2023 Show
Ana Carol Machado & André Moraes · Brazil · Portuguese
Though its satire could be sharper, it’s a quirky enough sitcom that pokes fun at social media and the entertainment industry
Likes for Sale, or Compro Likes in Portuguese, is as quirky and lighthearted as you’d expect from a half-hour sitcom. Its main premise, that of creating a fake persona in the age of online disinformation, also poses interesting questions. How ethical is it to buy likes to boost your career? And if you’re as desperate and rundown as Wagner, does the end justify the means? The ways in which Wagner and his team of frustrated artists navigate these dilemmas are what make the show relatable and interesting, but they’re also what make it frustrating at times. Some of their resolutions are questionable, and when they do tackle weighty matters, they seem too flippant to warrant serious thought. And the cast—as ebullient as they are—aren’t always convincing or charming enough to win you over. It’s admirable for the series to tackle such a novel concept (I’ve only ever seen it in the 2022 film Not Okay), but it looks like it’s something that needs to be lived in more to be fully fleshed out.
Having pursued fame the traditional way to no avail, dejected actor Wagner turns to eccentric guru Johnny Silva for help. Johnny's "fake it till you make it" advice propels Wagner to internet fame — complete with millions of followers, invented romances, and bogus movie roles. Now an internet celebrity, Wagner plans to ride the wave until the wheels fall off… assuming he doesn’t get canceled first.
When Wagner (Fábio Lago), a frustrated actor working as a paper salesman, fails to book acting gigs, he decides to create a social media account documenting his fake international success.
The vibrancy of the Brazilian arts scene. Wagner and his group of frustrated artists are the soul of this series, and it’s their hunger for something creative and real outside of the humdrum of life that keeps the show running. They also pose as a foil to the inauthenticity of the entertainment industry, which they rightly and funnily critique.
It’s fun and colorful, but it doesn’t do enough to address the big and relevant questions it poses.
Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. In her spare time, she likes to watch K-dramas and analyze them to death. She's also seen You've Got Mail one too many times but is still convinced it's one of the greatest films out there.
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