Review: ‘Nobody Wants This’? More like nobody wants you to root for love more
As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the rich tapestry of cinematic history, I find myself deeply intrigued by the unique and refreshingly authentic portrayal of Jewish culture in “Nobody Wants This“. Coming from a background where Yiddish was more than just a bit that occasionally dropped into dialogue, I can appreciate the depth and nuance this series brings to a genre often lacking in specificity.
In the 1920s, a comedy titled “Abie’s Irish Rose” – a story about a Jewish man and his Catholic wife causing family upheaval – ran for over five years on Broadway despite unfavorable critiques. Robert Benchley, a theater critic for Life magazine at the time, remarked, “Nights filled with laughter is why democracy can never be successful.
In 1972, CBS reintroduced this idea under the title “Bridget Loves Bernie.” The series centered around a Jewish man who married a Catholic woman, which caused some debate at the time. Interestingly, the actors playing the couple, David Birney and Meredith Baxter, ended up marrying each other in real life.
Now, following a suitable cooling-off phase, we have the upcoming release on Netflix titled “Nobody Wants This,” set to premiere this Thursday. The title is bold and daring. In it, Kristen Bell portrays a kind non-religious Gentile girl, while Adam Brody takes on the role of a Jewish boy who happens to be a rabbi. As in previous versions, you’ll find yourself cheering them on, as they are both charming and attractive characters. The series undeniably screams “romantic comedy!” Bell is renowned for her sweet demeanor with a touch of sassiness, while Brody delivers lines effortlessly, making each one sound spontaneous despite the scripted nature of the production.
Initially: Noah suddenly ends things with his fiancée Rebecca (Emily Arlook), as he unexpectedly discovers her wearing an engagement ring that was kept in a locked drawer and wasn’t officially given to her yet. Joanne experiences the series of unlucky dates that are characteristic of rom-com heroines, before finding herself in a more meaningful relationship. At a gathering hosted by a mutual acquaintance, they exchange flirtatious banter, resolve past issues, and eventually start dating. Despite initial apprehensions, they manage to stay together for the most part.
The story is playful and enjoyable, featuring characters that are endearing or grow on you over time. Along their journey, they’ll encounter obstacles, but these hurdles are mostly surmountable. Once the relationship between Noah and Joanne is solidified, it seems destined to succeed, until towards the end when significant challenges arise, forcing them to confront serious issues. Both Noah and Joanne are sincere individuals whose honesty eliminates a key element of sitcoms – deception. Instead, the tension comes from fearing the plot may follow predictable paths more than worrying about the fate of the couple. Fortunately, the story deviates from these patterns more often than not, offering a pleasant surprise.
In a typical romantic comedy, you’d find oddball companions like friends and family members. Noah is accompanied by his brother Sasha (Timothy Simons from “Veep”), who’s more laid-back than ambitious, a wife Esther (Jackie Tohn), a daughter Miriam (Shiloh Bearman) whose bat mitzvah will be pivotal, and they all add to the story. Joanne’s sister Morgan (Justine Lupe from “Succession”), described as both her best friend and worst enemy, is also present, and their affectionate squabbles are a part of the mix. As secondary characters, Sasha and Morgan share some humorous moments without having to carry the main plot. I’d enjoy watching them star in their own series!
1
2
Timothy Simons portrays Noah’s brother, Sasha. (Credit: Adam Rose / Netflix)
Joanne and Morgan co-host the widely acclaimed podcast “Nobody Wants This,” which delves into topics related to sex. However, it’s not just about sex as Joanne often emphasizes; she wants their listeners to feel empowered. In essence, it embodies the principles of fourth-wave feminism. They are on the brink of a deal with Spotify, potentially making them as wealthy as the family of Noah, although they seem to be doing quite well financially even without this agreement (much like Erin Foster and her sister Sara who co-host “The World’s First Podcast”).
a compassionate father (Paul Ben-Victor) and a mother (Tovah Feldshuh) who can be rather stern. It’s the latter who exclaims “shiksa!” upon seeing Joanne with Noah at the temple. (“Shiksa” is technically an offensive Jewish term for a non-Jewish woman, but these days it just means attractive and non-Jewish, as Noah explains. Joanne finds this fitting description quite apt.”)
All the resistance, beyond Morgan habitually giving her sister a hard time (“You’re sort of a bad person, relative to a man of God … I could see you with a cult leader.”), comes from Noah’s more insular world — it seems a little heavy-handed at times, but as a secular Jew married to a lapsed Catholic, I don’t run in those circles. So I don’t know.
(Let me say, though, that you can’t judge a shiksa by her cover. Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lauren Bacall, Tina Louise, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Lisa Kudrow, Peggy Lipton — all Jewish. Also, Joanne doesn’t know what “shalom” means? And you might like to know, because I looked it up, that rabbis, depending on the denomination, do marry outside the faith.)
There has always been plenty of Jewishness in screen culture, from the Marx Brothers to Mel Brooks, from Sid Caesar to “Seinfeld” to “Broad City,” “Brooklyn Bridge” to “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” The first talking picture, “The Jazz Singer,” starred Al Jolson as a cantor’s son who wanted to go pop. Yet historically it’s been more often implied than specific. (I am always gratified when a bit of Yiddish drops into dialogue.) That religion, or lack of it, enters into the story in a fairly substantial way, makes “Nobody Wants This” a member of a relatively small club, setting it apart from most romantic comedies — though of course the couple-from-different-worlds angle is a pillar of the form, a cornerstone of the culture, which in itself knows no race, creed or religion. We’re suckers for that stuff. “Abie’s Irish Rose” played 2,327 performances.
Read More
- TOMI PREDICTION. TOMI cryptocurrency
- Silver Rate Forecast
- HoK X EWC 2024: KPL Dream Team won without dropping a single game
- Fortnite Esports World Cup 2024: Live results and standings
- XRP AUD PREDICTION. XRP cryptocurrency
- SEI PREDICTION. SEI cryptocurrency
- CTSI PREDICTION. CTSI cryptocurrency
- ID PREDICTION. ID cryptocurrency
- KIN PREDICTION. KIN cryptocurrency
- JPEG PREDICTION. JPEG cryptocurrency
2024-09-26 21:31