MovieChat Forums > Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town (2010) Discussion > What's the Overall Reaction from Critics...

What's the Overall Reaction from Critics and Fans so far?

posted 14 years ago by CoolBrittannia
19 replies | jump to latest

Five episodes in and I'm sort of at a loss for a concrete opinion on Death Comes To Town. I don't love it, I don't hate it. No truly hysterical laugh out loud moments, just a couple of chuckles here and there. At the very least, it's interesting to watch.

The thing is, this format is so plot-oriented, it's almost as if the comedy gets lost in the mix. There's so much going on with everyone's individual storylines and a strange Whodunit? plot.

Take Wayne's World. That was a film, which also came from sketch comedy, that never took itself too seriously and maintained a sense of silliness. That's what I think DCTT lacks. It's not silly ENOUGH. It's Just stuff happening to characters.

But what do critics and fans think for the most part?

[–] singlewhitemilkshake 14 years ago

i'm not sure about critics. as a fan, i'm really enjoying it, but i will admit some of that is nostalgia, and just enjoying seeing them back together.

with that said, i really am enjoying the show, and it bugs me that i have to wait for the olympics to end before the next episode.

i do agree that its plot-oriented and the comedy does seem to get lost a little in the mix from time to time. the first two episodes were all setup, and tonight's 5th episode was more story than comedy as well. episodes 3 and 4 were the funniest.

but still, can't wait to see the next one.

"The blurry guy in the WSS pic is the guy in the bar w/2face. You'll see, i'll show you."

[–] doe_a_deer 14 years ago

singlewhitemilkshake, (great name by the way) you summed my feelings up perfectly. I enjoy the show very much, but I know a lot of that is just nostalgia. Honestly, I did not like the 1st episode, and was a bit disappointed in the storyline. Now I have to say I am getting into the story and characters. I had no idea that we have to wait until the Olympics are over to see the next one...that will be a long wait.

[–] I_Guard_Tanelorn 11 years ago

I didn't consider the nostalgia factor. Was this mini-series good if I didn't already love these guys? Good question.

As the OP stated, it wasn't silly enough. Like when the judge pulls out the flute as his new gavel, i'm like okay, this is funny. And then he raps it on the banger thingy. Um, nope, they missed the joke. But then later, he's actually playing the flute to get the courtroom to settle down. NOW that's the joke. But there was a lot of moments in the show where they didn't catch the joke. And their younger selves certainly would have.

"I said no camels, that's five camels, can't you count?"

[–] DudeyMcDude 14 years ago

The first two episodes were definitely underwhelming for me, with a few good laughs in the mix.

Since then though the show has been getting better. It may simply be a case of getting to know the characters better and more humour coming through that. The last episode (number 5) was the funniest one yet and I laughed out loud a few times. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

[–] Davidux 14 years ago

Here is what the TV critic from The Globe and Mail (Canada's national newspaper) had to say about Death Comes to Town:

"Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town is just awful, an absolute mess of lame, laughless ineptitude, and a dismal coda to the comedy troupe's outstanding career. It is a fact of life that a lot of kids grow up and then aren't that lovable and funny any more. Such is the case here.

[...]

"Time was, Kids in the Hall made great sketch-comedy TV. Original, smart material emanated from these guys. Sometimes, it was outright deranged and fuelled by Lord knows what - anger, creativity, the need for these guys to outdo each other in originality. Many of us remember the original series with fondness. Some of the characters (such as Cathy and Kathie and The Headcrusher) and jokes entered the popular culture as touchstones.

Now it has come this - excruciatingly awful attempts at humour and a self-indulgence depressing to witness."

[...]

"There are attempts to satirize easy targets - local-yokel cops, a local TV news crew - and there are countless ill-defined bits that satirize elements of formulaic TV shows, but nothing really clicks. This is appallingly slow-witted TV, a mistake of major proportions."

That's pretty harsh, but I have to agree with John Doyle (the critic) that the show is disappointing. I have rarely laughed and am sticking around mainly for nostalgia's sake.

[–] CoolBrittannia 14 years ago

That's an interesting review. Can I have the rest of it? It's blocked on the Globe's site for payment only!

[–] singlewhitemilkshake 14 years ago

i read that review recently. i hate john doyle, i always have. rarely does he have a good word to say about anything. he even looks like a douchebag.

http://www.cbc.ca/books/MT/bookclub/images/blog_john-doyle.jpg

"The blurry guy in the WSS pic is the guy in the bar w/2face. You'll see, i'll show you."

[–] urciolo 13 years ago

I'd rather have a reviewer who rarely has a good word to say anything good than someone who LOVES every show he sees, even when most of it is crap.

Roger Ebert writes brilliant reviews and essays, but if he says something remotely unpatriotic, even within the confines of his review, he gets blasted and some say they hope his cancer kills home slowly. That's pretty harsh for someone who doesn't agree with you.

I liked the kids in their early years, but they have really fallen from grace and this show is embarressingly bad. If they're doing it for the money, I could understand that, but Jesus - find another line of work - don't embarress yourself to the point where in the year 2025, you'll be playing at the Winnepeg Holday Inn for loonies and free drinks. "Hey folks - remember this bit from 1992?"

The Kid's comedy is dead. Let's have the decency to bury it.

Cats are delicate dainty animals who suffer from a variety of ailments ... except insomnia.

[–] coex 13 years ago

I'm only on episode two, and really dig it. it's more in line with Brain Candy than their original series, I think. it might just be too weird for the average viewer...

and, to clarify, I liked their original show, but it was never consistently great for me. so, I'm really finding myself surprised that I like this new show!!

here's hoping they get it together again for another movie!

[–] laszlozoltan 14 years ago

I have to agree with the revue; the show is dull, dumb and disappointing.It is unbelievable that this is KITH comedy- I don't think the dvds will sell well at all. Even diehard kith fans will want to forget this 6 months on. I don't know if they set out to thumb their noses at their fans, "commercialism", the media or what but simply put: the show sucks.

[–] singlewhitemilkshake 14 years ago

i'll buy the dvd.

"The blurry guy in the WSS pic is the guy in the bar w/2face. You'll see, i'll show you."

[–] sonnyfredomichael 14 years ago

I thought the first two were average, the third was good, the fourth was awesome and the fifth not so bad either. So many side plots to chew on, which I love. I love the real extreme ones, like that awful lawyer Sam Murray trying to keep his cat alive (all the various symptoms are so cruel yet hilarious, being in two comas at once!). That mechanical 32-year old cat is one of the most pathetic but achingly funny things on the show. Heather Weather was awesome, was indeed. For Dave, my favourite character of his is of course the Mayor's wife. How she struggles with drinking yet no one seems to mind is pretty goofy.But not far behind is Levon, the director of the local news. He just seems so hangdog and always depressed with his job and being involved in the bitching of the two women.

Scott's best character is that wannabe Native Crim Hollingsworth, now that Heather Weather is gone. The hairless, creepy bald guy (forget the name) who loved Mayor Bowman is more disturbing than funny but a good character nonetheless. I don't know what to make of the Mayor's "special" son, but it'll make sense as the mystery unfolds. Man that Spirit Bear thing was brilliant ("Kiill the may-or"). Sam Murray is Kevin's best, while Corrinda Gablechuk is my favourite of Mark's. As for Bruce, his Southern lawyer is pretty good, though his whole dancing flaunt was a bit heavy-handed. But leave it to Bruce to come up with the whackiest, most flamboyant characters, just like the marketing think tank guy in Brain Candy. Where else but on a KITH production would you see a death scene played out by imaginary cartoon butterflies then the dead's ashes snorted up by Death?

[–] spidergurl 14 years ago

I have to say I have really been enjoying the show. It's really brought me back to being 13 and sneaking downstairs to catch reruns of the old KITH show.
They all look the same (aside from some extra pounds of ageing)as they use to and the humour has been great once more.

ThiS iS nOt An ExiT

[–] badlydrawnhamster 14 years ago

I'm surprised (and dismayed) by the negative reaction too. I agree that some of the early episodes were a tad plot heavy, but overall it's been a superb series, and has made me laugh out loud a great deal. And the finale was incredibly satisfying as well, I was gripped throughout.

I'm based in the UK too, and everyone I know who's watching it is really enjoying it...Maybe we just have better taste in comedy! ;)

[–] zetes 14 years ago

I'm surprised at that review and others who are disappointed. I'm a lifelong KITH fan, and I've been enjoying the Hell out of it. Not being from Canada, I have to download every episode, and I do. I think the KITH's greatest talent was always the ability to whip up these 3-dimensional yet hilarious characters in about five seconds. There are just a ton of great characters in this show. I especially love the defense attourney and his should-be-dead cat. I think the comedy is a tad more low-key than the original sketch comedy series or Brain Candy, which is why I believe some aren't that happy with it.

I have been harboring ambitions of becoming more pirate-like!

[–] jimbeam958 14 years ago

I don't really find it too funny, I'm more into the plot. I'm basically the kind of person that if you were to make a 12 part mini-series about trying to find out who's dog crapped on the front lawn, and I was unlucky enough to see the 1st episode, I would be hooked.

[–] singlewhitemilkshake 14 years ago

i think part of the problem is that people are comparing it to the original tv show. sure, that show had more rapid-fire laughs, but they were sketches. usually not much more than five minutes, rather than a four-hour storyline. in a sketch you can develop the characters and the conflict quickly and get to the laughs. in something like this, you really do need to spend time furthering the plot and not just centering on gags.

"The blurry guy in the WSS pic is the guy in the bar w/2face. You'll see, i'll show you."

[–] TheEtherWalk 14 years ago

I was never the biggest fan of the original show. I think this series is a little bit hit and miss, mostly hit. It's got enough laughs to keep me watching it.

Take it easy Charlie. I've got an ANGLE.

[–] kennerguy66 14 years ago

I agree with that. Their type of comedy is totally there, it's just a different structure. The video of the mayor reading his will, literally reading his will alone; shows they haven't lost their touch.

This is a much more plot oriented show, but still contains great humor. It's not as funny as the show was, but it's really good.

I'm enjoying it a lot. I actually read about this when they announced it, then forgot about it until 2 days ago. I downloaded all 7, watched, and enjoyed them.

Shaka Da Gnu