Rating: 3 (out of 5). “Doll and Em” is the newest show on HBO starring Emily Mortimer and Dolly Wells. This semi-improvised comedy drama series is about a British actress living in Los Angeles, who hires her childhood friend Doll to be her personal assistant. It will premiere on March 19, 2014, at 10:00 p.m. on HBO. The Denver Post writes, “Think of “Doll & Em” as a collection of short stories rather than half-hour comedies and it’s quite absorbing.” According to New York Post, “The writing is sharp and believable, the chemistry between the two best friends obviously an advantage and the star cameos well-deployed.” Entertainment Weekly gives the new show a B rating, and further notes, “The two-part debut starts off anemic, but serves up redemptive meat (soy protein?) when they hit up a Hollywood bigwig’s celeb-filled party.” The New York Times says, “The story is framed by the outsize absurdities of show business, but “Doll & Em” is a character study in miniature.” Variety thinks, “What mildly sets “Doll & Em” apart is the female friendship at its core, which grows more interesting once the episodes start getting past the improbability of the premise, and the women’s stunning naivete that transforming their relationship from bosom buddies to employer-assistant won’t have negative consequences.” The San Francisco Chronicle notes, “”Doll & Em,” a faux reality comedy landing on HBO on Wednesday, falls somewhere in the middle: It has some promise at first but quickly becomes predictable.” The Washington Post says, “Though it’s hindered by a particular form of Hollywood myopia that sees the movie business as the only place to find an interesting story, HBO’s new comedy miniseries “Doll & Em” is nevertheless an awkwardly funny and occasionally heartbreaking attempt to peel back the many meanings and layers of friendship.” The Boston Globe writes, “There are definite laughs and tears to be wrung from “Doll & Em,” but the actresses’ own inherent likability and warmth toward each other, oddly enough work against the premise.” Uncle Barky thinks, “It’s all very familiar turf. The underling becomes something of the overlord while feelings are bruised and tempers fray. All of which turns Doll & Em into a non-comedy by the end of Episode 5. It wasn’t all that amusing anyway.” IndieWire says, “”Doll & Em” is a light, sometimes silly trifle of a series, though at its heart is a formidable portrait of a female friendship complicated by success, competition and insecurity.” According to Las Vegas Weekly, “The Hollywood satire (actors are self-absorbed, pretentious directors take their terrible movies too seriously, etc.) of the six-episode season’s first half is pretty worn out, and the uncomfortable humor makes the lead characters too unlikable. The later episodes mine some more emotionally rich material about female friendship, but the most rewarding moments still end up getting crowded out by the stale jabs at celebrity culture and narcissism.” The Observer thinks, “It’s an awkward, funny and deceptively clever confection that is saved from Hollywood hipness by the unmistakable warmth of the complex relationship at its heart.” Chicago Tribune says, “Watching as Em and Doll resume old habits, including and especially personal, competitiveness reminds us why some long-term friendships fare best long-distance.” The Wall Street Journal writes, “Despite some funny and even pungent moments, in fact, “Doll & Em” is so gentle that you can barely feel anything.” The Daily Beast calls it “a glorious female incarnation of Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Monsters and Critics notes, “Sure its comedy, but it’s also about betrayal, loyalty and survival.” - hereistv/?p=33539
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 07:01:37 +0000
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