Bridge and Tunnel

After waiting for the yet-to-be released film, Summertime, Bridge and Tunnel is either a way-station or this will replace the film. I'm probably one of the biggest fans of anything Burns does and I was very excited for the B and T premiere.

I like it, I didn't love it. But I think my mind will change seeing as how it was only episode one. It's "talkie" like any Burns project would be with the right amount of f-bombs and attitude. The acting was a little overzealous by the college graduates and you can tell none of them are professional smokers (sorry but c'mon). But the biggest pro for me was it did strike a nostalgic chord, putting me back in the 80's past when it comes to a relationship that might not go anywhere.

I'm hopeful as I absolutely love anything Ed Burns does even it's just cameos.

Many years ago I watched a movie by Edward Burns called "Sidewalks of New York" - and I absolutely hated it. I thought it was total trash. Art imitating much better art by much better directors.

The other day, the above movie popped into my head, and I googled the director... As it turns out, Edward Burns has just made a TV show! Why would I watch it when I hated his movie so much all those years ago? Honestly, I have no idea.

Cut to now. I've just watched the first episode. Lo and behold; it was heaps of fun. Despite some scathing reviews and a very low score of Rotten Tomatoes, I thought it was an enjoyable, nostalgic 30 min romp through fork-in-the-road troubles of youth.

The beer flows, the cast are young and unrealistically sexy, F-bombs are dropped every 5 seconds, and there's plenty of angsty pathos woven into the story. It reminds me a little of the Tv show "Togetherness" - sort of a Woody Allen-ish cast of characters directed with a mumblecore sensibility.

It won't be everyone's cup of tea. But for me, I say turn off your brain and enjoy the ride. It's a lot of fun (so far at least).

** Update ** Four episodes in and I'm still enjoying it... but I do acknowledge the one-track story is starting to drag a little, and a few clunky scenes (particularly with the parents going on dates) bring this one down to a 7/10. Still a lot of fun though.

*After watching more, I may come back and update this review.

I watched Bridge and Tunnel blind-only knew it was an Ed Burns project-and initially thought the characters had just graduated high school, not college.

After two episodes, I wonder: is their collective, extreme arrested development supposed to be the only (charming?) point? Because their JV mentality and acting makes every thin-on-the-ground 'serious' discussion feel like it drifted in from another show.

How someone with Ed Burns' experience and success could go so far over the line between adult-adjacent and shrill kids is honestly puzzling. The tone is just off; even the nostalgia flows crooked. Burns errs w/the '80s slang and period details.

At least Ed Burns as wise, cursing father is a rewarding, if brief, presence. Besides his son/protagonist Jimmy, the strongest character by far is the music.

A drama series about 6 young adults set in the 80s. Its about their relationships, uni and work.

Based on the first 2 episodes its ok, nothing to write home about. Its just attractive people hooking up, and nothing much deeper than that yet. The acting is fine & production and wardrobe (for the time period) are well done.

I will say that Sam Vartholomeos is the highlight of the 6 leads. He has a little more to work with than the rest of the cast, and he also has a great screen presence.

I'm a fan of Edward Burns and really loved The Brothers McMullen and She's the One. Unfortunately, the first episode of Bridge and Tunnel comes across as stale and uninteresting. The writing is okay but the performances by the cast are forced, plastic and often overacted. The characters don't feel authentic. Hopefully, the problems in the first episode will be ironed out in the coming episodes and the actors can find a way to become more natural in their respective roles. I'll give the show a chance because of Burns but I'm not too optimistic at this point.