“‘Central Park’: ‘Bob’s Burgers’ Creator Crafts A Funny, Smart Musical Series With A Talented Cast”

Ditch the burgers, gain a park plus tons of musical alums. Seems like a fair trade. Continue reading →

“‘Frozen 2’s’ Themes Become Darker Even as the Kid Gloves Stay On”

Hell yeah, a grown-ass man beating up on the adorable kids film, because my HEART is COLD as ICE. Continue reading →

TV Review: The Comedians, 1.10, “Misdirection”

  “Since premiering in April, The Comedians has leaned on the generational gap separating its two stars for drama and mostly left their differences explicitly unspoken. A few episodes, like “Billy’s Birthday,” address the divide while remaining non-specific; it’s an age disparity rather than a personal one, seen in a brief moment where Billy crashes … Continue reading →

TV Review: The Comedians, 1.4, “Celebrity Guest”

“Well, well, well, The Comedians, we’re getting a little introspective, eh? This week’s ‘Celebrity Guest’ isn’t quite as funny as last week’s ‘The Red Carpet’, but it definitely has a lot to say about itself: Start with Denis O’Hare’s opening sentiment and end, chapter by chapter, with multiple guest appearances by the legendary Mel Brooks. … Continue reading →

TV Review: The Comedians, 1.3, “The Red Carpet”

“Last night’s episode of The Comedians has a surprise twist to it: it’s actually pretty good. If you’ve given up on the show already (and it seems like everybody has), the siren call of a half hour of chuckles might not be enough to lure you back to the TV’s warm glow, but “The Red … Continue reading →

TV Review: The Comedians, 1.2, “Come to the House”

“The Comedians has yet to figure out what kind of show it wants to be. Granted, we’re only two episodes deep into its first season, and comedies tend to take more time to develop a consistent timbre from one installment to the next. Criticizing the series for being an amorphous blend of workplace comedy, behind … Continue reading →

TV Review: The Comedians, 1.1, “Pilot”

““When I found out Billy Crystal wanted to work with me, nobody was more excited than my grandparents.” If you’ve seen any kind of advertising for FX’s new “inside baseball” comedy series,The Comedians, you’ve almost certainly heard this particular line spoken from the mouth of Josh Gad, one of its leads. The joke appears to … Continue reading →

Review: The Wedding Ringer, 2015, dir. Jeremy Garelick

“The Wedding Ringer begins with a tracking shot that could almost be called “bravura.” The camera starts in a kitchen, following a dish’s journey from a prep station, to a waiter’s tray, to a crowded hall where a wedding reception is in full swing. Standing at the center of the soirée is Kevin Hart, who, … Continue reading →