In the world of comedy, few names carry as much weight as Armando Iannucci. The mastermind behind such biting satires as The Thick of It, Veep, and Succession, Iannucci has established himself as a force to be reckoned with when it comes to skewering the powerful and the privileged. So, when news broke that he would be setting his sights on the superhero genre with his latest project, The Franchise, expectations were understandably high. Unfortunately, despite a valiant effort from one exceptional actor, the series fails to reach the comedic heights we’ve come to expect from Iannucci and his team.
A Promising Premise Falls Flat
The Franchise follows the chaotic production of a second-tier superhero movie at the fictional Maximum Studios. With a creative team comprised of many of the same individuals responsible for Iannucci’s previous successes, the series seemed poised to deliver a scathing and hilarious indictment of the superhero-obsessed Hollywood machine. However, despite covering all the potential pitfalls and absurdities of making a genre movie, The Franchise ultimately fails to land its punches.
A Distinct Lack of Laughter
The most glaring issue with The Franchise is its surprising dearth of truly great jokes. While there are scattered moments of cleverness and the occasional chuckle-worthy line, the series never achieves the gut-busting hilarity that has become Iannucci’s trademark. After a particularly laugh-free pilot episode, viewers are left wondering where the punchlines are supposed to be, a question that remains largely unanswered as the series progresses.
“Apart from the circus joke and Dan’s occasional pleas to stay true to the source material, there is no sense of love for the art or the craft they are all involved in.”
– According to a close source
A Standout Star Shines Bright
If there is one bright spot in The Franchise, it is the performance of Lolly Adefope as the charmingly acerbic third assistant director, Dag. Adefope brings a much-needed spark to the proceedings, imbuing even the most mundane lines with a delightfully deadpan delivery that elevates every scene she’s in. Her comedic timing and effortless charisma serve as a reminder of what the series could have been had it managed to maintain that level of quality throughout.
A Repetitive Slog
Unfortunately, even Adefope’s standout performance isn’t enough to save The Franchise from its own tedium. As the series progresses, it becomes increasingly repetitive, with each episode rehashing the same litany of on-set disasters and creative disagreements. The lack of character development and the absence of any meaningful relationships between the protagonists only serves to compound this issue, leaving viewers with little to invest in beyond the occasional clever quip or sight gag.
A Missed Opportunity
In the end, The Franchise feels like a missed opportunity. With such a talented creative team and a premise ripe for satire, it’s disappointing to see the series fail to live up to its potential. Instead of offering a biting critique of the superhero genre and the Hollywood machine that perpetuates it, The Franchise ends up feeling like little more than a series of loosely connected sketches, each less funny than the last.
“The overall experience is, ironically, rather like that of watching a second- or third-tier superhero movie. Relentless noise and fury signifying, in the end, not quite enough.”
– According to a close source
A Disappointing Effort from a Comedy Powerhouse
It’s hard not to feel let down by The Franchise, especially given the pedigree of its creative team. Armando Iannucci and his collaborators have proven time and again that they are capable of delivering sharp, insightful, and downright hilarious satire. However, this latest effort feels more like a first draft than a polished final product, a collection of half-formed ideas and missed opportunities that never quite coalesces into a satisfying whole.
While The Franchise may have its moments, particularly when Lolly Adefope is on screen, it ultimately fails to live up to the high standards set by its creators’ previous work. For fans of Iannucci and his particular brand of biting wit, this series may prove to be a disappointing and forgettable entry in an otherwise stellar career. One can only hope that his next project will see him return to the form that made him one of the most respected names in comedy.
