Schumer’s Beth appears to have loads going for her because the sequence begins, with a longterm boyfriend and perq-filled job as a wine distributor, earlier than being instantly shaken by an sudden loss. That occasion throws Beth right into a tailspin, inflicting her to start questioning her decisions and reminiscing about painful reminiscences from her youth (she’s properly performed at that age by Violet Younger).
Most of these interludes exhibit how merciless children may be, capturing awkward and embarrassing moments in Beth’s adolescence. However a number of take care of Beth’s divorced mother and father, and particularly her stunning mother (Laura Benanti), who attracted males in droves and discarded them simply as rapidly.
As for the current, Beth’s relationship fizzles however she quickly meets a taciturn farmer (Michael Cera, at his Michael Cera-est), who’s brusque at first earlier than the 2 develop into romantically entangled. Their interactions get difficult by her sudden curiosity in reexamining her life, which incessantly places extra emphasis on drama, albeit not very properly, than comedy.
“Do you ever hear your self?” Beth’s youthful sister (Susannah Flood) asks, and clearly, a lot of the time she would not. Therein lies one of many present’s drawbacks, which is that even with the merciless blow life has dealt her, Beth comes throughout as self-absorbed in a approach that reveals little consciousness that others could be hurting too.
Simply structurally, “Life & Beth” is such a slender premise as to really feel conspicuously stretched at 10 episodes, placing Beth’s new relationship by varied contortions seemingly as a method of prolonging it.
There’s clearly an extended historical past of filmmakers partaking in related workout routines, simply as there may be in comics branching out into extra severe fare; nonetheless, the stark rawness of the fabric would not translate into a very distinctive sequence.
“Life & Beth” finally comes round to recognizing that regardless of hardship and setbacks, life goes on. But past Schumer’s loyal followers, the temptation might be to come back to that realization earlier than its protagonist does.
“Life & Beth” premieres March 17 on Hulu.