Movies (or television) about the entertainment industry can prove challenging to produce. In some cases, they can feel like nothing more than a vanity project. Thankfully, stories in that vein, such as The Player and The Larry Sanders Show have proved this formula’s effectiveness with the right talent involved. Thirty-three years after those films, it was only a matter of time before the “movies about movies” content came back to the front and center. The only difference is that, instead of a film, Seth Rogen’s latest Apple TV+ series, The Studio attempts the same feat.
The Studio follows Matt Remick (Seth Rogen), who stumbles on the opportunity of a lifetime. Matt takes up the mantle after his mentor, Patty (Catherine O’Hara), leaves her post as head of Continental Studios. With a whole film studio at his control, Matt realizes there’s more to Hollywood than he expected. Matt begins to see the cogs in the machine in an ever-evolving industry (eerily mirroring the industry today) on the brink of devastation. That could seem to some as a serious downer of a television series. In actuality, The Studio is an uproariously hilarious love letter to Hollywood.
The biggest credit goes to the show’s creators, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. It’s pretty easy to tell that both Rogen and Goldberg have a deep love for Hollywood as an industry. They celebrate the process of filmmaking and emphasize the effort it takes to create a film. It celebrates the artistic process while also highlighting the ridiculous trials and tribulations that come with it. Simultaneously, with an undying love for the industry, one wonders if The Studio could feel like a vanity project.
If you think that way, then to put it simply, The Studio won’t be for you. Fans of Seth Rogen’s typical stoner, man-child adjacent comedies will be easily lured in. In reality, the show’s humor works on a more intellectual level than those fans expect. It will be a disarming element for Rogen’s typical fanbase, which could make or break the viewing experience. That’s not to deny that if you like zany humor (like Seth Rogen’s comical pratfalls he’s known for), you’ll get that in The Studio. Those moments are funny, but won’t be enough for some to make it through the whole series. Being someone who regularly reviews both movies and films, it’s hard to find content that has it all.
To make a full disclosure, Seth Rogen has been a pinnacle component of my cinephilia. Besides just the expected stoner comedies that kept me grinning ear to ear in my youth, it’s been interesting to see Rogen’s maturity as a creative person in front of and behind the camera. He’s someone who’s been in this industry for quite some time and understands the elaborate inner workings that go with it. That sort of insight makes his performance as Matt Remick all the more satisfying, particularly with Matt’s naivety about how things are done.
He is someone who aspires to be universally loved, in a world (Hollywood) that simply doesn’t work that way. Instead, Matt’s attempts to “make friends” (both personally and professionally) often come across poorly to everyone. For those who haven’t seen the series, I want to avoid mentioning the numerous celebrity cameos that appear in it. What can be said is that with every interaction, it essentially involves Matt meeting one of his heroes. Seeing how these interactions involve Matt trying to impress them delivers laugh-out-loud moments. Rogen knows how to extract awkward humor from an interaction, never crossing into uncomfortable and unfunny territory. It’s an engaging performance that wouldn’t work without the supporting cast.
Surrounding Rogen include actors Catherine O’Hara, Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn, Chase Sui Wonders, and Bryan Cranston. Compared to Rogen, these supporting performances work as a counterbalance. They are much bigger, louder, and more aggressive with their comedy. With a lesser quality of actors, such an array of performances shouldn’t work at all. Instead, each performance seamlessly works together, particularly in the series’ many long Aaron Sorkin-like takes. When those moments occur, the series pulses with an indescribably fun energy. That raises one question on the minds of viewers: Can that momentum last over ten episodes?
For the most part, The Studio succeeds in maintaining that bombastic and silly energy throughout. That is, even when there is a massive sag in the middle of the season. When the series deviates from the creative process, it becomes less interesting. Some moments sing, but don’t have the same punch that starts the series or finishes it. It can be best described as air being let out of a balloon with a sudden pop, resulting in a rapid deflation. Such episodes don’t ruin the experience, but lessen the impact of the fun and humor. Granted, for fans already on the ride, that lesser middle portion shouldn’t serve as a massive deterrent.
In my 9+ years of reviewing Movies and TV, it’s hard to recall how many shows and movies I’ve felt were made for me. That is why The Studio proves itself as a diamond in the rough. The series demonstrates itself as something designed for die-hard fans (like myself) who love the creative process of movie-making. Those looking for a more straightforward comedy could be sorely disappointed. Instead, the show prides itself on being an inside look into a chaotic industry. With the cast Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have assembled, it’s relatively easy to go along on the ride. If you’re not a lover of this sort of thing, The Studio may feel like Hollywood giving itself a pat on the back. Whereas if you’re already a fan of the medium, you couldn’t ask for a better show on streaming.
The Studio is now streaming weekly on Apple TV+.
Learn more about the show, including how to watch, on the Apple TV+ site for the title.
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