I really missed watching Joseph Gordon-Levitt play. It's a thought that regularly crossed my mind in Mr. Corman, an Apple TV Plus tragic comedy show created, directed by, and starring the multi-talented actor. In addition to certain supporting roles in Netflix productions, aside from playing the lead character in the action thriller XNUMX, Gordon-Levitt has been conspicuous in his absence of late. With Corman, his first essential role on TV From the finale of 3rd Rock from the Sun in XNUMX, Gordon-Levitt offers a welcome reminder of his multifaceted artistry in an emotionally compelling, musically inspired and at times dark tragic comedy that subliminally forces viewers to meditate on their lives. M. Corman stars Gordon-Levitt as Josh Corman, a failed musician in his thirties turned fifth-grade teacher who struggles to find happiness and purpose in a world that Josh feels is sorely lacking in los 2. At first glance, Mr. Corman sounds like a series we've seen and heard countless times before. Josh is a wretched soul whose self-inflicted sadness, and during the series, he will admit his shortcomings and learn to appreciate life again, right? In a way, yes, but what distinguishes Corman from related stories of self-discovery is that he feels real through his protagonist with whom you can identify. In no time, the audience will rumble with Josh through his myriad of drawbacks. He has dysfunctional relationships with his family and friends, has failed to make his rock star dreams truly come true, and struggles to find connections on a planet through his negative outlook on life. Josh sometimes comes across as a mean, half hearted, egotistical individual with a loser attitude, but you can't help but support him or feel sorry for him. Gordon-Levitt's natural charisma helps in this regard, but as we find out why Josh is the way he is (and how he comes to suffer from anxiety and loneliness), it's pretty hard not to appreciate that he does. Turn a new page and find something. appearance of inner peace and achievement. That's not to say that Corman is inherently tragic or grim at all times. The show is entertaining in its awkwardness, especially as Josh navigates the pitfalls of adult life: dealing with the parents of his fifth graders, dating and one-night stands, and watching those around him achieve success. when it's not this way. His testy humor is reminiscent of Curb Your Enthusiasm or The Office, and while he doesn't keep a candle either, Mr. Corman has his moments. A scene involving a homemade weighted blanket and an episode centered around a Halloween celebration are real laughs, providing slight relief from the events that precede or follow them. The incorporation of dream sequences in Mr. Corman is also a welcome change of pace to see Josh routinely boycott his attempts at bliss. Like the collages of magazine clippings seen in art student albums, mixed with animation to bring them to life, Corman's fabulous sets are an aesthetic delight. Often serving as a backdrop to events prior to their arrival, each fugue-inspired scene is visually brave, colorful, and also imaginative. One of those images is of a superhero, comic and game in his style and inventiveness (a clever use of genres and also industries that have seen a notable increase in interest over the last decade), while another serves as setting for a musical number, a reminder of Josh's primary passion in life, played by the primary character and his mother. There's even a whole episode out there that explores how Josh's life might have turned out if he'd made different choices throughout it. It's like the XNUMX romantic comedy film Sliding Doors, if Gwyneth Paltrow's Helen had a door for every resolution of her life.
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