Critic Reviews
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Like thigh-high go-go boots, there is only so far something like the ’60s-era showbiz comedy “Funny Woman” can go before its joyousness ankles, as they say in the trades. The good news about season 2 is that the Britcom has plateaued, figuratively speaking, just above the knee. .... “Funny Woman” is Ms. Arterton’s show, and counter to many shows built around a principal character—those in which the comedy relies on supporting players—Sophie is the funniest person in whatever room the show finds itself.
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Funny Woman isn’t as strong as The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, but it’s not without charm.
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Rather than a compelling character study, it now resembles a classy soap: the storylines driving the action along feel superficial and tacked on. The result is a comedy-drama as obviously contrived as the old-school sitcoms it eulogises.
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It’s unclear why the writers felt the need to muddy up what is essentially a novel-length exploration of personal relationships in a turbulent time. The period-appropriate costumes and interior decor are indeed accurate and quite vibrant, but Funny Woman suffers at the hands of being overproduced.
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The show suffers from not being hilarious enough to work as comedy while coming off as too slight to succeed as drama. Arterton delivers a convincing portrait of underdog gumption – but Funny Woman’s inability to strike a coherent tone is no laughing matter.