White Home Plumbers needs to be a house run. Its creator, David Mandel, isn’t any stranger to political satire, having written for Veep, probably the greatest to ever do it. The forged is stacked with A-listers, from leads Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux to a supporting forged that features Lena Headey, Judy Greer, and Kiernan Shipka. Sadly, regardless of all of this, the writing will solely ever enable what has all of the makings of an incredible present to accept being typically respectable.
The miniseries tells the story of E. Howard Hunt (Harrelson) and G. Gordon Liddy (Theroux) — the 2 males who masterminded Watergate, a scandal that finally led to their very own arrests in addition to Nixon’s resignation. The restricted sequence is comprised of 5 episodes, throughout an hour every, and you are feeling each minute of its runtime. The modifying decisions really feel unusual, spending tediously lengthy on some scenes with bits that overstay their welcome whereas breezing previous what really feel like key factors. As an alternative of being snappy and thrilling, the pacing feels disjointed and complicated. The present doesn’t actually ramp up till the top of Episode 3, and one can’t assist however surprise if it ought to have been a film as a substitute.
The actors do their greatest with what they’ve been given — it’s only a disgrace they weren’t given extra. That is particularly obvious — and egregious — in the case of Dorothy (Headey) and Fran (Greer), Howard and Gordon’s wives. Dorothy is without doubt one of the smartest and most succesful folks within the sequence. Whereas the very fact she’s underestimated is performed for comedic impact, her underutilization veers extra irritating than humorous. Whereas there are glimmers of one thing extra, she’s largely relegated to the naggy, irritated housewife. Fran is the alternative of Dorothy, completely content material to obliviously assist her husband and perform her wifely obligations and maternal duties. Headey and Greer are two powerhouses able to depth and subverting your normal roles. However right here? They’re flattened into one-dimensional caricatures: Headey is simply the straight man, Greer the comedic reduction. They’re pleasurable to observe — notably once they get an opportunity to work together (and are brilliantly exchanging cash through casserole pans) — however they each finally really feel like wasted potential the vast majority of the time.
Their husbands don’t fare significantly better. The sequence clearly needs us to see Howard and Gordon toggle the road between underdog and anti-hero, however the issue is that they not often really feel like actual folks. There are glimpses of real emotion. As an illustration, a small second from Harrelson after Howard and Dorothy have a battle is without doubt one of the greatest within the sequence. However these are few and much between. Maybe that’s the purpose — the irony — contemplating they are primarily based on precise human beings, however it doesn’t make for a really entertaining viewing expertise. Howard’s stubbornness and Gordon’s wacky eccentricity are often enjoyable, however the shtick will get outdated quick. They really feel ripped straight from a five-minute sketch — one thing that seldom interprets effectively when prolonged to a five-hour story. Even in satire, issues should really feel genuine, they usually simply by no means fairly handle to.
Nonetheless, if there’s one thing that may nearly put it aside, it’s their chemistry. Harrelson and Theroux are clearly having a ball taking part in off one another, and their enemies-to-reluctant allies, odd-couple dynamic retains the present from fully falling aside. They each hate and love one another. They’re each extraordinarily completely different but essentially related. They’re each bumbling idiots and legal masterminds. The present is inquisitive about juxtapositions, however it lacks the nuance to supply commentary on it in any significant method.
Along with these character dichotomies, the main focus additionally oscillates between worlds, splitting its time between specializing in Howard and Gordon’s careers and residential lives till the 2 are finally compelled to intersect. Once they do, nonetheless, it feels too little too late, and it’s exhausting to care that this skilled debacle is blowing up issues at dwelling — particularly as a result of we not often see Howard join along with his kids in any significant method they usually, too, really feel boiled right down to well-worn clichés: good and impressive Kevan (Shipka), rebellious and struggling Lisa (Zoe Levin), hippie musician John (Liam Jones), and the youngest, David (Tre Ryder).
There may be some efficient comedy (Lisa and John making an attempt to make small discuss whereas excessive is especially humorous) and intriguing pressure to be discovered inside the household unit, however the execution of the latter proves troublesome. Howard and Lisa are each cussed to a fault and have vastly completely different viewpoints, making their dynamic ripe for battle. However once they do butt heads, it nearly feels just like the present simply sides with Howard, letting him off the hook most of the time. And with allusions to Lisa’s psychological well being points, all of it finally ends up feeling a bit merciless.
After all, you need to have a look at the context of the time interval and setting — it most likely is a sensible depiction of how Lisa would have been considered — however tone and style come into play, too. A variety of her feelings really feel exaggerated for laughs so she could be painted as loopy and obnoxious, which doesn’t at all times sit proper. Mixed with dated jokes pertaining to race, in addition to LGBTQ+, Jewish, and disabled folks, it by no means feels offensive or controversial essentially, however it does come throughout as a bit lazy, at occasions, content material to relaxation on the laurels of it being the 70s the place occasions have been completely different and something went. It begs the query of whether or not it has something new to say.
There are components of the present that capitalize on the interval in a extra optimistic method, specifically, the set and costumes. There’s little question that White Home Plumbers is trendy. The aesthetic feels ripped straight from the 70s, making for glossy and immersive visuals. The eye to element — from the federal government buildings to the residing rooms, the skilled fits to the bohemian attire — is evident. The music and cheeky subtitles peppered all through additionally add a layer of aptitude, together with the primary few frames that inform us no names have been modified since largely everybody concerned was discovered responsible.
White Home Plumbers is a satirical drama. The issue lies within the truth it’s not sharp or intelligent sufficient to be a really biting satire or deep or emotionally resonant sufficient to be a shifting drama. It’s an fascinating story informed in a merely satisfactory method. The mix of stunning real-life occasions and stellar performances ought to spark a powerful response however will seemingly evoke nothing greater than a shrug at greatest and slight annoyance at worst. It’s a classy watch, positive. It’s only a disgrace it seems like that was chosen over substance.
Score: C+
White Home Plumbers premieres Could 1 on HBO.
