‘Loot’ evaluation: Maya Rudolph shines in a sitcom that makes for an ideal weekend binge
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Many of the most effective sitcoms of latest years comply with the identical primary formulation: Assemble a crew of distinct and lovable characters, then have them work collectively to make the world a greater place. Notable examples embrace Abbott Elementary, Parks and Recreation, and The Good Place.
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Now, Apple TV+’s Loot, starring Maya Rudolph as a billionaire trying to be a philanthropist, can also be attempting its hand at that formulation. While its first season doesn’t fully attain the degrees of reveals like Abbott Elementary, Loot nonetheless has a ton of charms and laugh-out-loud moments assured to make it a comforting sitcom binge.
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Maya Rudolph kills it in “Loot.” Credit: Apple TV+
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First and foremost, Loot is a reminder of what a star Rudolph is. (As if we’d ever overlook.) She performs Molly Novak, the spouse of tech billionaire John Novak (Adam Scott). Early on in Loot’s first episode, Molly discovers John has been dishonest on her. She will get $87 billion within the subsequent divorce, then spends her time clubbing together with her assistant Nicholas (Joel Kim Booster) in all places from Berlin to Phuket to Rio.
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However, Molly’s partying involves a halt when she realizes she has a philanthropic basis. Determined to do one thing together with her life (and in addition stick it to John), she decides to get extra concerned within the basis’s efforts — a lot to the chagrin of its no-nonsense director Sofia (Michaela Jaé Rodriguez).
Whether Molly is mourning her husband’s infidelity or giving a disastrous speech at a charity occasion, Rudolph retains us locked in. She performs Molly not as a billionaire caricature, however as a somebody with genuinely good intentions whose out-of-touch way of life retains getting in the best way. Rudolph additionally delivers some killer comedic set items. A scene the place Molly goes on Hot Ones and promptly loses her thoughts is an ideal showcase for Rudolph, in addition to a pleasant callback to a Saturday Night Live sketch that sees Rudolph as Beyoncé battle with the spicy gauntlet.
Loot’s ensemble is a treasure.
The wonderful ensemble of “Loot.” Credit: Apple TV+
Rudolph could also be Loot’s most important character, however she definitely isn’t the one one shining on this present. Rodriguez, so wonderful in Pose, finds hilarity in Sofia’s depth. Her earnestness and devotion to the muse make her an ideal foil to Molly, particularly within the early episodes the place Molly isn’t fairly as devoted as she claims she is.
Elsewhere, Booster’s means to fireside off one-liners like no one’s enterprise serves him effectively as Molly’s devoted assistant Nicholas. However, because the season progresses, Nicholas begins to let his partitions down round sure basis members, giving Booster an opportunity to sink his enamel into Nicholas’s softer facet. He crushes it.
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Rounding out our ensemble solid are Ron Funches as Howard, Molly’s cousin who works on the basis, and Nat Faxon as Arthur, the muse’s accountant. Funches’s Howard is a ray of optimism and enthusiasm all through, and he and Booster play exceptionally effectively off of one another as Howard and Nicholas turn out to be unlikely pals. Faxon is a properly low-key distinction to the present’s different performances. Arthur is as mild-manned and candy as they arrive, and he and Molly hit it off in what is bound to be Loot’s sitcom-required will-they-won’t-they romance.
Loot is predictable, nevertheless it has potential.
Joel Kim Booster and Ron Funches are all the time a enjoyable scene pairing. Credit: Apple TV+
Just like with Molly and Arthur’s blossoming romance, Loot treads sitcom floor we’ve seen earlier than. Plotlines and character beats are clear from the bounce, which isn’t essentially a foul factor — it simply tones down the joy a bit.
Loot is most attention-grabbing when it’s exploring the challenges Molly and Sofia face when attempting to make constructive change. Molly can’t simply throw all her cash at an issue to make it go away: There’s crimson tape to chop and hoops to leap by. However, there’s additionally a cynical undertone to Loot’s method to billionaire philanthropy. This undertone surfaces in a satisfying method in Loot’s Season 1 finale, reducing by all of the present’s yachts and jet-setting and extravagance. It’s a good way to finish Loot’s inaugural season, and an indication of excellent issues to come back for the present’s already-announced second season.
All episodes of Loot are now streaming on Apple TV+.
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