According to HBO, Bored to Death is an “offbeat comedy series created by Jonathan Ames (author of several books, including the acclaimed graphic novel ‘The Alcoholic’), [that] follows the misadventures of a fictional Jonathan Ames as he pursues his quixotic dream of emulating his heroes from classic private detective novels.” The premiere begins with Ames’ girlfriend moving out after being fed up with his continuous use of marijuana and alcohol. Alone and depressed, he impulsively takes out an ad on craigslist billing himself as an unlicensed private detective, fancying himself to be like his heroes from the classic noir detective novels that he attempts to write. Enabled in his vices by his boss and chided for his deception by his best friend, Ames juggles his “day job”, his budding detective agency and emergency calls for pot from his boss along with having a life, which mainly consists of accompanying his friend to odd appointments intercut with trying to reconcile with his ex-girlfriend. And, yes, the end result is decidedly funny.
Jason Schwartzman stars as Ames, with Ted Danson playing George Christopher, magazine editor and Ames’ boss, and Zach Galifianakis as the Beaver. Ok, that’s not true, Galifianakis actually plays Ames’ friend and comic book illustrator Ray Hueston. I’ve always found Schwartzman to be an engaging actor who does a great job in any role his plays. While I think he really shines more than ever here as the fictional Ames, his character works the best when paired with Danson’s and Galifianakis’. However, Ted Danson absolutely steals the show. George Christopher is so far removed from Sam Malone and John Becker that you’ll forget all three are played by the same actor. Danson gives such a suavely madcap performance as the possibly functionally insane magazine editor that you find yourself eagerly awaiting his next moment on screen. That isn’t to say that the rest of the show is worthless. The scenes with Schwartzman and Galifianakis are a subdued counterpoint to the scenes with Danson and are quite witty in their own right. Less so are the scenes when the fictional Ames meets with his clients or ex. These scenes are functional and while not as horrible as they would be in a lesser comedy, they come across as a little flat.
The first three episodes are very engaging and I was was hooked from the first few moments of the premiere. I don’t agree with others that the first episode is clunky, I found it very enjoyable, but it is certainly out-shined by the next two. And as we find out more about all three characters, Ames’ chronic pot smoking, white wine drinking and false detective persona actually make him the most normal of the three. By far. There is even a great semi-self-referential moment at the end of third episode concerning the fictional Jonathan Ames, the real-life Jim Jarmusch and a bit of dialogue concerning Charlie Kaufmann. Writing like that, combined with exceptional acting and terrific direction, elevate Bored to Death from situational comedy to brilliant comedy.
Bored to Death airs on HBO Sunday nights at 9:30PM beginning September 20th.
2 responses to “Review: ‘Bored To Death’ Is Anything But”