Last One Laughing to Dead Man’s Wire: the week in rave reviews
Why it matters: This week's top picks offer a compelling blend of escapist humor and urgent social critique.
- Last One Laughing UK is hailed as a triumphant return, consistently leaving reviewer Rachel Aroesti "helpless with laughter" due to its hilarious premise of comedians trying to keep a straight face.
- Inside the Rage Machine on BBC iPlayer is a "quite something" exposé, with former Meta and X whistleblowers revealing the "horrifying truth" about social media companies, according to Lucy Mangan.
- The Plastic Detox on Netflix follows an epidemiologist's attempt to reduce plastic exposure for couples trying to conceive, raising "genuinely troubling questions" and prompting viewers to consider lifestyle changes, as noted by Jack Seale.
- Dead Man’s Wire is Gus Van Sant's gripping film based on real 1977 events, featuring Al Pacino, Colman Domingo, and Myha’la, whose performances create a "surreal and bizarre and often hilarious" take on a hostage situation, according to Peter Bradshaw.
- Boarders concludes its "hugely impressive" run on BBC iPlayer with a final series that feels "very real" in its sharp sendup of UK boarding schools, full of sex, scandals, and exams.
- The Fabulous Funeral Parlour on Channel 4 is a "camp, light and touching" documentary about a glamorous funeral director, succeeding in making viewers "feel something new about the most universal experience there is."
This week's top reviews highlight a mix of uproarious entertainment and sobering social commentary, from the laugh-out-loud return of "Last One Laughing UK" to the chilling revelations of "Inside the Rage Machine" exposing social media giants. Meanwhile, films like "Dead Man's Wire" offer gripping real-life dramas, while documentaries such as "The Plastic Detox" challenge viewers to reconsider their lifestyles.
