'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

'Mr. Throwback' Reviews: "Building the entire production around Curry was a radical choice, sure, but the payoff is nothing but net"

         On August 8, 2024, Peacock released 'Mr. Throwback', which has received predominantly positive reviews from critics, holding fresh at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the series, Danny Grossman, who was the top player as a child until his potential career was cut short by a lie, reaches out to his friend, NBA superstar Stephen Curry, to help save his business. When he steals Curry's jersey, Danny becomes embroiled in yet another scandal. The ensemble cast includes Adam Pally, Ego Nwodim, and Ayden Mayeri. Read the full review round-up below.

        Andrew Lawrence of Guardian notes, "Building the entire production around Curry was a radical choice, sure, but the payoff is nothing but net." Adding, "With just six half-hour episodes, Mr Throwback can’t compete with Inside’s domination of Tuesday and Thursday night NBA coverage. Nor is it poised to threaten the studio show’s knack for trading memes and jokes with its audience in real time. It’s not a coincidence that hosts Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal walk on to the pilot. Their presence lends authenticity. So does Curry – who, monotone affect aside, embodies an ironic underdog quality."

       Nina Metz of Chicago Tribune says, "Tonally, “Mr. Throwback” is aiming for something like “Entourage” but with sports, mashed up with a boastful but decent-hearted loser typically dreamed up by Danny McBride, but the show never finds its voice or point of view." 

        Joel Keller of Decider praises the series, stating, "Does Mr. Throwback have the potential to fly off the rails? Absolutely. But the show’s creators have decided to keep the goings on relatively low-key, which actually makes the show funnier than it should be."

       Will DiGravio of Paste Magazine writes, "While Mr. Throwback falls short of those classics, it is a warm, resonant, and funny show." Concluding, "While much attention will be given to Steph Curry’s performance, the emotional and comedic core of the show remains Danny. In the role, Pally creates an empathetic character, living in the moment and, as that central tenet of comedy goes, ignoring consequences. He and Mayeri have a great chemistry. In one scene, as Danny and Samantha reap the benefits of becoming close with Steph, they discuss the obvious: with more wealth comes less stress. They wonder how their marriage may have differed if not for the outsized financial stress, bringing a surprisingly touching bit of class consciousness to the otherwise goofy show."

Photo by Nick Jio on Unsplash