Is Chewing Gum (2024) Worth Your Time? A Frustrating Review
The Series "Chewing Gum" (2024): A Cringe That Can't Be Chewed
"Chewing Gum" (2024) serves as a glaring example of the film industry’s attempts to grab viewers' attention using tired clichés and overused tropes, offering neither fresh concepts nor quality execution. This project stands alongside many contemporary Russian series, generating confusion not only due to its content but also its presentation format.
Plot: An Expected Disappointment
The very title, "Chewing Gum," seems to speak for itself. The attempt to portray a teenage drama layered with elements of social satire devolves into a nonsensical farce. From the first frames, the audience is confronted with a glaring issue — the evident mismatch between the ages of the actors and the roles they portray. The protagonists, purportedly high school seniors, resemble and behave like adults in their mid to late twenties. Their communication style, behavior, and even speech patterns shatter any semblance of realism expected from a series aimed at depicting adolescence.
Acting: Cringe Over Talent
The casting choices merit their own discussion. While a couple of performers manage to deliver their lines reasonably well, this does not redeem the overall ensemble. The majority of actors seem to drift around the stage, seemingly basking in the mere joy of being part of the project yet lacking any desire to immerse themselves in their roles. It creates an impression that the casting process prioritized personal connections or charisma in the director's eyes rather than actual talent.
Particularly striking is the fact that the performers make little effort to embody their teenage characters. They speak in a fabricated, contrived dialect that rings as artificial, leading only to dismay. In a misguided attempt to mimic youth slang, the writers have clearly overstepped, resulting in dialogues that feel forced and at times absurd.
Direction and Script: A Fail on All Fronts
Previous Russian series, even if only occasionally, presented viewers with intriguing plots or directorial creativity, but these expectations evaporate in "Chewing Gum." A lack of logic in the script and poor directorial choices surface in virtually every episode. Consequently, the series comes off as talentless and derivative.
Why Did "Chewing Gum" Fail?
- Unprofessional Casting Approach.
Assigning characters meant to be teenagers to visibly older actors is a glaring misstep. - Unnatural Dialogue.
In a quest for relevance, the writers have concocted a form of 'newspeak' that falls flat with false notes. - Lack of Fresh Ideas.
The storyline brings nothing novel, exciting, or original to the table. - Sloppy Direction.
Instead of well-constructed scenes, viewers are presented with unsupported emotional outbursts and stereotypical conflicts.
Who Is This Series For?
Truth be told, it's challenging to imagine any audience that would genuinely appreciate this project. Young viewers are unlikely to relate to these characters, and older generations will probably shy away from engaging with such a superficial and nonsensical spectacle.
Overall Impression: A Waste of Time
Unfortunately, expectations surrounding "Chewing Gum" fell short on every conceivable level. The series unfolds as a collection of clichés and absurdities, failing to evoke either laughter or tears. Even when compared to other recent Russian series, it appears particularly deficient.
Judging by audience reviews, there’s a consensus on this viewpoint. Comments frequently mention terms like "cringe," "farce," and "lack of talent." Such reactions are justified, as the project disappoints across the board — from acting to the plot.
What’s the Takeaway?
"Chewing Gum" stands as another example of how contemporary Russian cinema has hit rock bottom. If you find yourself with spare time, better to dedicate it to more quality content. The conclusion is clear: committing eight hours of your life to this series is nothing short of a regrettable expenditure.