Hulu's High Fidelity is another retelling of a nearly 30-year old tale, based on British author Nick Hornby's 1995 novel, which was adapted and relocated to Chicago for a 2000 film by Stephen Frears and starring John Cusack (who had his own sceptical reaction to this adaptation). This new TV adaptation, developed by Veronica West and Sarah Kucserka, not only aims to change things up story-wise, but also aims to give its viewers a deeper connection to its main characters.
With the longer runway provided by a television adaptation, High Fidelity can invest its time in order for you to invest in its characters. Zoë Kravitz (whose mom, Lisa Bonet, starred in the original movie) plays Rob, a young woman living in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, who really loves music. She has created specific playlists on her phone certain moods; some are inspired by past relationships, and she listens to them as a way of coping with breakups. She owns a record shop in the city, where her friends Clyde (Jake Lacy) and Cherise (Da'Vine Joy Randolph) work as well.
Kravitz has immense range, and has proven herself to be a promising talent. As Rob, she delivers an emotionally nuanced and powerful performance. Seeing her day-to-day life was not only a riveting experience, but a greatly comedic one too.
Perhaps the best comedic actor in the series is Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Cherise, who gets some hilarious and surprising dialogue and delivers, in terms of comedic timing.
The writing on display throughout is also superb. It is incredibly strong, often moving, and profoundly insightful. Although episodes three and four drag significantly due to a lack of story progression or character development, the rest of the show manages to be a remarkable achievement.
(Hulu)With the longer runway provided by a television adaptation, High Fidelity can invest its time in order for you to invest in its characters. Zoë Kravitz (whose mom, Lisa Bonet, starred in the original movie) plays Rob, a young woman living in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, who really loves music. She has created specific playlists on her phone certain moods; some are inspired by past relationships, and she listens to them as a way of coping with breakups. She owns a record shop in the city, where her friends Clyde (Jake Lacy) and Cherise (Da'Vine Joy Randolph) work as well.
Kravitz has immense range, and has proven herself to be a promising talent. As Rob, she delivers an emotionally nuanced and powerful performance. Seeing her day-to-day life was not only a riveting experience, but a greatly comedic one too.
Perhaps the best comedic actor in the series is Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Cherise, who gets some hilarious and surprising dialogue and delivers, in terms of comedic timing.
The writing on display throughout is also superb. It is incredibly strong, often moving, and profoundly insightful. Although episodes three and four drag significantly due to a lack of story progression or character development, the rest of the show manages to be a remarkable achievement.
