Photo Courtesy of www.movieline.com
By Jesse Cohen
Community, follows the trials and tribulations of a diverse group of students who find themselves in a strange place in their lives called Community College. Community is depicted as both a ridiculous romp with its entertaining eccentric teachers and silly circumstances as well as a heartfelt look into characters with real obstacles. Its main character, Joel McHale, played by Jeff Winger is a brilliant cheater, and only now has to learn how to put in real work, both personally with his classwork and with his friends. The girl he seeks after, Britta, cannot be cheated; and throughout the three episodes, he learns how to face things without any copied answers. He finds the value in friends like Pierce (Chevy Chase), a middle-aged free thinking ex -CEO as well as the young Arab, pop culture-fiend, Abed (Danny Pudi), while he is forced to find hidden value in himself along plot lines.
Community lacks most of the subtlety and quiet tone of The Office, but perhaps community college is a less subtle working environment. This show would not serve any purpose as a documentary, as it will go to any extreme to create an atmosphere for the chosen show’s theme. It is difficult to, at first, get into its absurd activity as is a detriment to many sitcoms. But once the absurdity is embraced, you could be in for an enjoyable 20 minutes. Sometimes the dialogue is too blatant, commenting on some student’s demographic to a point of a seemingly patronizing effect toward the audience, but remember all of America is watching.
Though the show is not a hilarious and ingenious reflection of campus life, it has its moments. These moments, among the ridiculous happenings that its writers have come together and composed, are moments that keep an audience interested, and keep its characters relevant to living life. These heartfelt moments are funny as well. Thrown in are strange comic lines coming in from left field that keep the characters relevant amid some of the unnecessary commentary. A sort of continuity builds from these instances. During the pilot, after characters in Joel’s study group are arguing, Abed awkwardly recites lines from The Breakfast Club, illustrating the group’s dynamic as well as putting his pop culture obsessions and overall personality to light.
The actors are obviously very good and all have great comic timing. Particularly Chevy Chase’s character, Pierce, is well executed by the actor. He has a great knowledge of his character who tries to get close with Joel McHale, and relive his life at the college after having spent a great amount of time improving business relations all his life. Pierce’s strange elderly presence and cosmically buzzed mind is a great addition to the cast.
Other characters include a former high school football star trying to manage his image, a middle-aged African American divorcee, a high school pill popper, an Asian Spanish teacher, a clumsy dean and a generally wild accounting teacher. The blend of characters is very reminiscent of most community colleges; and when they get together, stereotypes are addressed made fun of and explored. However, the aspects that are best addressed by this show is their personal struggle, and this is where the appropriate wit comes across well.
Community has aired three episodes thus far, and runs on Thursdays on NBC at 8 p.m.
