There’s no business like show business — an undeniable truth, considering Hollywood’s endless fascination with telling stories about itself. Enter ride-or-die duo Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who join the tradition with their latest Apple TV+ venture The Studio, a satirical takedown on an industry eager to make a film about Jenga or Kool-Aid before it will even consider a profound cinematic masterpiece with zero brand recognition. Needless to say, The Studio has rich source material in which to satire.
Rogen stars as Matt Remick, the newly-appointed head of Continental Studios, a cinephile exec who became head honcho by stabbing his mentor in the back like a Tom Ford-clad Brutus. Remick’s desire to make films that matter clashes with his need to keep his job at the studio, a place that prides itself on “making movies, not films.”
The Studio functions both as a parody of the studio system and as a tribute to the great films it occasionally produces when it’s not busy cranking out soul-crushing summer blockbusters based on corporate logos. Episodes spoof classics like Double Indemnity and BİRDMAN or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) all while skewering the ludicrousness of the industry itself.
As Remick, Rogan delivers yet another version of “charming yet messy” persona: filled with good intentions, yet exasperated and firing off quippy one-liners as he vents his frustration with a system that compels him to crush the hopes and dreams of Martin Scorsese. Fortunately, Rogan is aided by a stellar supporting cast, each delivering their sharpest caricature of Hollywood power players. Kathryn Hahn revives her Jennifer Barkley energy from Parks and Recreation for the unhinged intensity of marketing exec Maya, while Catherine O’Hara delivers as Patty, the former studio head-turned-producer who mentors Matt. Meanwhile, Ike Barinholtz and Chase Sui Wonders play Remick’s lackeys who are locked in their own rivalry. Together, they make the show work.
Like many productions about showbiz, much of the humor takes direct aim at those whose livelihoods depend on box office returns and ratings. Industry insiders may delight in spotting familiar locations and chuckle at inside jokes about excessive runtimes, studio interference, and the diva tendencies of filmmakers that border on deranged. However, for audiences outside of Los Angeles and New York (and perhaps Toronto), much of the satire may not fully resonate. Hollywood loves the self-referential stories, but general audiences have historically been less enthused unless another compelling theme anchors the narrative, much like how 30 Rock was focused on absurdity of the cast and crew, or Entourage was an in-depth analysis of toxic bro culture. (It wasn’t, but let’s pretend it was.)
What will draw in the spectators is off-kilter humor and the sheer number of celebrity cameos, with stars unafraid to lampoon themselves for the sake of comedy. In the grand tradition of shows like Extras, Episodes, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, and The Larry Sanders Show, The Studio features swarms of familiar faces — from Hollywood royalty like Zoë Kravitz and Anthony Mackie to industry heavyweights like Ron Howard and Martin Scorsese — to help bring the comedy to life while giving audiences a reason to tune in.
It’s clear that The Studio is a show made by Hollywood insiders for Hollywood insiders, capturing the industry that fuels their livelihoods. For those in the know, it’s packed with sharp jabs and familiar nods that are quite entertaining, but for casual watchers who see films as simple escapism, The Studio may not have the same appeal. However, its star-studded cameos and strong supporting cast make it worth penciling into your calendar.
“The Studio” is streaming on Apple TV+
