99 Words About … The lazy coarseness of ‘Happyish’
Steve Coogan as Thom in Happyish (Season 1, Episode 2). - Photo: Mark Schafer/SHOWTIME - Photo ID: happyish_102_01847.R
“Happyish” (9:30 p.m. Sunday, Showtime) was supposed to star Philip Seymour Hoffman.
His death cast a pall over the series.
So does the writing.
Despite some interesting insights into aging and happiness — Hoffman’s replacement, Steve Coogan, is told he may just have a low “joy ceiling” — the off-puttingly dark comedy is hamstrung by a lazy coarseness.
A particular vulgarity for a part of the female anatomy is uttered nine times. Another word for anus is thrown around 18 times. And the F-bomb is dropped 59 times. And that’s just in the first 30 minutes.
The result is merely “cleverish.”
— CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE
