If you've ever watched a mediocre video essay by an amateur on Youtube, you will have unrealistically high expectations for this studio-produced series of video essays written and performed by actual industry professionals. The writing would be pretty poor if it were coming from a college freshman. For example, the episode on unlikeable characters essentially argues "Sometimes characters are unlikeable" and then proceeds to give dozens of examples of unlikeable protagonists without ever making anything approaching a salient point on likeability. But in truth, the poor writing and unimaginative direction and editing are not even close to the worst parts about this series. That would be the narration. In episode 1, Sasha Stone makes a convincing argument that being a film critic does not necessarily translate to being a remotely competent performer. By episode 3, Drew McWeeny is ready to put the nail in that particular coffin. Series directors Tony Zhao and Taylor Ramos also narrate here and there. Tony Zhao is almost listenable (but not), whereas Taylor Ramos delivers perhaps the most wooden, inhumanly robotic performance that has ever been committed to audio. Think of anyone you know - friend, coworker, mail delivery person - they would have done a better job than every single narrator in this series. How the heck does that HAPPNEN?
Review of Voir
