Though The Hangover popularized the wacky comedy trope of dealing with terrible choices post-partying in the 2010s, the subsequent terrible results (including the dumb sequels) never matched the zaniness of that glowing first attempt. It is no surprise that Obliterated, essentially a high-stakes take on the same formula, is once more a ridiculous genre mashup without inspiration or direction. Over-directed, over-written, over-slow-motioned, and in all other ways over-the-top, this sophomoric debut season on Netflix does not nearly justify its eight-hour runtime.
‘Obliterated’ Premise
Seasoned TV stars Shelley Hennig and Nick Zano star as members of a special anti-terrorism task force tackling a nuclear threat on Las Vegas. The group parties after finishing their disarmament, but when they realize they only stopped a fake threat, the team must fight through their hangovers and rectify their mistake.
Where Chemistry Holds Most Adult Comedies Together, ‘Obliterated’ Falters Spectacularly
Given the action insanity of Obliterated, the one potential saving grace could have been likable deliveries of the show’s uninspired dialogue. Instead, Hennig, Zano, and the rest cannot transcend their given lines; only Carl Lumbly’s jokingly grave supporting performance and an always hilarious Jason Mantzoukas (voice only) are enjoyable to watch work. The caricature-loaded core group does a lot of yelling, slurring, cursing, and offending one another, with cheesy moments of sentiment between them that could not be more hackneyed – this is all rarely fun to watch.
Terrence Terrell, Shelley Hennig, Kimi Rutledge, Nick Zano, and Paola Lázaro in ‘Obliterated’
Style Over Substance Steadfastly Remains the Familiar Problem
Even without a memorable line or original thought passing between them, the actors are the most engaging part of Obliterated. The entire experience feels copy-and-pasted from glamorized action films and objectionable 2000s adult comedies, and, as has always been the case, putting two well-trodden genres together does not automatically make anything feel fresh. After all, nearly all action films nowadays have at least some comedy to them, so Obliterated ends up that much more watered down with its copy-of-a-copy presentation.
Even with credits including the Harold & Kumar movies, the fourth American Pie, and Hot Tub Time Machine, the creators of Obliterated still might have hit a new critical low here. Those who prefer another disconnected collection of excessive violence, nudity, and swearing over humor and thrills may get a kick out of it, but long before the high stakes of the nuclear explosion come back in the season finale, viewers looking for something more than to fill the void will be far too annoyed to stay checked in.
Obliterated is streaming now on Netflix.