Below is a spoiler-free review of the first three episodes of Nine Perfect Strangers, which debut on Hulu on Aug. 18.
Hot off the success of Big Little Lies, writer/producer David E. Kelley reteamed with its Emmy-winning star Nicole Kidman to adapt another best-selling Liane Moriarty novel, Nine Perfect Strangers. Once more they dive into the gossipy drama and dark humor to be found in the circles of wealthy (and mostly white) Californians. This time around, the central mystery is not so juicy as a bizarre death at an elaborate PTA fundraiser. Instead, it’s about an enigmatic wellness entrepreneur, who is receiving anonymous death threats during a particularly volatile group retreat. Despite some superficial similarities — including another star-stuffed cast — Nine Perfect Strangers is a very different beast than its ballyhooed predecessor, less focused and less thrilling.
Jonathan Levine (50/50, Warm Bodies) directs all eight episodes of this limited series, the first three of which will be covered in this review. Set at the fictional Tranquillum House, a remote yet lavish wellness spa, Nine Perfect Strangers follows the eponymous crew through a 10-day retreat that promises radical rejuvenation results. Among them is a romance novelist recovering from a brutal break-up (Melissa McCarthy), an Instagram influencer with insecurity issues (Samara Weaving), and a frantically perky stay-at-home mom (Regina Hall). All guests are introduced through their cars, clothes, and en-route conversations, signifiers of affluence, attitude, or lack thereof. What brings each to Tranquilium House is part of the mysteries unfurled episode by episode. Why does the family of three take offense when told they “look perfect?” Why does the snarling Brit (Luke Evans) seem dubious of every treatment and requirement? What is the gruff loudmouth (Bobby Cannavale) have to hide if not his substance abuse struggles? All will be revealed… eventually.
The biggest mystery is Masha (Nicole Kidman). The mastermind behind Tranquillum House’s unusual form of group therapy, she dictates every detail, from pioneering protocols, absence from social media, special smoothies, and even personal lives of her staff (Tiffany Boone and Manny Jacinto). As she did on Big Little Lies, Kidman gives the character an enchanting mask to hide the inner demons at work within a complicated heroine. Casting a bona fide movie star in the role is an inspired choice. It’s easy to see why the strangers view Kidman’s Masha as a flawless goddess of wellness. Her easy elegance, otherworldly beauty, and welcoming yet unnerving stare (sometimes given straight down the barrel of the camera) are enthralling, drawing us all in. But as the series tiptoes along, Masha’s dark secrets tumble out, triggering a jittery — yet effective — shift in her cool façade and the dynamic of the retreat. Ambitiously, the story of Nine Perfect Strangers isn’t about one big crime, but many trespasses big and small, including illegal violations, ethical failings, and emotional betrayals.
Frustratingly though, the first three episodes move in an amble with much of the revelations being little more than Act 1 setup. Amid shared meals, group activities, and therapy sessions, the struggling squad dribbles their backstories in micro-doses. At first, it’s a tantalizing tease, but this might have gotten old fast if not for a sparkling ensemble cast.
From his first smug smile, Luke Evans crackles as a relentless pot-stirrer with a razor-sharp tongue. With a stiff physicality and thousand-yard stare, Asher Keddie exudes an unspoken agony that begs acknowledgment. A celebrated comedic performer, Regina Hall churns laughs and tension from the high-strung earnestness as a validation-starved mom. Samara Weaving, who became a kick-ass action-heroine with the trifecta of Mayhem, Guns Akimbo, and Ready or Not, shakes things up by leaning into a seemingly superficial Insta Celeb. Also clashing against type is Manny Jacinto, who broke through as the dopey faux-monk Jason Mendoza on The Good Place, and now plays sincere spiritual guide Yao. His goofy grin is replaced by a serene exterior and precisely groomed beard, but he hasn’t had much to do so far. Still, this total 180 allows Jacinto to show that he has range beyond mastering himbo humor. (No shade to himbo humor, which in it of itself is a too oft undervalued art!)
Still, the most thrilling performances are those that use the context of an established star to play on audience anticipation. For instance, Michael Shannon initially seems miscast as a middle-class father with BDE -- Big Dad Energy. Cracking corny jokes and sporting polo shirts, he has banished the brow-furrowed intensity that has made him a mesmerizing madman in films like The Shape of Water, Take Shelter, and Bug. Shannon throws himself full-bodied into this jaunty dad, and his unabashed enthusiasm feels true but also fragile. Something has got to give. By the end of episode three, it will with a monologue that seems written specifically for the heady blend of existential angst and profound humanity that throbs of the heart of Shannon’s best work.
As for Melissa McCarthy, the moment she appears, you might understandably predict wacky comedy. But McCarthy — who is also an executive producer on the show — is dancing the David E. Kelley line of character-focused comedy, where heroines might be funny, but won’t be punchlines. She’ll sling withering one-liners, but also grapple with tender trauma and the terrifying possibility of growth. Happily, she’s paired once more with Bobby Cannavale, a stalwart of comedy and drama who’s previously worked with her on Spy, Thunder Force, and Superintelligence. He’s played the love interest and the villain opposite McCarthy. Here, he’s a bit of both, taking full advantage of the chaotic chemistry they share onscreen. Theirs is a thrilling Tracy-Hepburn vibe, where they are evenly matched in banter, comedic timing, and an exhilarating yearning. Here, that’s explored away from the detrimental direction of her husband, Ben Falcone, who is dragging down McCarthy’s comedy reputation. So, it’s a shame that Falcone is wedged into a small role that might have been better stunt-casted with anyone else.
The joke of a Falcone cameo has long ago lost its appeal. But more than this, his casting becomes a meta distraction to what should be a big emotional moment. This choice reflects a tonal imbalance in Nine Perfect Strangers. From The Wackness all the way to Long Shot, Levine has blended comedy with the sentimentality, but not with effectively hard-hitting drama. Under his helm, Nine Perfect Strangers lacks the zing of David E. Kelley’s signature. The cast delivers on the sharp banter and bringing pathos to characters who are at times flagrantly ridiculous. However, Levine’s soft-touch with the darker material therein means that even matters of life and death don’t achieve the teeth-grit tension that kept Big Little Lies’ first season thrilling week after week.
from IGN Reviews https://ift.tt/2W3gm1J
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