I had seen a little preview for this new Amy Schumer Hulu miniseries, Life & Beth, and it mainly focused on the funny aspects which lead me to believe it was her usual content. That assumption of mine was wrong. I’ve been a fan of Amy Schumer for years. I’ve always liked her stand up comedy and I even liked I Feel Pretty, which was not at all well received by critics. What I’ve always been attracted to in Schumer’s talent is her bawdy comedic skills. This show has actually given me a newfound attraction for her work and that is how she’s able to portray drama.
I really like the overall plot construct that this miniseries deals with. Watching a film or television series about someone revamping their life for the better just feels good, if done well that is. The writing is strong for the most part and gives us a really clear picture of the main characters past and present. In addition, we also get to know several interesting supporting characters that help color the story. Another one of the smart and effective details used to craft a satisfying story is having frequent flashbacks to Beth’s childhood. We see what went on and the different damage she still carries. Getting to see both her past and present play out lets us as the audience have a great sense of sympathy and investment in this woman. And all of this well crafted storytelling is all credited to Schumer herself as she not only stars in this, but also is the writer and director.
The performance we see from star Amy Schumer is a nuanced one that deals in both comedy and drama. She plays Beth as someone who is relatable and deserving of so much more than what she has received in life. That last part is really key because in order for this story to work, we as viewers much think that Beth is a fundamentally good humble person and she is very much presented that way. The dramatic notes are played well and of course the funny notes are also played well, which is Schumer’s bread and butter. Speaking of playing funny notes well, I want to begin my praise of the supporting cast with the hilarious Yamaneika Saunders. Saunders plays one of Beth’s childhood friends who she still is close with and she is really impressive here. The comic delivery of Saunders really is something special and I look forward to seeing more from her! I also must praise two more cast members involved who I thought did a fine job. The first is Susannah Flood, who plays Beth’s sister. Similarly to Schumer, Flood knows how to portray both comical and serious material very well and she makes her character very likable.
Her character just comes off as someone you’d like to know and while she is somewhat aloof, she’s also very kind and gentle. The other person that can’t go unnoticed is the great Violet Young who plays the younger version of Beth and does an exceptional job showing us the pain and raw emotion felt by Beth in her childhood. She definitely has a bright future! Before I move past the cast I should mention that while Michael Cera wasn’t one of my favorites in this series he does do a decent job with his character. I just think the show’s energy is higher when Beth is with her girlfriends or sister. And while the show does keep up a pretty smooth energy and pace in general I will say the only real downside is that it does very occasionally veer into a duller territory before returning to being engaging and engrossing. This by no means means that this isn’t a worthwhile watch, it very much is, but it does mean that it’s not what I would consider a 9 or 10 out of 10.
Life & Beth is an engaging miniseries that will both make you laugh and feel something. Thanks to the skilled writing/lead performance by Schumer and some exceptional supporting performances, this makes for a mostly satisfying watch that I believe most viewers will enjoy.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.