We saw the first episode of the series Kidding, and as hoped the show worn by Jim Carrey looks funny and especially upsetting. Back to school criticism.
I’m probably not perfectly objective when it comes to Jim Carrey. Certainly among the actors that I saw most and seen during my childhood, in all that he does the American makes me laugh and cry with the same formidable efficiency. Also, when Showtime announced Kidding, a series that visibly mixes depression, tears and humor, I was already caught.
And after seeing the first episode of 30 minutes (out of eight) of the series, lack of objectivity or not, the show directed by Michel Gondry (yes, the man behind the cult movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind with Carrey) n has certainly not stolen its place in our long guide of promising new series to begin between September and December . Here is our review, as usual without excessive spoilers.
Mr. Pickles Rick
Jim Carrey plays here Jeff Piccirillo, or “Mr. Pickles “for his young audience, a very famous children’s storyteller on television. For many years, he has accompanied countless blond heads with his stories, his puppets, his wisdom and his sweetness. Except that one day, a personal drama – which we will deliberately leave vague – will explode his family and drag Jeff into the crisis by exploding the bubble in which he lives.
In spite of some humorous peaks of humor to lighten the ensemble from time to time, Kidding is above all a drama before being a comedy. In one episode, Jim Carrey is at the peak of his art and upsets the viewer at the least of his appearances. Following the tragedy and despite the months that pass, the man struggles to distinguish between his fictitious character and joyful Mr. Pickles and his true personality or to behave as others expect, and it does not help anyone.
Similarly, none of the secondary characters is left out. The relationship between Jeff and his father and producer Seb (the flawless Frank Langella) is especially touching in this first episode, while the female characters worn by Catherine Keener (Jeff’s sister and in charge of puppets) and Judy Greer (l Jeff’s ex-wife) also promise great moments in the rest of the season.
Jim Carrey: a tourney healer in circles (sorry)
Each member of this family / company manages the tragedy in its perfectly human way and the quest for this Jeff – still quite disconnected from reality and whose lack of manhood and courage is a problem for his son Will – to evoke More serious subjects in his broadcast hit the mark. Especially since the series tries to anchor in our reality as much as possible (as evidenced by the fantastic introduction scene with a famous actor and a famous show), and that Michel Gondry’s production is still as effective.