Black Rabbit is a new 8-episode series streaming on Netflix.
From the moment I first read the synopsis and saw that the leading actors were Jude Law and Jason Bateman, I was excited to watch this series. Unfortunately, the reality didn’t quite live up to the hype.
Jake (Jude Law) and Vince (Jason Bateman) are brothers who own a restaurant/lounge bar in New York that is under threat. The brothers’ personalities could not be more different, with Jake’s calm and calculating demeanor often clashing with Vince’s brash and streetwise approach.
(video contains obscenities)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueNsPJgWNAg
Of course, we have gangsters, drugs, and thugs involved, and it’s up to Jake and Vince to try to maintain control of their precious Black Rabbit.
Where it falls down, in my eyes, is with the brothers’ dealings with these thugs. At no time does either Jake or Vince display any courage or fight. Jake, in particular, is a very weak character. To add salt to the wound, neither brother is particularly likable, quite the opposite in fact. So much so that it was difficult to identify anyone worth rooting for.
On occasions when the brothers are under threat from the gangsters/thugs, Jake manages to extricate them via a combination of fast talking and bribery, which, of course, provides only a temporary respite.
One thug in particular, who harasses the brothers throughout, is a real Mr. Puniverse, I reckon he would weigh around nine stone wringing wet. I found it difficult to understand why, instead of cowering, one of the brothers didn’t just punch him on the nose.
Maybe it’s me, I do like my heroes to be… well… heroic. My expectation going in was that the brothers would fight back against the gangsters/thugs, even involving guns. But no, that is not what you get here. Many reviewers characterize the series as a story of an enduring bond between two diverse brothers through thick and thin. Maybe that’s accurate, but it sure isn’t very exciting.
On the positive side, both Jude Law’s and Jason Bateman’s acting is outstanding, playing the roles they have been given with aplomb. The cinematography and soundtrack are also excellent.
BOTTOM LINE:
Viewers rate Black Rabbit an average 7.4/10 on IMDb with many very positive reviews. I would rate it a solid 6/10 and would add that it could have been so much better.
While I was left somewhat underwhelmed by the experience, my lovely wife thoroughly enjoyed the series. Further proof, if needed, that opinions about movies and TV shows are purely subjective.
Have you watched Black Rabbit? Let us know your thoughts via the comments.
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