Small Town, Big Story

I heard Chris O'Dowd talking about this show on a podcast. He doesn't make an appearance till episode 4, which is, in my opinion, a missed opportunity. However, Christina Hendrick, and the rest of the mad irish cast, do a great job, especially Paddy Considine, who is marvellous. If you liked Bad Sisters you'll like this, because it has the same crazy vibe. I think the bad reviews are missing the point. It's a piss take, and as such it works well. It's funny, in an off beat way and the cast obviously had a great time making the show. Slight shame that Christina didn't do even a touch of a latent Irish accent.

Title: "Small Town Big Story" Genre: Comedy (allegedly)

Review: Welcome to "Small Town Big Story," the TV series that promises to be a comedy but delivers anything but laughs. This show is a masterclass in how not to make people laugh, and it does so with such dedication that you almost have to admire it. Almost.

Let's start with the premise. Ah, the premise. It's as cliché as they come. Picture this: a woman returns to her native Ireland with money to make a movie in a small town that includes her ex and a group of quirky friends, navigating the ups and downs of life with a series of wacky misadventures. Sounds familiar? That's because it is. It's been done a million times before, and "Small Town Big Story" brings absolutely nothing new to the table. It's like the writer took a checklist of every overused sitcom trope and decided to cram them all into one show.

Now, onto the so-called jokes. If you can call them that. The joke deliveries in "Small Town Big Story" are so terrible that they make dad jokes look like comedic gold. The punchlines are predictable, the timing is off, and the humor is so forced that you can practically hear the writer straining to be funny. It's like watching a stand-up comedian bomb on stage, but instead of feeling sympathy, you just feel annoyed.

The camera work is another highlight of this disaster. Or rather, the lack of consistency in the camera work. One moment, you're treated to a close-up of a character's face, and the next, the camera is zooming out so far that you can barely see what's happening. It's as if the cameraman was having a bad day and decided to take it out on the viewers. The result is a visual mess that leaves you feeling dizzy and disoriented.

And then there's the acting. Or should I say, the lack of acting. The performances in "Small Town Big Story" are so thoughtless that you wonder if the actors were even trying. The characters are unbelievable, and not in a good way. They lack depth, personality, and any semblance of relatability. It's like watching cardboard cutouts recite lines with all the enthusiasm of a sloth on a lazy Sunday.

The plot, if you can call it that, goes round and round and gets nowhere. There's no sense of progression or development, and by the end of the first episode, you're left wondering why you wasted your time watching it in the first place.

But perhaps the most disappointing aspect of "Small Town Big Story" is the fact that it was written, directed, and produced by a man who was once a very funny actor. It's like watching a once-great comedian lose their touch and desperately try to recapture their former glory. Unfortunately, the result is a show that falls flat on its face and leaves you cringing in embarrassment.

In conclusion, "Small Town Big Story" is a comedy that fails to deliver on its promise of laughs. With a cliché premise, terrible joke deliveries, inconsistent camera work, thoughtless acting, unbelievable characters, and a plot that goes nowhere, it's a show that should be avoided at all costs. Save yourself the time and find something else to watch. Trust me, you'll thank me later.

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I hadn't read anything about this show and had no idea where it was going but as the show developed the characters of the town come more to life and getting to know the characters may slow the pace at the beginning but you really need to understand their motivations. Six episodes was not enough as I was just starting to get into it, questions were being answered but there are still more questions. You should give this show a chance and I would say it's much better binge watched in order to keep pace going. I really hope there is a season 2 of this as there is so much potential now that we know the town, there is more room for the story to evolve.

Small Town, Big Story is a slow burner that never quite finds its spark, at least not early on. I found myself wishing that episode three had been the pilot because it felt like the show was dawdling through its own setup. The premise of a Hollywood producer returning to her small Irish hometown has its charm but the execution is, frankly, a bit muddled. The narrative meanders and takes its time getting to the heart of the story, leaving you wondering if the tension is ever really meant to build up.

The characters are meant to be quirky and full of local charm but they simply do not stick in the mind. Christina Hendricks and Paddy Considine have moments where their past chemistry shows promise yet the overall characterisation feels flat and underdeveloped. It is as if the show is trying to juggle too many ideas at once and, in doing so, loses the thread that might have tied it all together. In the end, if you like a slow-paced tale with a subtle hint of mystery, you might find a few redeeming qualities here. For me, however, it just did not quite hit the mark.

I really wasn't sure what to expect, but with Chris O'Dowd as creator/writer/director/producer/cast member, I knew I was going to be in for an off-beat treat. It has a fantastically surreal and absurd storyline which is underpinned by dry and quippy Irish humour. Many of the brilliant one-liners and daftness in various scenes had me howling with laughter. There's some very sweet and poignant moments too. The cast is fab with a few familiar faces. The ending wasn't quite what I thought it would be, but I hope this means a 2nd series might be a possibility. Or maybe a good place to leave it? We'll see. It's a shame about the mixed reviews. The so-called tropes some have mentioned are clearly intentional and ironic. If you like a bit of mad with pathos, then you'll love this! Give it a wee go so!