A star rating of 1 out of 5.
If you found yourself pondering about the caterer during an unexpected Tesla endorsement by President Donald Trump on the White House lawn, it might suggest that your focus could use some adjustment.
Despite not being based directly on real events, Netflix offers a show inspired by the factual book “The Residence” by Kate Andersen Brower. This series creatively spins an original murder mystery yarn, openly acknowledging its inspirations along the way.
Without a doubt, one standout film is Rian Johnson’s Knives Out, a production that Netflix owns as part of a smart corporate collaboration. In this movie, Daniel Craig plays the suave detective Benoit Blanc, navigating a intricate mystery within the opulent mansion of a wealthy family.
In this instance, we find ourselves in the company of the family of the U.S. President, along with over 150 employees and diplomats, among whom are an impersonator of Hugh Jackman and the genuine Kylie Minogue, hailing from Australia.
Cordelia Cupp, portrayed by Emmy-winning actress Uzo Aduba, is an unusual detective. Her ability to observe details approaches the extraordinary, and her pastime of birdwatching seems to take the place of a more typical personality trait.
Regrettably, The Residence doesn’t measure up to Glass Onion in terms of quality, appearing excessively contrived, loud, and grating within the “cozy crime” genre. It seems to encapsulate the spirit of the current White House occupants quite accurately.
Instead of showcasing Rian Johnson’s finest work, The Residence feels like Ryan Murphy struggling to deliver his weakest, with an exaggerated world filled with despicable characters who appear perpetually caught up in a frenzy fueled by too much caffeine.
It could very well apply to some political figures from Washington DC, but it’s not a pleasant place to spend an exhausting eight hours, and neither Cupp nor her FBI partner Edwin Park, portrayed by Randall Park from WandaVision, provide any respite from that tedium.
In my experience, interacting with them can feel overwhelming at times, as our exchanges are rapid and centered around the intricate details of the situation we’re dealing with. There’s an attempt to infuse humor into these discussions, yet it often comes off as forced and somewhat odd.
It seems that The Residence aspires to be a blend of comedy and drama, but the humor appears somewhat lacking. Instead, the humor often comes from characters misunderstanding or misconstruing comments, which then opens up for sarcasm from Cupp, Park, or other characters.
Additionally, there’s a dash of humor derived from “well, that just happened” situations where characters stumble over their words or actions, often leading to self-embarrassment that provides laughter for the audience, much like an unscripted moment in a classroom setting.
At other instances, a character might suddenly start shouting, leaving you feeling as if you too could join in due to the poor editing of the program.
The Residence seems to assume its audience’s intelligence is quite low, as they frequently insert clips of relevant characters whenever Cupp or Park mention them, and the editors tend to choose the noisiest ones available.
In my opinion, Mary Wiseman as White House chef Marvella, Jason Lee as the president’s burnt-out brother Tripp, Ken Marino’s aide Harry, Eliza Coupe’s Senator Bix, and Edwina Findley’s chatty butler Sheila really amp up the noise level. Each of them contributes to the overall cacophony in their own unique way.
During intense interrogation scenes of the series, the fast-paced editing technique is employed, merging numerous suspect interviews with Detective Cupp in a way that seems redundant and unfortunately lacking humor.
In a more pleasant phrasing: The majority of characters are frustratingly arrogant, but there are some exceptions. Notably, Giancarlo Esposito’s character AB Wynter, who is often typecast in boss roles in Hollywood, and his underappreciated deputy, Jasmine, portrayed by Susan Kelechi Watson.
Absolutely, Kylie Minogue is also featured here, and I’m quite content with that. Her brief appearance adds a nice twist to what otherwise feels monotonous, although it’s not particularly remarkable. In contrast, Aduba and Park seem rather repetitive – which is truly disappointing.
As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but feel that the fault lies not so much with the talented cast, who have consistently delivered exceptional performances in the past. Instead, it seems that the responsibility for this misstep falls squarely on the shoulders of showrunner Paul William Davies and producer Shonda Rhimes. After all, they are the ones steering the ship, and if we’re navigating into rough waters, perhaps it’s time to reconsider their course.
In essence, the absence of relatable characters who stir emotions makes “The Residence” feel like an unimportant crime story, devoid of tension, progression, or any sense of righteous indignation calling for resolution.
In an ironic twist, the series finds its debut on Netflix at a moment when the thought of venturing through the secluded halls of the White House seems far from appealing to many Americans (and a multitude elsewhere) due to current circumstances.
There, it’s quite possible you may come across a person who is just as annoying or even more so than the eccentric characters from The Residence. This could very well be the saddest aspect of the whole situation.
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2025-03-20 12:04