This timid sitcom set in the last ever video rental store has such a dated feel. In the age of streaming services, this isn’t good enough
hose of us old enough to remember the ceremony of renting a film at the weekend may be curious to see what nostalgia Blockbuster is able to conjure up. It hangs its coat, loosely, on the story told by the 2020 documentary The Last Blockbuster, about the final US outpost of the rental chain, but instead turns it into a gentle workplace sitcom so softly spoken you practically have to lean in to hear what it is saying.
That’s a shame, because nostalgia aside, there is plenty of material that could have turned this into a potentially fresh prospect. Boss Timmy has worked at his local Blockbuster since high school, and now owns the store. In the first episode, as the corporate overlords finally go bust, Timmy’s store becomes.
Maybe it is unfair to expect this to be a spiky dark comedy, despite its themes. I think it is aiming to be a warm workplace comedy, and it has all those elements in place: the hapless yet lovable boss, a spark of romantic tension between colleagues, an ensemble of characters with their tics and quirks. Connie is the older employee, a cosy grandma type who casually reveals shocking truths about her life, such as a sister imprisoned in South America for over a decade.
Blockbuster is perfectly pleasant, in an old-fashioned way, which is, perhaps, appropriate. It feels like a sitcom from long ago, where gentle quips and mild slapstick were enough to fill half an hour of pre-watershed television. But the streaming age has put an end to that, and there is now so much choice, doled out by algorithms, that to be fine no longer seems like enough.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Canada orders China to divest from country’s mining companiesMove comes after ‘multi-step’ review by Canada’s national security and intelligence agencies
Read more »
Matt Canavan says Labor are 'trapped in a 1970s time warp'Nationals Senator Matt Canavan has slammed the Albanese government for not addressing issues that 'concern Australians the most' amid cost of living crisis pressures across the country.
Read more »
Macquarie corrals PE-heavy field for Jeld-Wen; bids nearCorporate carve out-hungry Australian private equity firms have stepped up their chase at windows and doors maker Jeld-Wen Australia, with indicative bids due to auctioneer Macquarie Capital next week.
Read more »
NSW cop allegedly caught almost five times over drink-driving limit after crashA NSW Police officer's job is under review after he allegedly crashed a car while almost five times over the blood-alcohol limit. 9News
Read more »