Middleditch & Schwartz is an improvised live comedy Netflix special, starring two stand-up-comedians-turned-actors who get a launchpad scenario from the audience by asking “what do you have coming up that you’re either excited about or dreading?”. From there, the two then create an hour-long, completely improvised and completely ridiculous story-like skit based off the original idea and the only way to explain it is an unexpectedly hilarious chaos.
The first show is based around a wedding with an array of chaotic wedding guests, the second follows the story of a legal studies class with a surprise guest, and the third is the story of two friends applying for their dream jobs. All seemingly simple and common scenarios explored and taken in absolutely ridiculous, imagination-fuelled directions. Utilising nine different camera angles and amazingly detailed editing, even though every single character and storyline is made up on the spot and performed by only Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz the stage somehow feels full and the story alive with characters.
While I found this comedy special hilarious and immensely enjoyable, the most entertaining aspect of the show was bearing witness to the genuine friendship between Middleditch and Schwartz, who have been performing comedy together long before they became familiar faces on television. Seeing the two break characters, share in-jokes or even play Scissors, Paper, Rock in the middle of the show mixed with the live audience’s laughter gave the show a really authentic feel and made me genuinely believe everyone in that room was having a good night – especially the two on stage.
Now, I completely understand that humour is (unfortunately) subjective and what is insanely hilarious and worth watching multiple times to one viewer, may not tickle the funny bone of another. To give some relativity to the content these two usually create this is why their names may sound familiar: Thomas Middleditch is currently best known for his role as Richard Hendricks in HBO’s comedy series Silicon Valley. However, he also starred in over 20 CollegeHumor Originals as well as playing Flagstaff in 2019’s Zombieland: Double Tap and the title role in the film Joshy. Ben Schwartz began making waves in the television industry with his role in House of Lies before moving on to play the legendary Jean-Ralphio in Parks and Recreation. Since then he has been busing staring in the latest Netflix comedy series Space Force, he was the voice behind Sonic in the Sonic the Hedgehog movie and has even voiced characters in shows from DuckTales to Bojack Horseman.
I found the experience of watching Middleditch & Schwartz to be a unique one. I’ve been a fan of these actors for a long time and experiencing their raw, unfiltered humour was a hilarious and yet also somewhat comforting viewing. I think in the midst of 2020 and the chaos that has filled this year so far, what Middleditch & Schwartz is offering is not a solution or a thought-provoking antidote, but instead an escape – three hours of laughs and goofiness to make you smile and distract you from what’s happening around us for a night.
Score: 5/5