Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
I’ve really enjoyed following Steve Carell’s career over the years. Whether it’s his iconic role as Michael Scott on The Office or his much more serious performance as Alan Strauss in Hulu’s The Patient, I’ve been consistently impressed by what he does.
In HBO Max‘s Rooster, Carell plays Greg Russo. He’s the author of a series of books following a main character called, you guessed it, Rooster. Russo had gained a fandom through that character even though he’s not as successful himself, with painful emotions coming to the surface as he returns to the same arts college, Ludlow, where his wife left him 25 years ago.
Outside of the comedy, though, the series does do serious moments well. Katie is terrible at emotional vulnerability, using sarcasm as a shield, and Greg doesn’t quite know how to navigate that. He just isn’t as cool and collected as Rooster, despite his efforts to emulate him.
Greg ends up having a tequila-induced heart-to-heart with Dylan Shepard, a bubbly faculty member played by Danielle Deadwyle, where we learn more about his failed marriage, so the series is character-driven from the get-go. They clearly have chemistry too, making me keen to see how it unfolds over the next nine episodes.
Rooster has all the ingredients for a fun weekend watch. With quick episodes that are easy to watch, the Sunday time slot is ideal for this show. Episodes are released weekly, and you can easily slot this into your streaming schedule if you want something light that still gives you plenty to think about.
I did find the way Rooster was filmed a little jarring, but honestly, it didn’t take away from the great performances and the important themes explored. It’s a fun addition to HBO Max’s library, showcasing Carell at his best, where he effortlessly blends humor and seriousness.
Rooster is available on HBO Max in the US and Australia, and Sky Comedy in the UK.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4kByVQEW2uTwyzfqqeAGdL-1890-80.png
Source link
lucy.buglass@futurenet.com (Lucy Buglass)




