Conventional wisdom about TV romantic comedies is that, for the most part, that’s not the case.
Perhaps weaving a prominent do-it-or-don’t-they subplot into a sitcom could give viewers a warm feel a la The Philadelphia Story or You’ve Got Mail. But shows designed primarily as romantic comedies are so unlucky that when it comes to documenting especially toxic or unconventional coupling attempts, as seen on Netflix’s “Love or You’re the Worst,” appears to be the most effective.
At the same time, the creative success of these shows shows what advantages TV romantic comedies can have. That is, to analyze the film’s traditional happy aftermath. Sparks of eternal romance may be difficult to find on TV, but delving into ongoing relationships is a specialty of the format.
Nobody Wants This feels like an attempt to create a lighter, less intense version of shows like “Love” and especially “You’re the Worst.” Its title even sounds like an off-brand copy of the latter. The film, which premieres on Netflix on September 26, follows Noah (Adam Brody), an honest and confident rabbi, and Joan (Kristen Bell), a sarcastic and deeply irreligious podcaster. It’s a romantic comedy about seemingly mismatched partners. Noah has just ended a long-term relationship, realizing that he is moving towards marriage on autopilot. Joanne has rejected countless suitors before giving them a real chance, preferring to use them as fodder for the podcast she co-hosts with her sister Morgan (Justin Lupe).
Kristen Bell, Stephanie Faracy, Justin Lupe
Hopper Stone/Netflix
The Nobody Wants This podcast is described as a comfy couch recording session, constant sisterly banter, and a certain inspired “who, us?” Anti-Professionalism – Feels like a regular movie version of this work. Film versions tend to rely on studio-style setups that make the characters look like professional DJs. A casual atmosphere has many benefits. This more accurately reflects the number of shows that start as homegrown. It also raises suspicions that the program within the program may have been crudely constructed from someone’s rambling, self-enjoying hobbies.
Strictly speaking, the real-life “Nobody Wants This” (which is also the name of the podcast in the show) doesn’t exist. Nothing is promoted in the press release or cited as source material in the credits. However, the creator of the series, Erin Foster, hosts a show called “The World’s First Podcast” with her sister.
The sisters were also the creators of the short-lived VH1 reality show parody Barely Famous, and Foster has experience in sitcoms, working on Ryan Murphy’s show 10 years ago. Despite these credits, Nobody Wants This feels very much like something the podcaster would have created for Netflix, combining two popular movies with the common goal of unashamedly telling a story. Consolidating formats.
One episode takes place entirely after the couple’s first kiss, with Joanne nervously waiting for a reply message and Noah distracted by problems with his ex-boyfriend. In another episode, they run errands together and have to overcome a mild embarrassment. Sure, a show like Seinfeld could make this into 22 minutes of hilarity, but Nobody Wants This There is no suggestion of any exotic details.
Instead, it’s filled with boilerplate jokes and stock phrases, the podcast-like sound of people who have never heard a funny conversation before (“I like that,” “I don’t hate that”). Focus on meaningful learning. It’s not an actual joke, just a reproduction of its tone. Even stranger, the central conflict that ultimately emerges between Noah and Joan is a potentially serious conflict related to religious and social mores, which helps balance the show’s comedic nihilism. Break down further.
The way Nobody Wants This fumbles its way through the streaming-era process of actually producing viable episodes is especially strange considering how much talent it draws from the 2000s TV touchstone. . Bell and Brody have both starred in distinctive teen dramas, while the staff writer has an unbeatable resume of Futurama, Arrested Development, and 30 Rock. Other episode directors include comic book pros such as Greg Mottola (Superbad) and Karen Mayne (recently, Yes, God, Yes), while Veep’s Timothy Simmons joins Noah They play a major supporting role as the brothers (although the two appear more like brothers than actual brothers). This is pretty close to an all-star production.
Kristen Bell, Cherie Cora, Justin Lupe
Adam Rose/Netflix
The real question is why all these stars on both sides of the camera agreed to do this show in the first place. Even coming close to a cuter version of “You’re the Worst” seems like a lot of work. Granted, no one wants it, but they are benefiting from the effort. Bell and Brody in particular are easy to watch and could have starred in a perfectly decent 90-minute official rom-com without breaking a sweat. But that doesn’t make this show any better, making it clear that it could have been even worse without its likeable stars. “Nobody Wants Me” seems to think of itself as an exploration of the complex ins and outs of modern human relationships. In fact, there are many wealthy people who joke about navel gazing.
