The Shrink Next Door

My Review - The Shrink Next Door - My rating 8/10 I never thought I'd be so impressed with Will Ferrell in a dramatic role this series just proves to me not to judge any actor on one aspect of their career.

Will Ferrell has always seemed to me to be a one dimensional comedian and I have to admit I've found him irritating.

Not so anymore his role as the shy impressionable self deprecating Jewish businessman Marty Markowitz ripe for exploitation and manipulation by psychiatrist Ike played by Paul Rudd was a revelation to me.

If this was a movie instead of an 8 part television series both actors would be up for Academy Award consideration in my opinion.

The premise of the Shrink Next Door based on a podcast and TV series both based on the real life story of psychiatrist Isaac Herschkopf, who in 2021 was determined by New York's Department of Health to have violated "minimal acceptable standards of care in the psychotherapeutic relationship.

For this viewer it was like watching a spider coax its willing prey into its web then attacking .

In this case the spider is Ike the Psych not killing but stealing the life of its prey gullible Marty by alienating his willing victim from family and friends until any semblance of self reliance is extinguished.

The Shrink Next Door is not a heavy drama it has moments of great warmth and insight and a wonderful script by 3 women and 3 men.

The Directors Jesse Peretz and Michael Showalter have skilfully created the best series featuring a male duet performance I've seen this year both Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd are mesmerising in the creation of these complex characters I found myself wondering who was the more unwell the patient or the Psychiatrist?

I'm so glad I was recommended by a friend to watch this wonderful series

Ps Kathryn Hahn is wonderful as Marty's feisty sister a great character performance.

Been waiting for this and was not disappointed. I think every review should come with an age. I'm 44 and they don't make them like they used too.

I thought this was intelligentl, interesting and well acted. I love Will Ferrell, I think he is a comedy genius (sometimes) and I think he can turn his act to seriousness when the time calls for it. He's somewhere InBetween here. Really enjoying this show and Paul Rudd is fantastic too.

So much rubbish that disappoints but I'm looking forward to each episode.

This show is not a barrel of laughs and it's not supposed to be. I saw one reviewer wrote "Jewish people are funny and this should be a laugh riot." I'm not sure if that reviewer is Jewish or not, but either way, seriously? Sorry to sound like Joe Pesci, but are we clowns to you? Sorry the Jews and Jewish characters in the show didn't do their job of cracking you up. News flash: sometimes clowns are sad underneath!

This show is funny at times, but it isn't really a comedy. At most, it's a dark comedy. It's based on a true story of how a person was ruinously manipulated by an unethical therapist who needed therapy himself. You're chuckling one moment and cringing the next, which is exactly the reaction you should be having. In that sense, the show succeeds.

I'm not saying it's perfect. It can be slow at times, and Ferrell's other characters peep through quite a bit. He isn't the strongest player on the show, but he's committed and convincing enough. Paul Rudd is kind of a revelation as the smarmy climber who fools everyone, including his very lovely wife and to some degree even himself, into thinking he's doing good work on behalf of Ferrell's Marty. And Kathryn Hahn is Marty's sister Phyllis is terrific.

Don't watch it if you're looking for a lighthearted cynical romp. This is nuanced human drama about people, family, ethics, ambition, class and social machinations. It's complicated, dark, sometimes shocking and yes, sometimes funny. It's a very smart and engaging show with strong performances that sneaks up on you.

Paul Rudd and Will Ferrel are are exceptional together in this; it's interesting to see a more dramatic version of the characters. A perfect representation of mental breakdowns or any other underlining stress related experiences. I'm loving the series so far and I hope many more do too!

... but that doesn't mean it's bad. The negative reviews reflect people's expectations, not the quality of the show.

"Not realistic" ... says one review. Problem Is, it's based on a true story.

"Not funny" ... but it's not supposed to be. Two mostly comedic actors play the two leading roles. Their comedic chops make the representation of these two characters pretty ideal. Farrell's innocence and Rudd's slick cockiness really work for these two people.

Watch as long as you're ready to be infuriated from watching the story of an influential man take advantage of a naive person who has never learned to stand up for himself. The fact you get infuriated means Farrell and Rudd are doing a great job.