Episodes viewed: 8 of 8
Streaming on: Sky/NOW
There’s been no shortage of superhero movies in the last few years — and no shortage of some less-than-heroic behind-the-scenes reports to go along with them, too. So it’s almost surprising it’s taken this long for a show like The Franchise to come along. The brainchild of Armando Iannucci, Sam Mendes and showrunner Jon Brown, this is — like The Thick Of It or Veep — a workplace satire, one that shines a cutting, sharply funny light on cinema’s comic-book craze.
From episode to episode, there is seemingly no limit to the amount of hilariously undignified chaos unfurling on the set of fictional superhero movie ‘Tecto’. Said chaos ranges from garden-variety nonsense — studio interference, late-in-the-day script edits, actors not leaving their trailers for reasons — to the more superhero-specific. Brown’s targets are keenly tuned in this regard, his barbs sharp. From the overworking of VFX artists to the importance placed on a perfect cameo, even the most ardent MCU/DCU fans will have to admit to the accuracy of certain biting digs (once they’ve finished chuckling).
Patel’s performance is a perfect balance of exasperation and determination.
It helps that all the actors are beyond committed to the bit. Daniel Brühl and Richard E. Grant — both of whom are card-carrying members of the MCU — revel in delivering filthy, foul-mouthed dialogue, and Billy Magnussen frequently showcases his penchant for physical comedy as Adam, an insecure actor hoping his starring role in ‘Tecto’ will boost his career. Aya Cash and Darren Goldstein, as producers trying to save their own asses as much as the films, are brash delights, while Lolly Adefope brings a sunny demeanour to her third AD Dag, a warm and witty presence in spite of whatever insanity is befalling the set.
But just as the best superhero movies are about more than just flashy fight sequences, The Franchise ultimately reveals itself to be about more than just witty jokes. Its heart is embodied by Himesh Patel’s first AD, Daniel. “When you make movies like this, and they’re good...” he muses earnestly at one point, pleading with the powers-that-be for a more comics-accurate, fan-friendly script, “there’s nothing better.” The hope that what they’re working on could be something special turns him into the weary, capeless hero of the series, and Patel’s performance is a perfect balance of exasperation and determination.
The question of whether it’s worth putting yourself through all the chaos to get to the other side is not one that’s definitively answered here. But while the train wreck presented in The Franchise hardly looks like much fun to participate in, it’s a riot to watch.