PILOT REVIEW: Running Wilde

RUNNING WILDE

Starring: Will Arnett, Keri Russell, Robert Michael Morris, Mel Rodriguez, Stefania Lavie Owen
Created by Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely, and Will Arnett
Written by Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely, and Will Arnett
Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo

Running Wilde is a new comedy from part of the team that created cult comedy classic Arrested Development. This show focuses on childhood friends and teenage loves who have gone in very different directions. Steve Wilde (Will Arnett) is a wealthy playboy who has never had to work for anything in his life while Emmy Kadubic (Keri Russell) has spent her life trying to change the world, most recently living in a rainforest trying to preserve an ancient tribe. However, her daughter Puddle (Stefania Lavie Owen), the narrator of the show, desperately wants to be a normal kid and tricks her mother into visiting Steve and then staying there, living in the treehouse Steve and Emmy used to spend much time in. Rounding out the cast are assistants to Steve, his butler Mr. Lunt (Robert Michael Morris) and his driver Migo (Mel Rodriguez).

Arrested Development it's not. The weirdness that made Arrested so popular was endearing. Here it is not. There is nothing likable about any of the characters. Wilde is not a protagonist that you root for and Emmy is not all that believable as a great humanitarian. It doesn't help that there is little to no chemistry between Arnett and Russell. They're following the time-tested pattern of being annoyed with each other only to (inevitably) fall for each other again, but it just isn't working yet. The supporting cast is not any stronger - Mr. Lunt and Migo are annoying and Puddle not speaking was a strange gimmick in a strange show. The pilot was just a big trainwreck and the number of funny moment is countable on one hand - eh maybe one finger (the piano scene). The scene with the "doctor" was painfully unfunny.

It seems that the writers and producers got just a little too niche this time around to the point that it's not enjoyable anymore. The high-brow humor will not appeal to the general public and the show is not likely to be a hit. Arnett can be funny but he too often goes over the top and Russell is a good actress but not a good fit for this role. All in all, it's one to avoid. And one that probably won't be around very long.