Creators: Jason Gann & Adam Zwar
Cast: Elijah Wood, Jason Gann, Fiona Gubbelmann
Certificate: 15
US producers have taken plenty of stick over the years for their incessant remaking of perfectly fine films and TV from around the world. However, such criticisms cannot be levelled at the TV execs behind WILFRED, who have had the foresight to bring on board the creators (and star) of the original Australian show. Though the new version has an undoubted American spin, it remains very much in the spirit of the original, and therefore a strong entry into the current US comedy canon.
Former Hobbit Elijah Wood plays Ryan, lifetime neurotic on the brink of suicide (the opening scenes depict a very unsuccessful and amusing attempt on his own life). But when his attractive neighbour asks Ryan to look after her dog Wilfred, Ryan finds he is the only one who can hear and converse with the dog, and even sees Wilfed as a fully-grown man dressed in an unconvincing dog-suit. Though he steers Ryan away from his suicidal tendencies, Wilfred also makes his life hell, teaching Ryan valuable lessons by placing him into awkward situations with his terrible behaviour and habitual drug-taking.
Unsurpisingly, WILFRED’s best moments come from the dog himself (played with brilliant Aussie nonchalance by co-creator Jason Mann). Part menace, part man’s best friend, WILFRED follows in a tradition of other anthropomorphised characters, always at his best when rationalising typical animal behaviour. Also noteworthy is Elijah Wood, who puts in a likable performance as loser Ryan. Whilst we’ve seen Wood ‘go dark’ in the likes of SIN CITY, the explicit humour (at times brilliantly filthy) feels like a genuinely new addition to his repertoire. It also features a top notch performance from Chris Klein as an uber-douchebag, leagues ahead of his terminally dull character from the AMERICAN PIE series.
Whilst there are a few misses across the 13 episodes, for the most part it’s a thoroughly satisfying watch – surreal, silly, and decidedly un-PC. Exactly what you’d expect from one man and his foul-mouthed, pot-smoking, over-sexed dog.
WILFRED is available to buy on DVD 20th August
