Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Review

What would you do if you're a flailing US TV network looking for great comedy show idea and living comedy legend Tina Fey comes up to you and tells you she has an idea for a new show? A show similar to 30 Rock but with more room for character growth and little more risky. Well, if you are NBC you would order it and then tell her you're not interested. Jerk move. Luckily for all of us, Netflix took her and co-creator Robert Carlock in and made the quirky, charming and highly binge-able Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

The series starts with Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper) living in an underground bomb shelter with three other women in the belief that the apocalypse has wiped all life on the surface. Cut to 2015 where the four women are rescued and set free from their crazy cult leader. While on a talk-show in New York Kimmy decides to start her new life there. She moves in with a highly flamboyant gay man (D'Fwan from 30 Rock) and starts working as a nanny for a vain trophy wife (Jane Krakowski).

Kimmy is a happy-go-lucky fish out of water learning to adapt to this new world with the help of her new friends, despite their mostly selfish and narcissistic personalities. Kimmy takes it all with her trademark smile countering their cynical views with her unflinching optimism and confidence.

Kemper is fantastic as Kimmy. She was born to play characters brimming with happiness (see Erin from The Office). As Kimmy she is strong, naïve but not ditzy, which could have easily happened if not for the masterful writing of Fey. Krakowski is good as Jenna Jacqueline who is almost like a parallel version of her 30 Rock character but with more room for personal growth. Tituss Buress plays Kimmy's room mate and who was hilarious as D'Fwan in 30 Rock as this meme will demonstrate:

As Titus Andromedon I thought I would tire of the stereotypical over-flamboyant gay best friend but to UKS's credit his character slowly reveals he is more than wild gesticulations and pouting lips. Glimpses of his history and other facets of his personality are probably some of the funniest moments of the show. The show peppers you with random jokes that come thick and fast (similar to 30 Rock) be it for a silly giggle or lampooning society – especially entitled rich white people. It's 50/50 hit and miss on the jokes for my taste but it's still pretty great.

If the irreverent comedy of 30 Rock was your thing then Kimmy Schmidt should be on your radar. I found the first few episodes a little slow but enjoyable then as it progressed the comedy was more hit than miss. Especially the episode where Kimmy has a birthday party bringing all the characters together and producing some of the funniest television I have seen in a long time.

I'd like to throw in a quick caution of how catchy the auto-tune theme song is and how it will stick in your head for ever! You will be singing “Unbreakable, it's a miracle!” Trust me. As similar as this is to 30 Rock in humour and characters it does feel like a different show. The premise allows the characters greater scope for growth than 30 Rock could ever allow. It will be interesting to see where they go with these characters.

And with Netflix already greenlighting a second season I cannot wait to see where Kimmy's life leads us.

#movies #review #unbreakable #30Rock #tinafey