, none of their performances seemed cringy or hard to believe.

For me, this series is a breath of fresh air. Will definitely recommend it to all of my friends.