Community offered the best sitcom example of a disparate, diverse group of people come together over the very flimsiest of reasons, says Sulagna Misra. The immigrant characters on Sunnyside show promise, but the pilot doesn't have real introductions. "Which brings us to the least effective member of this group: (Kal) Penn as Garrett," says Misra. "Penn’s tenure in the Obama White House provides an interesting meta element to the series’ political bent. But shows like Community and the bands of misfits they center on are usually able to rally around the main character, who is almost always a jerk—albeit a really charming one who starts to temper his nonstop bullshit and open up emotionally, which leads him to a freakout and maybe even tears. Although everyone from Garrett’s sister, Mallory (Kiran Deol, another delightful surprise), to Griselda insists that Garrett is a convincing, charismatic talker, those traits don’t really translate. Garrett does give a few speeches, but they’re the weakest part of the show, especially compared to how Community’s Joel McHale easily mixed sarcasm and sincerity in his lectures. Instead, Penn is goofy where he should be smarmy, and when he does sell the jerk element, it’s a little gross instead of funny. He (and the show) strain the most at these times; Penn’s best moments are when he steps back and reacts to the ensemble, especially because he has a natural warmth that comes across easily, like when he banters with his sister."
ALSO:
TOPICS: Sunnyside, NBC, Community, Joel Kim Booster, Kal Penn