7 Days in Hell: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 59 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 59 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

Season Premiere Date: July 11, 2015

Summary: The mockumentary details the longest tennis match between American bad boy Aaron Williams (Andy Samberg) and British tennis prodigy Charles Poole (Kit Harington) that spanned over seven days at Wimbledon in 2004.

Genre(s): Comedy, Sports, Movie/Mini-Series

Season 1 Episodes

No episode information is currently available for this season

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

David Wiegand

Jul 9, 2015

7 Days in Hell is dead-on funny. Funny as hell, in fact. Read full review

Vicki Hyman

Jul 13, 2015

7 Days in Hell is flush with over-the-top raunch and absurdist asides, but there's a shaggy charm about this production. Read full review

Maureen Ryan

Jul 28, 2015

It’s by no means the deepest thing you’ll watch this year, but you’d have to search far and wide to find a program that hits its chosen target with such concentrated glee. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Jul 7, 2015

Samberg’s comedy style can be a little overly frenetic, and a few of the jokes here just don’t land, but there are some parts of 7 Days in Hell, especially “The greatest point in tennis history,” that really should be seen, especially if you’re one of those who miss the “SNL” years of the ‘90s and ‘00s Read full review

Neil Genzlinger

Jul 9, 2015

Marquee HBO comedies--“Veep,” “Silicon Valley”--are known for their intelligence and understatement, but don’t expect that approach here. Or, rather, expect it to be improbably mixed with a crudeness worthy of a frat-house movie.... But along with the ribaldry, Murray Miller, who wrote the show, manages to create a deadpan sendup of sports documentaries. Read full review

Bruce Miller

Jul 10, 2015

Cute conceptually, the comedy falls short when director Jake Szymanski searches for ways to fill the time. Dumb on-court antics (including sex with two streakers) don’t really live up to the Christopher Guest ambitions of the rest of the film. Read full review

Hank Stuever

Jul 20, 2015

The film lasts an agonizing 41 minutes a demonstrates a lack of tone, which means you’re never quite sure if you’re watching a comedy that intends to be purely absurd (such as “Zoolander”) or comically realistic (such as “Best in Show”). Even the tennis humor is badly served. Read full review

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User Score

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7.6

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User Reviews

johndoe1234

Jul 11, 2015

I love tennis, and if you do too I promise your cheeks and stomach will hurt from laughing so hard. I just about never write reviews, but had to for this spoof documentary; it will no doubt become a classic in the tennis community. The critics over on the left there don't seem to appreciateI love tennis, and if you do too I promise your cheeks and stomach will hurt from laughing so hard. I just about never write reviews, but had to for this spoof documentary; it will no doubt become a classic in the tennis community. The critics over on the left there don't seem to appreciate its humor, most likely because their British (because boy do they get it in this movie) or don't even understand Tennis let only like it. Some of you will certainly have very low tolerances for its crass humor, and will be offended enough to completely miss the point; I feel sorry for you. Oh man, I'm still laughing..... I'm gunna go watch it again. Absolutely, Positively, HILARIOUS!!!… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

LeZee

Nov 23, 2016

It wasn't even a match. It was something else.

This is a 45 minute mockumentary made for the television that was aired on HBO last year. Directed by a some television director, who recently made his feature film comedy, 'Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates'. It is an American film, but theIt wasn't even a match. It was something else.

This is a 45 minute mockumentary made for the television that was aired on HBO last year. Directed by a some television director, who recently made his feature film comedy, 'Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates'. It is an American film, but the story takes place in England.

This is the story of two top tennis players who class for a big match that lasts for the 7 days. You heard me right, the film reveals how the game was dragged for a week and in between that, some flashback clips and interviews were attached.

The film sets in the 2001, but when you look at the settings, particularly the players' appearances that gives the impression of the 70s or maybe the 80s. Whatever, it was so good, miles ahead to those real comedies from the recent time. The jokes were amazing, sometime I laughed loudly out of the control.

I think they designed this story and its characters so well. The actors, totally nailed it. I usually like Andy Samberg's films and his performances, but for the first time I liked him for real. If you ask me, I would say this is his best film so far I'd seen. Sadly, it was not a theatrical film.

Looks like the director aimed it for a short film, as he has made plenty of them prior to this. But I appreciated him for making it as an independent television episode with a fine length where he developed the story and its character brilliantly.

"This is like nothing I've ever seen. Spectacular! Absolutely spectacular!"

Less than an hour, but the entire film was shot within the three days of time without compromising on the production quality. The actors too were not amateurs while displaying their sporting skills. Since it is a comedy, that could have been neglected, but really well done drafting those scenes accurately.

Recently Andy Samberg did another mockumentary on the music theme called 'Popstar; Never Stop Never Stooping', but looking at this one and its success, there won't be any surprise it is going to be turned into a feature film-come-mockumentary.

Of course the preference was given more to Andy's role, but Kit Harrington was equally amazing. He's in a very important role and I think between these two, it reminded me the Nadal and Federrer taking on each other.

There are some guest appearances which were very crucial for this tale to narrate what it wanted to tell in the most comedic way as much as possible. So there's no way you end up unsatisfied, but you should be open minded for that.

I was surprised by the overall film, Because I was not expecting it to be so smart, at a time funny as well. Definitely this film is for the grownups, because there are many adult jokes with unexpected nudities and sexes. But who cares, if you are old enough, just enjoy what it offers.

From the great title to the wonderful performances to the beautiful writing, this is definitely a must see. I hope you won't miss, especially if you are a tennis fan, you would find it a lot funnier than the others. My final word is, recommended!

8.5/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TheQuietGamer

Jul 11, 2015

The focus here is on the jokes and making a mockery of tennis. The documentary part of this mockumentary is a bit lacking. The set up is definitely like one of those documentaries about a big moment in sports, but the actual game of tennis seems like a slight afterthought. The match is usedThe focus here is on the jokes and making a mockery of tennis. The documentary part of this mockumentary is a bit lacking. The set up is definitely like one of those documentaries about a big moment in sports, but the actual game of tennis seems like a slight afterthought. The match is used as a vehicle to deliver one crazy set piece after another. Ultimately though that is barely an issue at all. This is still plenty hilarious and worth watching. It's just a rather minor disappointment that we don't get to see more actual tennis.

When it comes to humor, nothing is off limits here. There are a variety to the jokes on display. While a lot of it is juvenile shock humor meant to gross out, there are quite a few intelligently written puns throughout. Big gags happen left and right. It's brisk pace and brief runtime ensure that it doesn't overstay it's welcome and keeps you laughing throughout. Some oft eh funniest stuff comes from writer Murray Miller's obvious enjoyment of taking shots at England.

The cast is on point here. The commentators are hilarious and Andy Samberg is just as crazy as ever. However it is Kit Harington who steals the show here. He plays his character perfectly and shows he can be just as funny as the best of them. It would be great to see more comedy from him in the future. It's just a shame he doesn't get as many of the big jokes as Andy Samberg. Samberg might get the spotlight most of the time here, but Harington is the one whose performance stands out the most.

Overall, "7 Days in Hell" is a laugh riot with a stream of jokes that doesn't stop until the final frame. The actual tennis might not get as much attention as it deserves, but when it comes to humor this is one you want to watch. A very impressive and, most importantly, funny mockumentary.

My total score for "7 Days in Hell" is an 8.5/10.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

geewah

Jan 9, 2021

Crude, simple and childish humour dominates this mockumentary. But it is funny.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

oDjento

Jul 11, 2015

7 Days in hell is a reasonably humorous mockumentary that has its moment, but falls flat on some of its other jokes. The first 25 minutes is the funniest part, with the digs at England being hilarious (yes I am British) and the completely bizarre surreal part with Sweden being exceedingly7 Days in hell is a reasonably humorous mockumentary that has its moment, but falls flat on some of its other jokes. The first 25 minutes is the funniest part, with the digs at England being hilarious (yes I am British) and the completely bizarre surreal part with Sweden being exceedingly funny also. However, it doesn’t seem like all the writing of the jokes are of equal quality, quite a few jokes are mild laughter, others are laughing out loud moments and some just aren’t really funny at all; so overall the mockumentary hits and misses throughout.
Andy Samberg is pretty funny but I’ve got to say Kit Harrington has some seriously funny comedic chops; I’d like to see him in some more comedies. Also the scenes with Harrington on the British chat show are unbelievably hysterical.
Overall yes this is worth a watch as it is funny, but it certainly isn’t the funniest mockumentary to have come out. I don’t think too many people will be offended by this either as the majority of the digs go towards the British, and we are quite the self-mocking country. Maybe some of the upper class won’t like it but oh well, they need to develop a sense of humour first before watching any comedies.
7/10… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Knighthawk81

Jul 13, 2015

This is a sports mockumentary, done in the style of ESPN's "30 For 30," which chronicles the longest tennis match in history. Andy Samberg and Kit Harrington are great in the lead roles, and this is a hilarious idea. Some of it is a little too over-the-top, feeling at times like an "SNL"This is a sports mockumentary, done in the style of ESPN's "30 For 30," which chronicles the longest tennis match in history. Andy Samberg and Kit Harrington are great in the lead roles, and this is a hilarious idea. Some of it is a little too over-the-top, feeling at times like an "SNL" sketch that plays a little too long. But for the most part this is an enjoyable, hilarious, and creative endeavor.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

lynchie51588

Jul 12, 2015

I'm actually a little scared that people gave this movie good reviews... I honestly maybe chuckled once, never laughed, and I liked the actors in the movie.. They tried a little too hard with a joke a second, and almost none of them land.

1 of 7 users found this helpful16

SEE ALL 11 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

67

Series Overview
Season 1

67
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: July 11, 2015
- No episode information is currently available for this season