Kidding
2018
Original language: English
- drama
- comedy
The story
Jeff, aka Mr. Pickles, is an icon of children's TV. But when his family begins to implode, Jeff finds no fairy tale or fable or puppet will guide him through this crisis, which advances faster than his means to cope. The result: a kind man in a cruel world faces a slow leak of sanity as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.
What it’s like
Soft, sunlit suburban interiors and bright, saturated children's-show sets give Kidding its unusual palette: pastel puppet-studio colors and cheerful daytime lighting set against the grey, muted tones of a family coming apart. The camera tends to hold on faces and stay in rooms, with long, slightly uneasy takes that let a joke land and then linger past comfort. Sound leans on cheerful theme-song jingles and gentle bounce-music that curdle into quiet, tense silences. The vibe is bittersweet, wry and tender, with a constant undertow of melancholy. It suits a lazy weekend binge, a quiet evening alone, or a sad-funny comfort watch when you want something that doesn't fully cheer you up. Pacing is unhurried, with episodes that drift between warm absurdity and sudden emotional weight. The central figure is a gentle, earnest man slowly fraying under grief and family strain, while those around him try, with mixed success, to hold together. Intensity is low: some profanity, adult themes of loss, infidelity and addiction, and occasional sharp, uncomfortable moments, but no graphic violence and little gore. It is for viewers who enjoy dark comedy, quiet heartbreak and characters who are kind even when the world isn't.
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