Peacock's Take on a Cult Classic: A Mostly Harmless Remake of The 'Burbs
Keke Palmer stars as Samira, a new mother living in a seemingly idyllic suburban cul-de-sac, where the only mystery is how she ended up there. In this remake of Joe Dante's 1989 comedy horror film, the original premise – "Rear Window in the suburbs" – has been expanded into an eight-episode "cosy mystery" series that finds itself stuck between a slower pace and the exhausting nature of sustaining it.
Palmer brings her considerable charm to the lead role, effortlessly navigating the comedic tone while also tackling the more serious undertones. The supporting cast, including Paula Pell and Julia Duffy, is equally impressive, with Pell delivering some standout moments in her underappreciated comedic acting skills.
However, the script falters in matching the performances of its actors, particularly Pell, whose delivery and timing demand sharper dialogue to do justice. While Palmer and her co-stars keep the show engaging, it's hard not to wish that the writers had put as much effort into crafting witty banter.
The remake finds success by expanding on an imperfect original while still maintaining a likable tone. The mystery is intriguing enough to keep viewers clicking for the next episode, but its stretched nature starts to wear thin, and the finale's cliffhanger feels like a desperate attempt to justify another season.
Ultimately, this take on The 'Burbs works because it seems to find ways to address some of the original's shortcomings. It becomes a harmless yet decently engaging binge-watch, even if it doesn't break new ground in the PG-rated murder mystery genre. As long as you're not expecting something revolutionary, this remake is a mostly pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
With The 'Burbs available on Peacock in the US and Binge in Australia starting February 8, viewers can settle into a comfortable Sunday afternoon of amateur sleuthing with Keke Palmer's Samira at the helm.
Keke Palmer stars as Samira, a new mother living in a seemingly idyllic suburban cul-de-sac, where the only mystery is how she ended up there. In this remake of Joe Dante's 1989 comedy horror film, the original premise – "Rear Window in the suburbs" – has been expanded into an eight-episode "cosy mystery" series that finds itself stuck between a slower pace and the exhausting nature of sustaining it.
Palmer brings her considerable charm to the lead role, effortlessly navigating the comedic tone while also tackling the more serious undertones. The supporting cast, including Paula Pell and Julia Duffy, is equally impressive, with Pell delivering some standout moments in her underappreciated comedic acting skills.
However, the script falters in matching the performances of its actors, particularly Pell, whose delivery and timing demand sharper dialogue to do justice. While Palmer and her co-stars keep the show engaging, it's hard not to wish that the writers had put as much effort into crafting witty banter.
The remake finds success by expanding on an imperfect original while still maintaining a likable tone. The mystery is intriguing enough to keep viewers clicking for the next episode, but its stretched nature starts to wear thin, and the finale's cliffhanger feels like a desperate attempt to justify another season.
Ultimately, this take on The 'Burbs works because it seems to find ways to address some of the original's shortcomings. It becomes a harmless yet decently engaging binge-watch, even if it doesn't break new ground in the PG-rated murder mystery genre. As long as you're not expecting something revolutionary, this remake is a mostly pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
With The 'Burbs available on Peacock in the US and Binge in Australia starting February 8, viewers can settle into a comfortable Sunday afternoon of amateur sleuthing with Keke Palmer's Samira at the helm.
! The 'Burbs remake seems like just what I need - a lighthearted, quirky mystery to get lost in. Keke Palmer looks like she's got the charm and comedic chops to carry this show, and it's cool that they're giving Paula Pell some more screen time 
. Now, let's talk about how we can make the pacing better... maybe some cliffhangers a bit earlier in the season? 
. The pacing can be a bit slow, but it's not all bad... it just means you might want to make some popcorn and settle in for a lazy Sunday afternoon 
️. Overall, it's not gonna blow your mind or anything, but if you're looking for something lighthearted and fun, this is a solid choice 
.
. Paula Pell's comedy skills are underrated in this show imo 
. Overall, it's a solid remake that's perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon binge 
. Not gonna change the world, but it's a comfy watch 
. That being said, Keke Palmer does her thing and makes the most of it 
. Still, I'd say it's an enjoyable enough way to spend your afternoon, even if it's not exactly groundbreaking 
.
. It's stuck between being too slow and trying to cram too much into it. I mean, Paula Pell is hilarious, but she deserves better dialogue than what's given to her. Palmer does her best with the script, but it's like they took a normal episode of Murder She Wrote and just... padded it 
. Still, if you're in for a light, comfy watch, this ain't the worst thing on Netflix 
. Keke Palmer does her thing, but even she can't elevate some pretty lackluster writing 
️. Don't get me wrong, I binged it in one weekend and enjoyed it, but if you're lookin' for something that'll really hook you, this ain't it 
so i was thinking about how they expanded the original premise from joe dante's 1989 film to this whole new mystery series and it's actually kinda clever? like, instead of just a single "rear window" scenario, now you have an entire suburban community with all these secrets and whatnot. but at the same time, i'm also kinda disappointed that they didn't really make the dialogue pop more - paula pell is literally hilarious in her scenes 
and keke palmer does her thing too but there are moments where it feels like the writers are just phoning it in. still tho, i'm all about this cozy mystery vibe now and can't wait for the next ep