‘The Pentavarate’ Review Of Mike Myers’ Mind Boggling Return
Yeah, baby! A decade after mostly retiring from acting, Mike Myers is back on the small screen with his new Netflix series The Pentaverate. While we haven't seen him in a significant starring role in quite some time, this show makes it feel as though he never left. Delivering the same brand of comedy we've come to love him for and delivering an enticing plot, Mike Meyers proves that his best days are not behind him.
The plot follows Ken Scarborough, a beloved Canadian news reporter, attempting to find one amazing story to keep himself from being forced into retirement. In his desperation, he visits a conspiracy convention hoping to find a lead that will surely entice viewers. After bumping into a conspiracy nut (also played by Myers) he learns of a secret society named the Pentaverate that isn't known to most. Willing to do anything at this point, he joins the conspiracy theorist in a mission to infiltrate the society and reveal them to the world. Meanwhile, the Pentaverate is dealing with a murderer in their midst. As they try to discover who killed their top scientist, one of the five highest-ranking members, they are attempting to induct a new member in and reclaim normalcy amongst the organization.
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The plot consistently delivers as we watch a man try to hold on to the only thing that drives him. In doing so, we see an evolution within the character. As he infiltrates the guard and gains the trust of those within, Ken finds himself growing an attachment to the other members while finding new meaning in his life. He yearned to remain the small station's go-to man but becomes a part of something much bigger than he could've ever imagined. Ken is not only the main character, he is the most relatable character. He tries to do the best for himself and for those around him no matter the situation he may be in. Delivering such a standout performance in the lead truly shows the downside of the other characters Mike Myers plays.
Playing a total of eight characters in the series, Mike Myers is almost constantly on the screen. This was a major selling point of his grand return, but he doesn't always deliver in the roles. He plays four of the living members of the Pentaverate, the member who was murdered, a conspiracy theorist, an Alex Jones spoof character, and the lead. It is simply too much of the same when we see four Mike Myers talking amongst each other. The entire time one can't help but think that the series may have benefitted from seeing other major players cast in the roles of the Pentaverate. Lord Lordington is a prime example. He is the longest serving member of the organization and among the least memorable. The dry delivery could have been perfected by a different actor. Jeremy Irons, for example, does the title card openings in each episode and could've been a perfect fit for the character. Seeing Keegan-Michael Key and Ken Jeong as inductees especially shows the flaw in having Myers play every other major member of the Pentaverate. Jeong and Irons often are highlights in the comedy of a series that often misses its mark.
The comedy of this series is flawed. While there are some funny jokes here and there, don't expect too much in terms of the comedy. With much toilet, gender based, and profane humor, the comedy often feels as though it's stuck in the 90s. Be prepared for a lot of fart and poop jokes. I, personally, found myself only mustering a few chuckles here and there until around episode 4 when it seemed to finally find it's comedic footing. The outrageousness finally sets in and the humor follows at this point. The openings narrated by Jeremy Irons are always a highlight. As he states in the second episode, "Don't you dare press that skip intro button." Netflix itself gets in on the humor as well. A few times in the series, an exec will pop in and apologize for Mike Myers going too far and attempt to give edited versions of the scenes that always prove to be upscale in terms of entertainment as the editing they provide always fails to tame. The humor is always there, though, sadly, the jokes seem to detract from the overall entertainment of the plot.
The comedy may not be everything to be hoped for in this series, though Myers still delivers. Each of the six episodes average about 25 minutes, making it an easily bingeable show. It may start with unsure footing, but by the end, it knows exactly what it wants to be and it'll have the viewer on the edge of their seat as they wonder how Ken will be able to put a stop to the evil plot afoot. It's certainly not a show for everyone. Myers fans will be elated to see him back in a lead, while others may find themselves put off by the humor before the end. If anything, stick around to the fourth episode where Myers reprises a completely unexpected fan-favorite character straight out of the swamp that is sure to elicit excitement from anyone. This may not be Myers best project, but it is certainly one that will stick with you for weeks to come for all the best reasons.
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