HBO's 'Hung' and the American dream
What the new series about a well-endowed ex-jock turned gigolo has to say about life in America
First day jitters: Thomas Jane as Ray Drecker in 'Hung' (HBO)
HBO's new series Hung, which debuted Sunday night, said Reed Johnson in the Los Angeles Times, is not just about a down-on-his-luck ex-jock "with a big penis who decides to become a gigolo." It's also "about the fraying of the American dream and the battered resiliency of the middle class." And the setting couldn't be more perfect: Detroit, "ground zero of declining Rust Belt America, the symbol of a nation in economic mid-life crisis." (watch a trailer for Hung)
Hung is a "darkly funny" show "about existentialism and small town American dreams," said Tim Goodman in the Houston Chronicle, which is part of its problem. Although the show's universe is inhabited by a group of "likable lost souls," viewers may find themselves "disappointed" that the show isn't "more salacious."
Not only that, said Verne Gay in Newsday.com, but do we really need another show "about the collapse of the American dream and absurd measures that some of the fallen must go to" to pull themselves up? We already have Weeds and Breaking Bad, and Sam Mendes' movie American Beauty came out a decade ago. Hung offers nothing new.
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7 Comments
Posted by Vera, Monday, June 29, 2009, 7:35 pm I saw Hung last night, and I was underwhelmed. The most plausible element in this mostly unbelievable story is that women would pay Thomas Jane swoon for sex, and HE GETS TURNED DOWN on his first date!I'll give it one more chance next week just for TJ's sake...
Posted by GRIDS, Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 4:01 pm What the show needs...is more penis.
Posted by GRIDS, Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 4:01 pm What the show needs...is more penis.
Posted by GRIDS, Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 4:01 pm Penis. More of it.
Posted by Aaron, Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 12:20 pm The sub title of this article reads, What the new series about a wellendowed exjock turned gigolo has to say about life in America. What it has to say is that we keep creating and exporting this trash, and the Islamic extremists will keep trying to kill us. They don't want to be corrupted by the evil west and I can't say I blame their feelings, only their actions.
Posted by GRIDS, Thursday, July 2, 2009, 9:33 am Penis. MOAR.
Posted by Eliza Neals, Monday, July 6, 2009, 7:12 pm Hung like Detroit is full of unseen talent! Some of it is obvious like the Red Wings and the Tigers this season Other parts are hidden and mysterious to be discovered. The People of Detroit are not responsible for the mess blame the big whigs who ran away with the money! Hung is shot in the new Hollywood back lot called Michigan! Great Talent and Fun People who tell it like it is! MotownRock.com
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