A rough start that keeps getting better
So it's no mystery that the first episode isn't exactly a crowd-pleaser. But if you can get passed that you will find a diamond in the rough with this reboot.The animators really took into account the fact that the previous series was a Family Guy parody series and decided to give the fans what they want: a very good animated series that honestly can contend with the animated movies (not Scoob). While not as fluid as the movies, it definitely is eye pleasing.
The jokes and format is definitely a callback to the original Guess Who. But instead of clevver dialogue jokes it goes for a lot of visual gags which is not bad choice. I am actually surprised with how much it gets away with.
Some episodes are definitely better than others and the fact that each episode is 22 minutes long instead of the original show that was 55 I believe, you can feel it in the pace: everything feels a little rushed. If it had like another 8 minutes, you could have more time to know your celebrity or antagonist, or mystery. More minutes can definitely help this series.
The one thing that sort of vexed me is that not every episode is a as good as the others, often times it's episodes where stars are complete and total parodies of themselves instead of just playing it straight. Like the episode with SIA, I honestly couldn't find any laughs in those visual jokes. Maybe because I don't know at all who Sia is except the singer with the funny hair. I am pretty sure people who know Sia in person on a personal level had a great time with that episode because they knew her as funny person, but I and most of the 99,9% of the audience don't know her that well and we end up scratching our heads as in: is this another person named Sia? Don't know....
Episodes that have actors like that should definitely avoid becoming a bad parody of the actors it interprets. Like if I have a huge funny celebrity in the room like Steve Carell in this I am definitely expecting some funny gags that define Steve Carell's career, I am definitely not into discovering that singer Gwen Stefani has a incredible passion for hand-puppets and is doing a play for children's hospital. No, have Gwen Stefani trying to organize a music concert for a children's hospital or something like that is the way to do it. Stick to your lane.
One episode that is definitely doing it right is the Ben & Teller episode. One of the best this series had to offer. It did everything right. That is what this series needs to do as much as possiblem.
score 9/10
julianmarku 19 December 2020
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw6381075/14965
Pages:
[1]