Young Rock

Thanks to Johnson’s typically screen-filling, infectious and winning performance, the terrific supporting cast and some clever and original storytelling by showrunners Nahnatchka Khan and Jeff Chiang, “Young Rock” packs a formidable one-two comedic/dramatic punch in each of the three episodes I screened.

While fans of Fresh Off the Boat and Don’t Trust the B— may be disappointed by a dulling of Khan’s signature surrealist humor, there are still some sharply funny moments throughout Young Rock, and the show is certainly brimming with warmth.

Even though the series surely fictionalizes events that inspired him, these glimpses into the seeds of the Rock’s act are intriguing and often fun.

The show made me laugh, and a few times it even dropkicked me right in the feels. Future me may regret this, but I'm giving Young Rock my endorsement. [Kristen's Grade: B+] Khan is definitely working hard to squeeze her co-creator/subject's wandering biography into a fast-paced sitcom format. As much as I enjoy Constant, a lot of the high school and college material has a bland origin-of-the-hero self-help quality: How I Got Great, by Me. [Darren's Grade: B-]

Young Rock's amiable goofiness draws heavily, and successfully, on the personality of its pleasantly flaky star and subject.

Young Rock starts off well and it feels like it’ll settle in to a nice family vibe once it gets into a groove with its format. And as much as we like Johnson, it will get even better when we see less of The Rock.

As charming as Johnson is, the portions of the show that focus on him as a grown-up are the weakest part of what is an otherwise sweet and appealing family comedy.

There’s a too-crazy-to-be-true quality to Johnson’s real-life story that plays well in a TV comedy but it’s wisely leavened with more grounded, vulnerable moments, particularly the warts-and-all portrayal of Johnson’s father (Joseph Lee Anderson), and the complicated relationship Johnson had with his dad.

Three episodes aren't enough to tell whether Young Rock is just another version of Johnson working the gimmick, or if he really does plan on showing parts of himself beyond what we already know. Still, fans shouldn't expect any revelations, or to leave with a brand new understanding of their favorite celebrity, but it has a lot of heart and might even make you want to go lift a dumbbell.