Chelsea Does

What makes her new Netflix documentary series, Chelsea Does, so invigorating [is] she knows she's severely out of her depth, and realizes that's all the more reason to try and wade deeper.

A series of thoughtful, funny personal investigations into such topics as marriage, racism, Silicon Valley, and drugs. [22 Jan 2016, p.67]

Produced by Morgan Neville and directed throughout by Eddie Schmidt with an expensive-looking creaminess, each episode spends upward of an hour going back and forth through the subject, in different ways: conversational (Handler hanging out with friends, some of them also famous, some of them also comedians, to discuss the matter at hand, or talking to experts in the relevant field); confessional (one on one with a clinical psychologist); and experiential, as she puts herself into different environments, or experiments on herself, to learn something new.

The show's curiosity and smarts buoy it during times of less credibility, and there's almost a sense of determination radiating out of the episodes. We're doing this. Luckily, they're doing it pretty well.

Hardcore documentary fans may find Chelsea Does a bit lacking in terms of depth—especially as the sheen surrounding most of the episodes is a bit off-balance, given Handler’s personal lack of polish. But for Chelsea Handler fans or even people who aren’t deeply invested in the genre, these are definitely good jumping-off points.

Over all, Ms. Handler’s attempt to reinvent the form doesn’t quite succeed, but the best moments of these films at least are more fun than most documentaries.

Ultimately, Handler’s documentary functions more as a way to justify her brand of humor than to offer a fresh take on how we talk about race.

For all its uncomfortable juxtapositions and awkward tonal inconsistencies, there are moments in Chelsea Does that make for truly compelling television.

I found the series irritating because I find Handler funny very rarely. If you’re a fan, you’ll have a great time, because what this series should be called is Chelsea Does Chelsea.

When Handler travels outside her own worldview and gets out of her own way, and uses her sharp comedic instincts to expose absurdity and hypocrisy, what Chelsea Does is sometimes worthwhile.