Wilfred

[Emperor]

Anyone else see the little trailers on FX and go "Genius" like I do?

 

 

FX’s latest original series is Wilfred, a half-hour comedy starring Elijah Wood as a suicidal manic-depressive and Jason Gann as a dog. This one’s going to be strange, folks.

 

Wilfred is yet another Americanized comedy adaptation, this time coming from the Australian show of the same name. The original was broadcast down under in 2007, with a second season airing just last year. Wilfred is based on a 2002 short film by comedy duo Adam Zwar and Jason Gann. Zwar has been replaced by Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the forthcoming prequel The Hobbit) for the American version, but Gann will reprise his role from the original series as Wilfred the pseudo-anthropomorphic dog.

 

The premise for Wilfred is without a doubt the weirdest to appear on TV in a long time. Ryan (Wood) is a neurotic, depressed man whose neighbor (Fiona Gublemann, Californication) asks him to watch her dog during the afternoons. The dog, at least from Ryan/the audience’s point of view, is a full-grown man in a bad costume. Ryan struggles to keep Wilfred under control as he begins to question his grip on reality.

 

The trailer shows off the quirky black humor that FX seems to be favoring with shows like It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and Archer. Ryan’s suicidal depression is played for laughs and Wilfred’s doggy interactions with his owner are exceedingly uncomfortable, in a good way. The series might just work, if writers can keep up the self-aware dialogue and situations and stay away from the disturbing furry undertones.

 

Trailer

[Krakalakachkn]

Looks like it has a lot of potential. Can't wait to see it.

[Cadsuane]

Yes! This is my kind of weird. I will find a way to watch this...

[Emperor]

A new FX sitcom based on an award-winning Australian sitcom (which ran in the United States on IFC), “Wilfred” tells the tale of a suicidal pothead named Ryan (Elijah Wood) who appears to be the only person in the world who can carry on two-way conversations with his pretty neighbor’s dog.

 

Jason Gann, who co-created, co-wrote and co-starred in the Australian series, reprises his role as the furry title character.

 

David Zuckerman, the original showrunner on “Family Guy,” serves as the showrunner of the FX “Wilfred.”

 

The FX “Wilfred” is easily distinguished from IFC’s “Wildred” because it employs far more recognizable actors as guest stars, among them “Office” vets Ed Helms and Rashida Jones as well as Nestor Carbonell, Mary Steenburgen, Jane Kaczmarek, John Michael Higgens, Peter Stormare, Dwight Yoakum, George Coe, Chris Klein and Ethan Suplee.

 

Both versions put me in the mind of the big-screen’s (much better) “Fantastic Mister Fox” in that Wilfred isn’t quite fully anthropomorphized – he can switch between very human and very animalistic traits on a dime.

 

The first three episodes of the FX version made available for review have their moments, usually due to Gann’s performance, but too much of the time it feels like the writers are using TV-MA adult language, violence and drug use to mask the fact that the gags aren’t all that strong. I have to say the cheaper, lower-key and even raunchier Australian version was a lot better at nailing the funny.

 

TV Squad says:

 

… the first three episodes of 'Wilfred' feel relatively slight. The dynamic between Wilfred and Ryan is nicely underplayed by Wood and Gann, but once you get a sense of how the characters' relationship works, the episodes have somewhat similar arcs. That's not to say there aren't some satisfying moments sprinkled throughout the show. … It's not quite fully formed yet, but there are signs that 'Wilfred' may be barking up the right tree.

 

USA Today says:

 

… willfully scatological, crude sometimes beyond reason, and clumsy at times when a defter touch would be beneficial. But in a sea of summer (and spring, and fall, and winter) sameness, it's refreshing to find a show that is content to go its own way …

 

The New York Times says:

 

… ends up muffled and not very funny. Mr. Gann’s bits of doggie business — turning in circles before sitting on the couch, chasing a laser-pen light — are reliably humorous, but beyond that the show doesn’t offer a lot of bark or bite. …

 

The Los Angeles Times says:

 

… It requires some fuzziness to work. And it works very well. … The humor is frequently scatological or sexual, but a mitigating sweetness enfolds it all. (The American "Wilfred" is more aspirational than its Australian forebear, which was originally about the fight between a man and a dog for a woman's attention.) Ryan is a good guy, and Wilfred, despite his bad habits, is a good dog. …

 

The Washington Post says:

 

… rarely is an FX show as puzzlingly discordant … In moments where it ought to be subversively sweet, “Wilfred” opts for sour; in what might have been its funniest bits, it suddenly rolls over and plays dead; where it wishes to be ironic and droll, it is often just dumb or mean. …

 

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:

 

… certainly has moments of high (and low) comedy but it's also hard to imagine the premise won't get stale pretty fast.

 

The San Francisco Chronicle says:

 

… stuffed with juvenile humor, steaming piles of bad taste and an idiotic premise. Perhaps an acquired taste for some viewers, but if the sheer absurdity of the show doesn't get you, the rather sweet undercurrent just may do the trick. …

 

The Boston Herald says:

 

… mangy mutt of a show … Wilfred’s dialogue is so dated, he might as well be shedding onscreen. “I will not be ignored, Ryan,” he says at one point, echoing Glenn Close’s “Fatal Attraction” harpy. In another scene, he’s muzzled like Hannibal Lecter. Maybe the Aussie time zone extends to 1990. … play dead. Good doggy.

 

The Boston Globe says:

 

… filled with the kind of coarse humor you’d find on FX’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’’ or Fox’s “Family Guy.’’ The show has a nice sense of innocence, thanks to Wood’s gentle performance and the theme of personal transformation; but it is also filled with uneven sexual and scatological jokes, delivered with a dog-like lack of modesty, so viewer be warned. …

 

The Hollywood Reporter says:

 

… What we have here, folks, is more proof that the comedy genre on television is stronger than ever. … the visual jokes alone are worth watching this series, plus it’s almost impossible to get tired of watching a guy in a dog suit say stuff like, “I’ll kill you. I’ll murder you in your sleep.” …

[Krakalakachkn]

...damn

[Ashaman Kovan]

Just watched the first ep...I'm not sure what I think lol.

[Emperor]

While not every scene was LOL funny, there were enough scattered throughout the show to keep me interested. I am intrigued but wonder if this will wear off over time.

[Krakalakachkn]

Hot Damn I like this show!

[Emperor]

Renewed for a second 13 episode season.

[Krakalakachkn]

Score!

 

 

This show is gold. GOLD!

[Sleeper]

I'm really enjoying this show, glad to see Elijah Wood get more screen time. The chemistry between the characters is solid, too.

 

Of course, it doesn't hurt either that the girl is a complete hawtie

[Krakalakachkn]

Smoking hot

[Ashaman Kovan]

A complete hottie I wish we got to see more of. I'm sure we will though.

[Ashaman Kovan]

Hmmm so does the Ep. with his mom confirm that Ryan is just nuts and it's in his head??

[Rhea]

I've watched every ep. and love it!

[Quazie89]

I like Elijah Wood, and I've been wanting to watch this show, but I haven't had a chance to yet. It looks like something I would like, though.

[Sleeper]

I like Elijah Wood, and I've been wanting to watch this show, but I haven't had a chance to yet. It looks like something I would like, though.

It's a quality show. It walks an interesting line between comedy and drama that's actually pretty enjoyable to watch.

 

Hulu should have some of the episodes if you want to see them.

[Quazie89]

Thanks for the information and the suggestion! I will have to try to check out Hulu sometime.

[Ashaman Kovan]

Guess I'll be bumping this thread back up maybe. Don't know if anyone watches anymore but this episode really made me laugh. Cause, even though ryan is mostly nice and has a girlfriend and all that, the thing you do have to realize (That I'm not sure a lot of people I've talked to about it IRL really do) that he is kind of crazy. He sees a dog as a man in a dog suit. When you sortof let that soak in it makes everything that happens that much more funny in an odd and sometimes even creepy kind of way lol. Jason Gann is friggin hilarious.