Review

Fitting for a star whose improvised podcast appearances frequently turn down dark alleyways, Review really gets going when it digs deep into horrible behavior.

Review is more of an experience than a statement; if you ask yourself, "What's the point?" you'll probably never get an answer, and you'll miss out on the agonizing pleasure of this most unusual series, which imports a style of TV comedy that was perfected in the United Kingdom and its far-flung colonies, and somehow Americanizes it without snuffing its daft spark.

Review is high concept, yes. But it’s also incredibly clever, and really funny.

Review is one of Comedy Central’s most effortless and truly funny new shows in a while.

On this sporadically hilarious show, Andy Daly carries over the uptight persona he used to great effect on Eastbound & Down to the role of TV presenter Forrest MacNeil, who every week reviews and grades different experiences. [21 Mar 2014, p.58]

The recurring gag is the absurdity of nerdy Forrest reviewing often illegal/immoral activities, and it’s a pretty good joke in the early episodes. It remains to be seen if that joke holds up or grows tiresome over time.

It takes a few episodes to really click but the third episode screened, "Pancakes, Divorce, Pancakes" has a twisted brilliance even in its very premise.

The series isn’t bad, but it would have been so much more interesting if instead of just watching Forrest run, we had a better grasp of what makes him tick.