Take it EASY

Article first published as EASY Review on Seat42F.

NETFLIX is making your viewing decisions EASY this weekend (excuse the pun). It’s new eight-episode anthology series, EASY, which follows a diverse group of people in modern Chicago, dropped this morning. I’ve watched the first two half-hour installments, and my early impression is that it’s neat, authentic, well cast, and has something very relatable and very interesting to say.

The first episode is titled “The F**king Study,” which should tell you right away that the content is for mature audiences. Title stars aside, nudity and swearing are not bleeped in the show, though I will say the main characters are treated with dignity and realism, which means their bodies are only shown sparingly, not gratuitously. Usually, they are wearing something as they get it on.

Anyway, the plot of this first episode, to give you a taste of what EASY is, begins at a party where a study is being discussed. Apparently, it has been found that couples who stick to traditional gender norms have more and better sex. This greatly worries a husband (Michael Chernus, Orange Is the New Black) who stays home to write plays and take care of the kids. Although she plays it off, his wife (Elizabeth Reaser, Twilight), is also bothered, although she handles it differently.

What follows is a portrayal of two people who have been in a marriage a long time, do love each other, but aren’t sure what that means any more. We’ve seen couples struggle to maintain that intimacy and love before (HBO’s Togetherness springs to mind), and I won’t say EASY is entirely breaking new ground here. But what it does, it does very well. I fully believe these two actors, and can easily empathize with them, getting into their heads and understanding where they are coming from. Sure, it’s a bit depressing, especially for someone approaching who is that point in their own life (full disclosure: I am). However, as young people so often fail to understand, there’s no blueprint for any phase of life, and all we can do is figure it out as we go along, which is something that must be learned in of itself.

The second episode jumps to the very beginning of a relationship, as a woman (Kiersey Clemons, Transparent) questioning her sexuality (and everything else about herself) meets her “Vegan Cinderella” (Jacqueline Toboni, Grimm). It’s obviously quite a different take than the first episode, and yet it feels consistent in tone and style, even if the point of view shifts dramatically. Quality is maintained, and there are some fun little connections, the protagonist for installment two being the babysitter from episode one.

I’m not sure all the episodes will be so focused on love and sex, as the series description also mentions navigating technology and culture. In general, though, I think it’s safe to assume that it’s a brief circle through many perspectives, with an indie-movie feel and some genuine characters. Again, this is not a totally new concept, but it’s one that I dig when well executed, as it certainly is with EASY.

Television is entertainment, yes, but the best of it is meant to give us insight into our world and ourselves. That’s not as lofty a goal as it might sound, with the earliest examples of theatre seeking to do just that. EASY holds a mirror up, and maybe we don’t see our reflection every time, but it keeps turning that mirror until we do identify something looking back at us, or at a friend or family. It’s feel-good without being soapy, and drama without being dramatic. It’s comfortable, enjoyable, and I still come out of it feeling like I learned something about life. I can totally get behind this.

EASY is now available on Netflix streaming.

Blu-ray Review: 'Togetherness: The Complete First Season'

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'Togetherness: The Complete First Season' on Blogcritics.

HBO is releasing the freshman run of its indie dramedy next week, Togetherness. Telling the story of four people who are adults but haven’t yet figured out how to be effective grownups yet, it’s a poignant, real look at today’s 30-somethings. It’s hard to follow dreams and still have a stable life and family, but these people are trying, sometimes with hilarious results.

Togetherness feels like an indie film stretched out into eight installments. That’s not surprising, since it comes from indie directors Jay and Mark Duplass (Cyrus). The characters are quirky and complex, as one would expect from the genre, and the situations they get into are grounded and depressing, also in keeping with the style. The humor is often at the expense of the characters, but occasionally there are bright spots for them to keep the whole thing from getting dreary. All together, it makes for an enjoyable show that will leave you pondering your own choices and existence.

The casting of Togetherness is excellent. Mark Duplass (The League, Safety Not Guaranteed) stars as Brett, a man approaching forty who is stressed out by his job, not finding it fulfilling, and having trouble connecting with his wife, Michelle (Melanie Lynskey, Two and a Half Men, Up in the Air). Michelle, for her part, is feeling stuck as a housewife, and seeking her own outlet. Both love one another, but aren’t always sure how to show it, nor have the energy to work on their union. It’s a realistic look at a marriage struggling through the pressures of young children and long working hours.

The second half of the group is made up of Alex (Steve Zissis, Her) and Tina (Amanda Peet, The Good Wife, The Way Way Back), who make Brett and Michelle look totally put together. Despite being roughly the same age as the couple above, neither Alex nor Tina have managed to make a relationship or a career work. Tina is Michelle’s sister and Alex is Brett’s best friend, and after some rough periods, both vie for couch spots in Brett and Michelle’s home. Yet, neither necessarily take their circumstances as the wake up call they need.

Of course, Togetherness being what it is, they can all learn from one another. Alex and Tina know how to take risks, even if they don’t always pay off. Brett and Michelle can teach the other two about stability, even if they aren’t quite sure how to make it work for them. Somewhere in between these varied personalities lies the ideal, but I am perfectly content to watch them struggle with finding it, constantly falling short, but growing in fits and spurts along the way.

Besides the eight half-hour installments, this release contains a handful of bonus features. There are deleted scenes, of course. The Duplass brothers talk about each of the characters and their individual paths, which is interesting, hearing from the creators behind the show. The included interviews and behind-the-scenes stuff with Peet and Zissis is funnier, though doesn’t teach us a whole lot. It’s a small number of extras, but given the size of the season and the content of what is included, seems appropriate.

Admittedly, you might not need to spend the money for the blu-ray version of this. Part of the charm of the series is its imperfections, so it might actually make for a better feel to view it in standard definition DVD. However, I am of the opinion that film should be watched in the highest quality available, and considering Togetherness was filmed and aired in HD, I would recommend the Blu-ray. Plus, the Blu-ray includes a digital copy of the series; the DVD does not.

Togetherness will be available beginning February 16th wherever Blu-rays and DVDs are sold.

HAPPYISH Will Make You Happy-ish

Article originally written for Seat42F.

Thomas Paine was one of our Founding Fathers who inspired revolution against Great Britain. Thomas Payne was a bookseller and publisher, not all the important in the grand scheme of things, but still remembered with a small paragraph on Wikipedia. Thom Payne (Steve Coogan, Philomena) is a little bit of both, an insignificant man who is becoming obsolete, but bristles at the thought and really doesn’t want to let it happen. Showtime’s new half-hour dramedy, HAPPYISH, is his story.

As HAPPYISH begins, Thom is turning 44, not old enough to be an executive like his boss, Jonathan (Bradley Whitford, The West Wing, Trophy Wife), nor is he young enough to be into the social media scene, like the young Norwegians who just bought the advertising company Thom works for. The latter would like to force him, in the nicest way possible, to adapt to their mindset, but Thom just doesn’t want any of it. He’d rather write a book or rant about how things used to be.

It seems likely that Thom’s story will ring rather familiar to viewers of a certain age. Many people may keep themselves from flying off the handle as Thom does, but it has to be frustrating to be asked to keep up with a rapidly changing world on top of everything else going on in one’s life. Thom is married with a young child; he doesn’t have time to be accustomed to twitter, and justifiably thinking it is stupid, why should he? But that’s the position he is in for his career, and one has to keep paddling or drown.

Thom’s home life doesn’t make things much easier. His wife, Lee (Kathryn Hahn, Parks and Recreation), is loving, but not all that satisfied with the way Thom’s ED pills and antidepressants interact, making them less effective. His son, Julius (Sawyer Shipman, Adult Beginners), isn’t a bad kid, but he’s young enough that he still needs a lot of attention from his parents. Neither of them are obstacles per se, Thom glad to have them in his life, but they certainly divide his attention.

Despite all of the misery, HAPPYISH is very enjoyable. Part of that is the cast, which includes recurring players Carrie Preston (True Blood), Andre Royo (The Wire), Molly Price (Third Watch), and co-star Ellen Barkin (The New Normal). Hahn is absolutely fantastic, and the rest all make the proceedings more fun. Thom may be unhappy, but those around him aren’t always, and they are able to play off Thom’s broad actions well. It’s a really good group of players.

Seeing Coogan play the role, it’s hard to imagine Philip Seymour Hoffman as Thom, though Hoffman starred in the original pilot before his death. Coogan, as he must, completely owns the role and uses his talents to help shape the character. Coogan is a different type of actor than Hoffman was, and while HAPPYISH might have been good without Coogan, it would be a different show. I think this version is likely funnier. I’m glad, seeing the product, that Showtime decided to move forward with this project even after losing its star.

It’s funny that HAPPYISH premieres now, so soon after HBO’s Togetherness ended its freshman run. I feel like the two shows share a lot of DNA, having similar themes and quality. While Togetherness is more of an ensemble and HAPPYISH has a stronger, more singular lead, both capture an authentic spirit in a moment where they are especially relevant. I don’t know that both are needed on the air, but I’d be hard pressed to say one should be cancelled over the other.

HAPPYISH premieres Sunday, April 26^th at 9:30 p.m. ET on Showtime.