The Tangled Web Team Reviews Young Couple

2.75 CLICKS   
(out of 5)

 After failed starter marriages, Nic and Chris struggle to connect between their day jobs and night lives. When Nic’s ex-husband, Mike, appears to rekindle their college band, Chris wrestles to give his wife the space to be a “true” artist, without letting her get away from the plans he’s set for their future. Watch Young Couple here…

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“Unbelievable, undirected, and over-saturated with non-plot, this series is either so genius it’s over my head or just a total egocentric jack-off. ” Read Erin’s full review…

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“There is a lack of confidence in the relationship dynamic that permeates the series and leaves the episodes unbalanced and inauthentic. ”  Read Jacqui’s full review…

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“The show falters when it enters overly dramatic territory, veering too close to melodrama in the season finale. The creative team is daringly going for both your heart and your funny bone, but they ultimately have trouble balancing the two.” Read Abdi’s full review…

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Young Couple- JACQUI REGO – 3.0 Clicks 

The digital series, Young Couple is shot in black and white and like a modern day film noir you need a Bogie and a Bacall to pull it off.  The awareness of this seems to be so nervously pervasive that it overcompensates with lots of unscripted “couple” footage that bogs down the story progression. There is a lack of confidence in the relationship dynamic that permeates the series and leaves the episodes unbalanced and inauthentic. The elephant in the room is a big one –

Why on earth is he with her?

Brianna Baker who plays the character Nic, who is also an actress is undeniably beautiful but frankly isn’t given much in likeability. Nic embodies almost every unflattering stereotype of a creative – self-involved, flighty; indulgent with her own emotions but has blinders to the emotional sensitivity of Chris played by Brandon Paul Ogborn.

Episode after episode the through-line of the plot is Nic steamrolling over Chris’s sensitive efforts to do right by her (and ex-husband Mike). There’s just so little to root for – her struggles are too infrequent, her emasculation of Chris subtle but reoccurring, and her vulnerability in the season finale comes too little too late. It’s a hard thing to overcome because the series does well in other areas – the cinematography is gorgeous, and the supporting cast, especially in the episode “Baby’s Day” are frankly more fun to watch. Read more reviews by Jacqui…

 

Young Couple- ERIN STEGEMAN –  1.5 Clicks

It took Academy-Award winner Alexander Payne 10 years to get a “yes” from execs to make his academy-award nominated film Nebraska in black and white. It’s an artistic choice earned by bold filmmaking, a story which is elevated by that visual medium, and actors that can master nuance so they pop in shades of gray.  None of these things are present in Young Couple.

The trick with mumblecore, or whatever this is trying to be, is that you actually shouldn’t mumble. It’s near impossible to make out a solid chunk of whatever actor Brianna Baker (Nic) is saying, and yet, she is still easily the most unsympathetic character. It’s been said that Shakespeare has no subtext. Well, neither does Young Couple. Ten minutes apparently isn’t long enough to include any subtlety or layered performance. Everything is on the nose, mostly due to the amateur improv. The one thing the actors do do a lot of in this dramedy (?) is laugh at their own jokes. “I just realized it’s Sunday” (hahahahaha), “I don’t know how to drive a stick shift!” (bwahahahaha).  F***ing hilarious.

To be fair, these actors aren’t given a fighting chance by the writing and Mike Malarkey’s directing, or absence of, either. Baker’s character unabashedly flirts with her ex in front of her current husband (Brandon Ogborn) completely out of nowhere and it’s not sexy, funny, or even sad because the audience is completely outside of the experience. We don’t get the joke or care. I will give credit to Ogborn who works hard to cut through the grim and is successful in portraying a believably scorned yet likable husband.

It’s just one trick after another trying to save this anti-charming black and white AT&T commercial, including SEVERAL minute-long montages (this shouldn’t exist) and a duet on a guitar.  Let’s just say it’s extremely difficult, within any generous reason, to believe that these two “singers” had been “jammin” for a while. Hell, it’s difficult to believe ANY OF THIS. The lifestyles, looks, and dialects of the characters (likely not an acting choice) strongly suggest it’s set in LA. I’ve met 3 married people under age 30 out here. none of whom were on their second marriage.

Unbelievable, undirected, and over-saturated with non-plot, this series is either so genius it’s over my head or just a total egocentric jack-off. Judging on the 10 minute running time alone, I’d bet on the later. Read more reviews by Erin…

Young Couple- ABDI NAZEMIAN – 3.5 Clicks

The real star of Young Couple is the crisp and stunning black-and-white cinematography by John Klein. Black-and-white has been making somewhat of a comeback of late in such films as Frances Ha and Nebraska, but shooting a web series in black-and-white is a bold choice. And while some may call it pretentious, I call it pretty. Web series are usually gritty, homemade affairs, so the beautifully composed, artful camerawork here truly sets this one apart and makes it worth watching.

If it seems like I’m spending too much time gushing over cinematography, it’s because I wish the rest of the show lived up to its stellar production values.Young Couple tells the story of Nic and Chris, whose relationship is tested by their pasts, specifically by Nic’s ex, Mike. The first episode starts slow, and then really takes off when Nic and Mike jam out to a song awkwardly called “Making Love on Sunday.” This kind of uncomfortable comedy is what the show does best. It’s full of small and wonderfully observed moments, like the couple’s banter as they peruse Rihanna’s Instagram account (“Children can see this.” “This makes me so sad.”)

But the show falters when it enters overly dramatic territory, veering too close to melodrama in the season finale. The creative team is daringly going for both your heart and your funny bone, but they ultimately have trouble balancing the two. Still, though the whole series doesn’t live up to its dazzling imagery, it comes close enough to keep me interested in watching this Young Couple get a little older in subsequent seasons. Read more reviews by Abdi…

This is the final review to be done by the TANGLED WEB REVIEW TEAM. Check back for more interviews with creators and guest features!