Rooster is drier than we expected from a show starring and co-produced by Steve Carrell, but the humor reflects the broader non-committance that has a hold over the 2020s. Instead of confidently pulling out the wit, jokes take on a well-meaning, unassuming manner. Meanwhile, most characters here refuse to speak and act straightforwardly about what they really want– or at least, their efforts in doing so are always perceived in the opposite way. In any case, Rooster is not going to knock you out of your seat. But it is going to poke fun at how desperately they pretend to be nonchalant, and the chaos that ensues as a result.
"Carell is savvy enough to root each preposterous statement or action in something true to his character. It’s a performance worth reveling in."
— Ben Travers
On a college campus, an author navigates a complicated relationship with his daughter.
