Chewing Gum (2024) Review: A Series to Skip
The Series "Chewing Gum" (2024): Cringe That Can't Be Chewed
The 2024 series, "Chewing Gum," stands out as a glaring example of how the film industry attempts to capture audience attention through clichéd approaches and overused tropes, without offering any innovative ideas or quality craftsmanship. This project, much like many contemporary Russian series, raises eyebrows not only due to its content but also due to the very format in which it is presented.
Plot: Anticipated Disappointment
The title "Chewing Gum" is rather indicative of the project's substance. The effort to portray a teenage drama interspersed with social satire quickly devolves into a ridiculous farce. From the very first frames, viewers are confronted with a significant issue: the actors' ages starkly conflict with the ages of their characters. The main characters, presumed to be high school graduates, appear and act as if they are in their mid to late twenties. Their mannerisms, behaviors, and speech styles starkly mismatch the teenage demographic, stripping away any semblance of realism that could have been grasped from the series.
Acting Performance: Cringe Instead of Talent
Casting choices are a whole separate conversation. Among the cast, a handful of actors exhibit a modicum of talent; however, this does little to salvage the ensemble's lackluster performance. The majority of the actors seem to meander on stage, reveling in the fact that they are part of this production rather than immersing themselves in their roles. It gives off the impression that the selection process was less about merit and more about personal connections or the director's perceived charisma.
It becomes particularly evident that the actors aren't even attempting to embody adolescents. Instead, they converse in a contrived, unrealistic dialect that sounds so artificial it only prompts confusion. In their efforts to mimic youthful slang, the scriptwriters have clearly gone too far, rendering the dialogues unnatural and occasionally laughable.
Direction and Screenplay: A Total Downfall
Once upon a time, some Russian television series managed to surprise audiences with engaging plots or creative directing choices. However, any glimmer of those expectations has vanished within this production. The absence of coherent logic in the script and the weak direction are apparent in nearly every episode, making the series feel unoriginal and uninspired.
Why Did "Chewing Gum" Fail?
- Unprofessional Casting Choices.
Attempting to portray teenagers with visibly older actors is an inherently flawed decision. - Unnatural Dialogue.
In the scramble for relevance, the screenwriters crafted a concoction of dialogue that sounds disingenuous. - Lack of Fresh Ideas.
The plot fails to present anything novel, interesting, or original. - Careless Direction.
Instead of carefully crafted scenes, viewers are subjected to unfounded emotional outbursts and stereotypical conflicts.
Who Is This Series For?
Honestly, it’s a challenge to picture the audience who might find value in this project. The youth are likely to struggle to see themselves in these characters, while older generations are hardly going to waste their time on something so shallow and trivial.
Overall Impression: A Waste of Time
Expectations from "Chewing Gum" have fallen flat at every turn. The series unfolds like a collection of clichés and absurdities that evoke neither laughter nor tears. Even amidst other modern Russian series, it stands as a weak contender.
Viewer feedback aligns with this perspective, with comments often mentioning words like "cringe," "farce," and "lack of talent." Such remarks are completely justified, as the project disappoints on multiple fronts—from the performances to the storyline.
So What’s the Bottom Line?
"Chewing Gum" serves as yet another instance of how contemporary Russian cinema continues to hit rock bottom. If you find yourself with some free time, it’s wiser to channel it towards higher-quality content. The conclusion is as clear as day: watching this series equates to squandering eight hours of your life.