Hugh Jackman is a Marvel legend. His position as Wolverine has encompassed many adjustments within the superhero style; the primary “X-Males” was revolutionary, a precursor to films like “The Darkish Knight” that grounded these comedian guide characters and made them feel and look actual. Then, in “Logan,” Jackman helped give the style legitimacy with a movie acknowledged by The Academy, a film so good, a uncommon gem with a definitive ending (even when “Deadpool & Wolverine” type of undid it) and a spotlight of the style.
In fact, the “X-Men” franchise isn’t the one superhero title Jackman has been part of. There’s some the place he basically performs a superhero in a non-comic guide film, just like the Easter Bunny in “Rise of the Guardians” that’s basically bunny Batman, or his very transient voice cameo in “Free Man,” a really dangerous film with shoehorned-in superhero easter eggs. However there’s one other position Jackman had in what is a good animated superhero sitcom with a uniquely Australian vibe that extra individuals ought to have watched, a present that each one however disappeared from the dialog — Hulu’s “Koala Man.”
“Koala Man” is created by Michael Cusack, who additionally created “YOLO” and co-created Grownup Swim’s flagship sequence “Smiling Associates.” The present is developed by Cusack alongside Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit (the good “Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy” and the upcoming miracle that is the “Spaceballs” sequel). The present takes place in an alternate universe the place the Titanic did not sink, however the US is totally destroyed (aside from Hollywood, which is now an island), leaving Australia because the world’s lone superpower, and Nicole Kidman as its queen. It is a superhero sitcom about Kevin Williams (Cusack) as a mean middle-aged household man who can be the moderately common superhero Koala Man.
A enjoyable tackle animated superheroes and sitcoms
“Koala Man” feels in some ways like an extension of the “Rick and Morty” and “Photo voltaic Opposites” sensibility, with a surreal humorousness hiding inside the mundane. Certainly, the story is principally a what if situation for Jerry Smith, if he was Australian and had the self-confidence to try to play hero.
Cusack brings his “Smiling Associates” humorousness to “Koala Man,” going from a quiet and grounded household sitcom to a particularly comedian book-y house, introducing Lovecraftian monsters, a league of superheroes, and weird creatures and powers whereas nonetheless very a lot being an earthly world. That distinction between household drama and superheroics is straight out of the Sam Raimi “Spider-Man” movies (which are a big inspiration for the show). In spite of everything, this can be a present a couple of man going by a midlife disaster so dangerous he decides to show right into a superhero. Beneath the laughs lies an emotionally complicated story that is not afraid to get actually darkish.
And but, that is nonetheless a comedy, one with unequivocally Aussie bogan humor. There are many Australia-specific jokes, like a jab at Australian actors going full Hollywood, and in addition a parade of Australian stars like Hugo Weaving and Miranda Otto. As for Hugh Jackman, his position as Large Greg is kind of Hugh Jackman himself, a beloved superstar with a massively spectacular physique that steals the scene any time he is round.
Sadly, “Koala Man” hasn’t been renewed for a season 2, and given the present got here out in 2023 and there was no phrase of its future — plus, Cusack is probably going busy with extra “Smiling Associates,” it appears Koala Man has hung up his cape. Nonetheless, it is a enjoyable season of TV value watching, whether or not you are a superhero fan or simply need a totally different type of animated sitcom.
