Chicago Party Aunt on Netflix is all about Chicago but nothing about being funny
I wanted to laugh. I really did.
I wanted it to be funny. I really did.
I wanted to like it. I really did.
It was none of the above.
If you're a regular on Twitter, especially if you're from Chicago, you most likely are familiar with the Chicago Party Aunt account. She, which is really written by a he, is a born and bred almost middle-aged woman, who acts as if she's still in her twenties. She's familiar with most of the city's celebrities and by familiar, I mean she acts more than a little slutty....nothing wrong with that. The Twitter account is fairly funny and somewhat tawdry. It's a good combination.
The creator of the account, Chris Witaske, and Netflix hooked up to create an animated series. Eight episodes were released on September 17.
Among the good things are plenty of Chicago-centric locales and celebs. Hot dogs, beef sandwiches and pizza references aplenty. Wrigley Field and Northwestern Hospital. The Bears, Ditka, Scottie Pippen and even WGN weatherman Tom Skilling. It's a fun animated look at the city, especially if you're a northside resident...and by northside, I mean Lakeview and Lincoln Park.
It's a good cast, too. They're led by Lauren Ash in the lead role as the Chicago Party Aunt. Others include Rory O'Malley, as her nephew who lives with her, RuPaul as her boss at the hair salon, and even Witaske takes a role as her two-time ex-husband. Yeah, the Chicago accents are extreme but I think they're meant to be portrayed that way.
But, whatever is good about the show is overshadowed by one thing.....IT'S NOT FUNNY! A comedy is supposed to have some laughs and there are none. I binged the first six episodes and snickered a couple of times but even those were forced. I took a week-long break to think about the program. Maybe it was me? After all, I did see some reviews, especially on Twitter, from people who loved it and couldn't wait for season two. I came back with an open mind and nope, it wasn't me. The last two episodes were even less funny than the first six.
Here's the deal....what is cute and fun when it's done in less than two hundred characters doesn't hold up over a twenty-five-minute episode.
I wanted to laugh. I really did.
I wanted it to be funny. I really did.
I wanted to like it. I really did.
It was none of the above.
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