Review: The Crew on Netflix

My boyfriend and I just recently finished our rewatch of Bojack Horseman. And for anyone who has watched it, you know that it is HEAVY. However, I definitely recommend it. Anyways, we decided to move onto something that was not heavy, in any way at all. Thank god Netflix has been releasing content like its subscribers depend on it; enter "The Crew". This show is so funny, and light; it makes you forget that it's snowing in Texas and you can't go outside without your fingers falling off. Yes, I said snow in TEXAS. The weather was in single digits the other day. We have had rolling blackouts and some places don’t have access to water. So basically, we needed something really, really light.

The premise of the show follows a pit crew in Nascar. I use to be into the car scene, not really Nascar, but the basics of liking cars are the same. You want to go fast, so you have to modify the heck out of your car to do that. But in reality, you really don’t have to know anything about Nascar in order to follow this show.

Back to the show, the crew’s management gets switched and they have to go through the issues and obstacles to become the best car on the track. When my boyfriend and I were trying to decide if this was for us, we thought fondly of Talladega Nights and knew this was for us. Just enough racing to not get bored of watching a car drive in circles, but still enough to remember the point of the show. And to not forget that these shows can’t possibly be made without money, so the product placement is very evident. From Dunkin Donuts to Under Armor, you almost can never forget that these shows can’t just materialize without sponsors. And how effective this is because I can not wait to go to Dunkin Donuts and try a coolata. Whatever the hell that is. This is the stereotypical sitcom, and it shines with its jokes and charm. Many of the jokes are up to date and fresh, which is welcomed.

Kevin James is the main character, and he does a great job, playing the crew chief. I mean, when doesn't he though? And as my boyfriend put it, “it’s Kevin James, you know who what you’re going to get”. He vaguely gives you a dad vibe from his bad dad jokes and his karate moves reminiscent of Cobra Kai. Seriously, I had to text my dad and tell him to watch the show and tell me Kevin James wasn't him. He ended up responding to me and saying that “Kevin James is his role model and he’s finally glad I figured it out”.

The other characters are as wacky and funny as Kevin James and compliment each other perfectly to create a show that is easy to watch and has a decent plotline. There is the obligatory girl boss, the girl best friend, the anxiety-ridden guy, the no-bullshit car mechanic, and the good-looking, not-so-smart athlete. It’s refreshing to see that the sitcom still offers some great resolutions and lessons to be learned in the different episodes, while not straying too far towards something it is not.

I had read a review that thought this sitcom was sexist, and while at times you can tell that there are undertones of the man trying to stick it to the new boss girl; I think it’s important to remember that these shows aren’t necessarily trying to be this way. While I definitely understand the reason for feeling this way, as I am a girl, I also see the parts of the show where the man is shut down, and the girls are given their rewards. It would be ludicrous to ask these types of comedy to be anything that they aren’t, however, this show does a good job of being funny and respectful. This show perfectly combines the old comedy routines with the girl boss attitude and still gives us a laugh. I didn’t find the show offensive; in fact, the show highlighted quite a few powerful women and that to me, is progress.

This show is currently on the Netflix Top 10. If you needed something new and engaging to watch, this is your sign to watch “The Crew”.