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| Scene from Kidding |
Welcome to a new column called Channel Surfing, in which I sporadically look at current TV shows and talk about them. These are not ones that I care to write weekly recaps for and are instead reflections either on the episode, the series, or particular moments. This will hopefully help to share personal opinions as well as discover entertainment on the outer pantheon that I feel is well worth checking out, or in some cases, shows that are weird enough to talk about, but should never be seen.
Of the 21st century, there have been few partnerships as mythical as that of director Michel Gondry and Jim Carrey. For Gondry, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was the film that elevated him to the status of artistic genius, capable of making cinema that explored toxic relationships in new and inventive ways. For Carrey, it was one of those challenging roles that showed audiences that he was more than a comedic actor. He was able to perform serious drama, nuanced with heartache and pain. While others have benefited from the film's overall success, it's been unclear why Gondry and Carrey haven't worked together too often since, especially since neither have ever hit the sublime high that the film gave them. In fact, it hasn't really happened in the 14 years since the film, and in both cases Kidding may as well be marked as a comeback vehicle for both of them.
Kidding seems like easy material for Carrey to mull over. He's playing a children's entertainer who loses his mind. Think someone like Mister Rodgers or Pee-Wee Herman having a manic episode. Considering that Carrey made his reputation on similar characters getting into elaborate freak outs, it's hard to argue against him being the perfect actor for the role. The opening scene takes place at a taping of Conan, where he serenades the audience with one of his many feel-good songs about assurance. The crowd sings along and the idea of him being vulnerable is immediately taken off the table. He's a character with a lot to offer, and his reputation would need something terrible to make him less than the icon Mr. Pickles has achieved over time. Even his smile, which is big and sincere, hides some pain underneath. It isn't clear why there's pain at first, but the smiling faces around him only make that realization all the more sad.
In a lot of ways, this is the kind of role that Carrey has desperately needed in his career. For most of the past decade, he has been at an unprecedented lull in his career without a major hit on par with the first 20 years of his career. Sure, he's had some challenging work (such as I Love You Philip Morris), but what could compare to The Truman Show, The Mask, or of course Eternal Sunshine? Not much when you get down to it. This may be because the actor has taken on a bit of a melancholic second act, turning to political commentary through artwork as well as a general sense of woe. He's still occasionally aloof, but there's a sense that he's searching for projects with deeper purpose underneath. Kidding is among the first in over a decade that looks to be challenging him, and in the process creating a character that reflects his current behavior. Much like Eternal Sunshine, Kidding is meant to reflect someone who is sad and defeated by life. In some ways, this is Carrey in a nutshell, especially given that both are performers who put on facades for the public.
Gondry's work in the first episode is probably more nuanced than he's known for. There's no elaborate arts-and-crafts style dream sequence a'la The Science of Sleep, nor is there anything out of the ordinary to suggest Mr. Pickles' changing mindset. It's a very normal drama, save for the realization that Carrey needs serious change to feel any form of fulfillment. His strained relationship with his son following the untimely death of his loved ones defines the show's inner struggle, rarely feeling like the gratification that Mr. Pickles needs. In fact, it's the perfect irony for the series, given that Mr. Pickles' job is to reach children. Where is the fulfillment when he fails as a father? It's hard to really say, though the slow decline into madness is part of the show's charm. Carrey has plenty of neuroses on display here and he's able to transcend shtick in favor of deeper emotions. It's the type of work that, in a better world, he would be getting with more success and regularity.
The supporting cast is equally great and presents a world where happiness is at odds constantly with depression. The taboo of talking to children about death gets brought up, and it's clear that nobody except Mr. Pickles wants that. He clearly is reliving some trauma, or acting out something that he wishes he had as a child. The people in his life bring him advice as well as frustration, and it's never clear how he's supposed to cope. Kidding is essentially the famous Pagliacci joke from Watchmen, where a clown is depressed and his only advice is to see himself perform. Who will be there for Mr. Pickles? It doesn't seem at this moment like anyone, though everyone is concerned for his mental health, if just because their careers rest on his sanity. It's all a fascinating dichotomy, and one that Carrey gives tender focus to in ways that he hasn't really done in years.
Kidding has the easy chance to fall into crass novelty by the series' end. Considering that Gondry tends to love abstract artistry, who knows where the story will evolve to as Mr. Pickles becomes more and more depressed. The better question is if this will be what Carrey needs to be taken seriously as a performer again. He needs a project that not only shows him doing great work, but reminds people why he's one of the most underappreciated actors out there, having been snubbed for Oscars on several films now. While Kidding won't get him an Oscar for obvious reasons (this is a TV series), there's a good chance that it could start him on the path back to an enlightened career full of bold chances that pay off. If it doesn't, it at least stands to paint an exploration of depression and anxiety in a light that hasn't often been seen. It's great to have the team behind Eternal Sunshine back, so let's hope that they can pull it off once again.
Kidding seems like easy material for Carrey to mull over. He's playing a children's entertainer who loses his mind. Think someone like Mister Rodgers or Pee-Wee Herman having a manic episode. Considering that Carrey made his reputation on similar characters getting into elaborate freak outs, it's hard to argue against him being the perfect actor for the role. The opening scene takes place at a taping of Conan, where he serenades the audience with one of his many feel-good songs about assurance. The crowd sings along and the idea of him being vulnerable is immediately taken off the table. He's a character with a lot to offer, and his reputation would need something terrible to make him less than the icon Mr. Pickles has achieved over time. Even his smile, which is big and sincere, hides some pain underneath. It isn't clear why there's pain at first, but the smiling faces around him only make that realization all the more sad.
In a lot of ways, this is the kind of role that Carrey has desperately needed in his career. For most of the past decade, he has been at an unprecedented lull in his career without a major hit on par with the first 20 years of his career. Sure, he's had some challenging work (such as I Love You Philip Morris), but what could compare to The Truman Show, The Mask, or of course Eternal Sunshine? Not much when you get down to it. This may be because the actor has taken on a bit of a melancholic second act, turning to political commentary through artwork as well as a general sense of woe. He's still occasionally aloof, but there's a sense that he's searching for projects with deeper purpose underneath. Kidding is among the first in over a decade that looks to be challenging him, and in the process creating a character that reflects his current behavior. Much like Eternal Sunshine, Kidding is meant to reflect someone who is sad and defeated by life. In some ways, this is Carrey in a nutshell, especially given that both are performers who put on facades for the public.
Gondry's work in the first episode is probably more nuanced than he's known for. There's no elaborate arts-and-crafts style dream sequence a'la The Science of Sleep, nor is there anything out of the ordinary to suggest Mr. Pickles' changing mindset. It's a very normal drama, save for the realization that Carrey needs serious change to feel any form of fulfillment. His strained relationship with his son following the untimely death of his loved ones defines the show's inner struggle, rarely feeling like the gratification that Mr. Pickles needs. In fact, it's the perfect irony for the series, given that Mr. Pickles' job is to reach children. Where is the fulfillment when he fails as a father? It's hard to really say, though the slow decline into madness is part of the show's charm. Carrey has plenty of neuroses on display here and he's able to transcend shtick in favor of deeper emotions. It's the type of work that, in a better world, he would be getting with more success and regularity.
The supporting cast is equally great and presents a world where happiness is at odds constantly with depression. The taboo of talking to children about death gets brought up, and it's clear that nobody except Mr. Pickles wants that. He clearly is reliving some trauma, or acting out something that he wishes he had as a child. The people in his life bring him advice as well as frustration, and it's never clear how he's supposed to cope. Kidding is essentially the famous Pagliacci joke from Watchmen, where a clown is depressed and his only advice is to see himself perform. Who will be there for Mr. Pickles? It doesn't seem at this moment like anyone, though everyone is concerned for his mental health, if just because their careers rest on his sanity. It's all a fascinating dichotomy, and one that Carrey gives tender focus to in ways that he hasn't really done in years.
Kidding has the easy chance to fall into crass novelty by the series' end. Considering that Gondry tends to love abstract artistry, who knows where the story will evolve to as Mr. Pickles becomes more and more depressed. The better question is if this will be what Carrey needs to be taken seriously as a performer again. He needs a project that not only shows him doing great work, but reminds people why he's one of the most underappreciated actors out there, having been snubbed for Oscars on several films now. While Kidding won't get him an Oscar for obvious reasons (this is a TV series), there's a good chance that it could start him on the path back to an enlightened career full of bold chances that pay off. If it doesn't, it at least stands to paint an exploration of depression and anxiety in a light that hasn't often been seen. It's great to have the team behind Eternal Sunshine back, so let's hope that they can pull it off once again.
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