'It's Florida, Man' Reviews: Series "never quite matches the dim-witted brilliance of its premiere"

         On October 18, 2024, Max premiered "This irreverent late-night comedy series brings to life unbelievable ripped-from-the-headlines tales of the Sunshine State – straight from the people who live there. Featuring interviews from everyday Floridians and playful recreations starring a rotating cast of actors and comedians, including Anna Faris, Jake Johnson, Randall Park, Juliette Lewis, Sam Richardson, Ego Nwodim, and more, this hilarious and outrageous series sheds light on the viral, wacky, and weird. Covering diverse topics – from mermaids to witches, extreme fantasies, and feral bunnies with equal parts humor and heart, IT’S FLORIDA, MAN. is a love letter to the beaches, backwaters, and especially the people of a misunderstood yet magical state." But what did the critics say?

       Nick Schager of The Daily Beast says, "Having just survived the brutality of Hurricane Milton, the Sunshine State now gets battered—this time with good-natured blows—by It’s Florida, Man, a six-part HBO comedy that highlights the types of weird and wild stories that first gave birth to the “Florida Man” meme.Produced by The Righteous Gemstones’ Danny McBride and featuring a cast of comedians in absurd vignettes about crime, deviance, and general insanity, it’s a crazy companion piece to Drunk History, employing non-fiction interviews and over-the-top recreations to recount some of most moronic chapters in America’s recent past." Adding, "Sam Richardson, Ego Nwodim, and Randall Park play these real-life figures in It’s Florida, Man’s dramatizations, and their goofy performances convey the nuttiness of the scenario at hand. Better yet, Eastbound & Down legend Steve Little appears as Bassnectar, encouraging Richardson’s Phil to follow-through on the job by whispering in his ear and screaming from his DJ table. Little’s head-banging turn steals the episode, although just barely, since the actual Phil is a unique individual who unabashedly confesses that he eventually became gung-ho about sealing this deal, no matter the potential medical and legal consequences. A bit of closing irony concludes the saga in perfect fashion, underscoring the inanity that typifies so many outlandish “Florida Man” stories. At least in the three additional episodes provided in advance to press, It’s Florida, Man never quite matches the dim-witted brilliance of its premiere."

Photo by Jennifer Clasen/HBO