Rent Kidding (2018 - 2020)

Kidding review by Mark McPherson - Cinema Paradiso

An initial glance of Kidding would lead one to believe it is a satirical showcase of how the philosophy and gentleness of Fred Rogers could not sustain in the 21st century. This notion seems likely given that Jim Carrey’s character in the show is Jeff Pickles, a public access TV show host that is losing control of his show and his life. He seems open, loving and understanding, uneasy about using profanity and trying not to remain bitter amid the tragedy of his life. But Pickles is perhaps more intriguing as the anti-Rogers, the host who hides behind an all-loving nature and clearly can’t maintain it. The grand appeal of Fred Rogers was that he always was the way he appeared on television. Pickles is not, his boss stressing how Mr. Pickles and Jeff Pickles are two very different people. And the real Jeff Pickles is one person that even his family cannot see.

Pickles’ problem is that he has recently gone through watching his family crumble. He was married and had two kids, but one died in a car accident. Unsure how to process death properly, his wife soon leaves him for another man, a prospect that Pickles cannot accept. He retreats into his television program and pitches to his executive producer/father Sebastian (Frank Langella) that they should do an episode on the show about death. It seems appropriate and honest. After all, Mister Rogers talked openly about death and Sesame Street didn’t shy away from approaching the tough topic of Mr. Hooper has died. But Sebastian, eager to keep the show approachable for kids, denies this request, even lying to Pickles that he’ll air the episode if filmed.

Sebastian’s move isn’t too brash considering Jeff is not in the right state of mind. Though he seems to approach death gently enough on his program, handling divorce is not a subject he’s ready to either address or cover. He takes far too great an interest in his ex-wife’s new boyfriend and his son’s increasingly cynical attitude towards the world. When his ex-wife moves into a new house, he secretly buys the house next to her, creepily stalking her movements and growing angry at what has become of his life. More brash actions will follow, as with Jeff shaving his head in an attempt to talk about change, still want to address the topic of death.

Director Michel Gondry approaches this quirky bit of dramedy with the same grace he gave Carrey in his surreal tragedy of Eternal Sunlight of the Spotless Mind. Through Jeff’s whimsical kid’s program, Jeff’s uneasy life has breaths of reflection in cheaply made means of teaching children. We learn a little bit more about the way he thinks with each episode, slowly peering a little closer into the mind of a man who wishes the world to remain gentle and understanding, only to grow uneasy when it is not. There’s a progressive rebelliousness to his seeking of control within his own program. At one point, he considers changing the gender of one of his animal friends and Sebastian fires back that this would be a bad move as it would upset the status quo. Yet this would be a positive step forward, making Jeff’s motivations a concerning motive for his drive of good intentions amid a troubling life.

Kidding is not exactly an easy show to pin down. It’s funny, sure, with its moments of dry and crude comedy but only in bits and pieces. It’s deeply tragic and psychologically draining, but also somewhat understanding of Jeff’s misguided ways. We don’t agree with him and yet we feel for him. It’s a complicated yet intriguing series that I could only see Michel Gondry crafting so finely.