By Robert Scucci
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I’m going to put all my playing cards out on the desk and admit that I’m not actually a fan of Bert Kreischer’s comedy or public persona. After his 2016 and 2018 comedy specials, The Machine and Secret TimeI noticed all I wanted to see as a result of he’s just about a one-trick pony who doesn’t actually change up his act. He does that trick effectively, however I just about noticed the whole lot I wanted to see. He takes his shirt off, tells out-of-pocket tales about his household, and presents himself as your common everyman who at all times needs to be the lifetime of the social gathering, and his die-hard followers adore it.
On podcasts, he talks with an excessive amount of self-importance, inserts himself into each considered one of his company’ tales, and has amusing that makes me wish to shove a reside earwig into my head and let it begin chomping away at my mind.
The one purpose I needed to take a look at his new Netflix collection, Free Bertwas to hate-watch it. I hardly ever do that, however I additionally needed to present him the advantage of the doubt as a result of collection and flicks starring stand-up comedians are hit and miss, relying on the writing and appearing. I can’t stand Jerry Seinfeld when it’s simply him and a microphone, however throw Larry David’s writing within the combine, together with characters like Elaine, George, and Kramer, and you’ve got an amazing present like Seinfeld.
I really feel the identical manner about Bert Kreischer in Free Bert for causes I’m about to get into. Should you like the concept of Bert Kreischer, however suppose he’s a little bit a lot, Free Bert affords the stability you might be on the lookout for.
Based mostly On His Comedy, However Reeled In Simply Proper
The easiest way I can describe Free Bert is as your typical raunchy household sitcom, with all of the acquainted beats. You’ve got Bert, clearly portrayed by Bert Kreischer, an obese, dim-witted husband who’s repeatedly humbled by his conventionally enticing spouse LeeAnn (Arden Myrin), and two foul-mouthed daughters, Georgia (Ava Ryan) and Ila (Lilou Lang). It’s an actual Married … with Kids form of setup that nearly at all times works. It particularly works for Kreischer on this context as a result of I already mentioned I discover his persona unlikeable, and half the enjoyable is watching him get his ass handed to him by his personal hare-brained schemes whereas his household laughs at him for being so silly.
As for Free Bert’s six-episode story arc, Bert’s children go to personal college and have hassle becoming in, principally as a result of their dad is Bert Kreischer. Bert instantly will get in hassle with the college after a few of his stand-up bits are shared with the school, humiliating his daughters. In his efforts to clean issues over, Bert begins sporting a shirt and attempting to slot in with the opposite mother and father.
When Bert learns that Georgia has a crush on Zac (Braxton Alexander), he’s devastated as a result of he’s nervous that he’s going to have someone attempting to Netflix and chill together with his daughter. Studying from Zac’s father Randy (Matthew Del Negro) that he’s about to bear scrotal surgical procedure, he as an alternative encourages the connection as a result of it implies that Zac gained’t be capable to make a transfer on Georgia, at the least any time quickly.
In the meantime, LeeAnn faces obstacles of her personal as a result of she’s additionally attempting to clean issues over with the Vanderthal household, however is continually condescended to by the household matriarch, Chanel (Mandell Maughan). Her husband, Landon (Chris Witaske), has additionally befriended Bert, leading to precisely the form of crossed wires and miscommunications you’d anticipate from a household sitcom working on this lane.
Everyone Is aware of The Project Right here
Whereas I’m not going to climb the best mountain and inform all people to look at Free Bert as a result of it’s the very best present ever, I’ve to present credit score the place it’s due. If this was only a new present and also you had by no means heard of Bert Kreischer in your life, he kills it right here. He reliably dials in as your typical sitcom dad, and his household gives the proper stability.
I used to be most impressed by Lilou Lang’s portrayal of Ila as a result of she continuously places her dad in his place, however there’s additionally an underlying affection and alliance that holds all of it collectively. That dynamic finally ends up doing a number of the heavy lifting.
Kreischer may have actually messed this up by leaning too onerous into all of his bits and shtick, however Free Bert is wise sufficient to ascertain that he’s a comic who takes his shirt off, wants to alter his public persona so his household could be taken significantly, after which really follows by way of on that concept. He’s straight-faced when he must be, and the moments the place he goes full Bert are chosen rigorously so he doesn’t put on out his welcome.
It appears like all the finest elements of Kreischer’s act have been distilled into an simply digestible sitcom setting, and he simply rolls with it. The result’s a surprisingly satisfying watch. I gained’t be holding a watch out for any extra of his comedy specials, but when Free Bert will get renewed for a second season, I’ll test it out. Six-episode seasons are nothing, and there’s actual potential right here.
Free Bert is streaming on Netflix.