Kevin Review: A Catastrophic Comedy That Misses Every Mark
Prime Video's new adult animation series, Kevin, has landed with a thud, drawing scathing criticism for its poor execution despite an impressive lineup of talent. The show, co-created by comedian Joe Wengert and actress Aubrey Plaza, follows the titular self-doubting house cat as he navigates life after his owners' breakup by moving into a chaotic pet rescue centre.
A Stellar Cast Cannot Salvage a Flawed Script
The series boasts a voice cast that includes Jason Schwartzman as Kevin, Amy Sedaris as the Napoleonic power-pug Brandi, and John Waters as a louche Persian cat named Armando. Additional roles feature Patti LuPone, Cary Elwes, and Whoopi Goldberg as Cupcake, a brassy alley cat with intimacy issues. However, critics argue that this star-studded ensemble is wasted on a script described as blunderingly crude and mean-spirited.
Viewers have reported that the show's attempts at emotional depth fall flat, with punchlines collapsing mid-delivery and jokes that make little sense. One example cited is Cupcake's explanation of her name: "Because if you like what's on the bottom, you are insane!" This line, among others, has been labelled as nonsensical rather than humorous.
Plot and Characterisation Under Fire
Kevin centres on an unremarkable cat living in New York City with a human couple, Dana and Dan. After their split, Kevin experiences an existential crisis and moves into the Furrever Friends rescue centre in Queens, run by the tyrannical dog Brandi and her human partner, Seth. There, he encounters a host of misfits, including the ageing rake Armando and the drug-snorting Cupcake.
Critics have highlighted the show's reliance on crude humour, such as repeated references to Kevin's prolapsed anus, which is treated as a running gag. Storylines include mundane events like The Air Conditioning Breaks Down Briefly and absurd ones like focusing on the size of a squirrel's scrotum, leading to accusations of a wasteland of imagination.
Lack of Direction and Empathy
The series appears uncertain whether to embrace gleeful grossness, akin to Big Mouth, or delve into emotionally profound dramedy, like BoJack Horseman. Its failure to commit to either, combined with a preference for cruelty over empathy, results in a disjointed and unsatisfying viewing experience. Character development is notably absent, with peripheral figures like a sad horse attempting to show her bum adding to the confusion.
Overall, Kevin has been dismissed as an irretrievably bad show that squanders its potential. Critics urge viewers to avoid it, calling for it to serve as a cautionary tale in animation. The series is currently available for streaming on Prime Video, but many hope it will be quickly forgotten.
