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You don’t have to watch a minute of Kevin James’ new Netflix series, “The Crew,” to know exactly what the show looks like. From showrunner Jeff Lowell (“The Ranch”), the workplace comedy stars James as Kevin, the clumsy team leader of an intermediate Nascar racing team, whose job gets much more complicated. after the team owner retires and puts his millennial daughter Catherine (Jillian Mueller) in charge.
Like most of James’ characters, Kevin is a self-deprecating man-child who enjoys old-school values, cheap beer, and protecting the status quo, making it the challenge of listening to his new boss progressive. A Stanford graduate who found success in Silicon Valley, Catherine has little in common with her new hires, but brings to the table several strategic and forward-thinking ideas about how the team might get out of its rut and become real contenders for the race. However, no member of the crew has an interest in listening to Catherine, and the majority of the season has been spent with Kevin leading the charge to undermine Catherine at every turn, with Kevin preferring to allow mediocrity rather than seek out the most. high levels of success (a sentiment that could also speak to James’ apparent approach to his career).
A consistent line in James’ television work is the consideration of a man who struggles to understand that the world he grew up in, including his perception of masculinity and gender roles, is becoming obsolete. But as the world has changed in the 14 years that have passed since “The King of Queens” ceased broadcasting, it seems James’ perspective on these matters has not changed. In addition to Catherine, “The Crew” features a promising young driver, Jessie (Paris Berelec), as a rival to the current team driver Jake (Freddie Stroma). While Jake is a scattered idiot whose compulsion to hit every prominent woman (including his new boss) is presented as a laughable quirk and not harassment, Jessie is focused, responsible, and up to any task at hand. is entrusted. Yet, after one of Jessie’s runs, Kevin dismisses the fans lined up to meet her as nothing more than “old guys who want to hit her,” which is just one of the many ways women are constantly belittled and ridiculed in the series.
The main theme of “The Crew” is that of men bristling against the fact that it is unfair to be forced to listen or share space with young women. And as Kevin begins to take into account his own biases, it’s nothing more than a hollow gesture that still portrays him as the show’s moral hero. Watching “The Crew”, it’s hard not to imagine how more interesting the comedy could have been if it had been told from Catherine’s perspective and explored the experiences of a woman sailing around this boy’s club in. old school and discovering his untapped passion for sports. Perhaps the show then could have helped Nascar expand its fan base and attract a younger generation. Instead, the show assumes viewers will firmly identify with Kevin, whose battle with clearly needed improvements makes him a difficult character to support despite James’ innate charisma and comedic timing.
If there’s one bright spot in “The Crew,” it’s Sarah Stiles, who plays Beth, the team’s office manager, and the interest shown in Kevin. As Beth, Stiles is bubbling with energy and charm, and watching her make the most of the lackluster scripts of “The Crew” leaves you excited to see what she could do if given better material. Rounding out the cast are Gary Anthony Williams and Dan Ahdoot, who get a few good one-liners as crew members Chuck and Amir, respectively, but whose characters remain largely underdeveloped and reside firmly on the periphery of the series. .
One thing that gets the featured treatment in “The Crew” is product placement. While there are times when promotions make contextual sense, like when Jake yells out all his sponsors in an interview, others are so blatant they would be laughable if you didn’t tremble at the amount presumably made by them. agreements. The series premiere even features a Dunkin ‘Donuts placement so heavy that Ben Affleck’s love for the brand seems understated.
Not so long ago, “The Crew” would have looked like a conventional sitcom. But now it looks like a relic from a time we’re lucky to have abandoned. While the half-hour-long comedy has evolved far beyond the blueprint that “The Crew” follows, there will always be a market for traditional multi-camera sitcoms that prefer broad humor to biting commentary or pathos. anchor. But there’s no reason these shows have to sacrifice quality or rely on lazy, misogynistic jokes to be successful.
“The Crew” premiered February 15 on Netflix.
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