Small Town, Big Story

This has been advertised as a "comedy" but 2 episodes in I've yet to even smile. If it was advertised as a drama that would make it a bit better. I suspect all the "funny" bits are in the trailer.

So I've watched 2 episodes and nothing makes any sense. What programme is the Irish born/American producer making? Why are the townspeople so keen on having it made there? What are they actually auditioning for?

I really like Chris O'Dowd but enough to make me watch more episodes? I really, really don't know when there are so many better programmes to watch instead. I might try episode 3 reluctantly.

I heard Chris O'Dowd talking about this show on a podcast. He doesn't make an appearance till episode 4, which is, in my opinion, a missed opportunity. However, Christina Hendrick, and the rest of the mad irish cast, do a great job, especially Paddy Considine, who is marvellous. If you liked Bad Sisters you'll like this, because it has the same crazy vibe. I think the bad reviews are missing the point. It's a piss take, and as such it works well. It's funny, in an off beat way and the cast obviously had a great time making the show. Slight shame that Christina didn't do even a touch of a latent Irish accent.

Chris O'Dowd was great in the It Crowd. And nothing else despite getting some great parts he's proved to be a sh&te actor. Nevertheless I had high hopes of this; a returning Americanised Irishwoman to make a movie in an Irish village. So much material for a darkish comedy! Jesus wept! I couldn't finish the first episode! Did they even rehearse it? The script is witless, the continuity abysmal, like an awful version of Derry Girls. Just goes to show. Sorry Chris but you can't king write or direct. That's a fact. I'm only adding this sentence in the hope that it will reach the required number of characters.

Title: "Small Town Big Story" Genre: Comedy (allegedly)

Review: Welcome to "Small Town Big Story," the TV series that promises to be a comedy but delivers anything but laughs. This show is a masterclass in how not to make people laugh, and it does so with such dedication that you almost have to admire it. Almost.

Let's start with the premise. Ah, the premise. It's as cliché as they come. Picture this: a woman returns to her native Ireland with money to make a movie in a small town that includes her ex and a group of quirky friends, navigating the ups and downs of life with a series of wacky misadventures. Sounds familiar? That's because it is. It's been done a million times before, and "Small Town Big Story" brings absolutely nothing new to the table. It's like the writer took a checklist of every overused sitcom trope and decided to cram them all into one show.

Now, onto the so-called jokes. If you can call them that. The joke deliveries in "Small Town Big Story" are so terrible that they make dad jokes look like comedic gold. The punchlines are predictable, the timing is off, and the humor is so forced that you can practically hear the writer straining to be funny. It's like watching a stand-up comedian bomb on stage, but instead of feeling sympathy, you just feel annoyed.

The camera work is another highlight of this disaster. Or rather, the lack of consistency in the camera work. One moment, you're treated to a close-up of a character's face, and the next, the camera is zooming out so far that you can barely see what's happening. It's as if the cameraman was having a bad day and decided to take it out on the viewers. The result is a visual mess that leaves you feeling dizzy and disoriented.

And then there's the acting. Or should I say, the lack of acting. The performances in "Small Town Big Story" are so thoughtless that you wonder if the actors were even trying. The characters are unbelievable, and not in a good way. They lack depth, personality, and any semblance of relatability. It's like watching cardboard cutouts recite lines with all the enthusiasm of a sloth on a lazy Sunday.

The plot, if you can call it that, goes round and round and gets nowhere. There's no sense of progression or development, and by the end of the first episode, you're left wondering why you wasted your time watching it in the first place.

But perhaps the most disappointing aspect of "Small Town Big Story" is the fact that it was written, directed, and produced by a man who was once a very funny actor. It's like watching a once-great comedian lose their touch and desperately try to recapture their former glory. Unfortunately, the result is a show that falls flat on its face and leaves you cringing in embarrassment.

In conclusion, "Small Town Big Story" is a comedy that fails to deliver on its promise of laughs. With a cliché premise, terrible joke deliveries, inconsistent camera work, thoughtless acting, unbelievable characters, and a plot that goes nowhere, it's a show that should be avoided at all costs. Save yourself the time and find something else to watch. Trust me, you'll thank me later.

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Hollywood producer Wendy Patterson (Christina Hendricks) goes back home to Drumbán, Ireland which she has picked to shoot a big movie. She has a secret connection to local doctor Séamus Proctor (Paddy Considine) after an incident during the Millennial celebration. She hasn't been back in over 20 years.

Chris O'Dowd is the show creator and has a fun supporting role. It's a little odd that Christina Hendricks is playing a returning local. Most people do return to their old accent, but she's probably not going to do Irish well. She is my main issue with this show. Her character has so much resentment that it's hard to have fun with that. I would rather have someone like Aya Cash who is funny when she's angry. I like Paddy Considine's scared acting. Big Jim McDaid needs to be a little funnier although he does have a nice sweet side. I love what Jemima Rowlands adds to his character. This is mildly fun in an off-centered sci-fi premise.