She-Hulkis meant to be a different kind of Marvel show,more courtroom comedy than superhero drama. If the show is going to succeed at the balance it requires, it would do well to take inspiration from theAnt-Manmovies, who are great at blendingaction and character-based comedy.
TheAnt-Manmovies aren’t perfect, but they do a better job of balancing the action and the comedy than most of the other Marvel films. In fact,Ant-Manis probably more of a comedy than a drama, something that can’t be said of properties likeThororCaptain America, or a least not the first twoThormovies. An argument could be made aboutThor: Ragnarok. Even the sometimes sarcastic and amusingIron Manexists within a dramatic setting. Fans laugh with Tony, but the situations the movie sets up aren’t comedic, in and of itself. This is the opposite ofAnt-Man, where the setup is wholly comedic, with some more dramatic beats mixed in.
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A lot of it is down to not just Paul Rudd, an extraordinary comedic actor, but the team behindAnt-Man,and the supporting cast. The action beats are always clear inAnt-Man, and the movies don’t shy away from using the characters' abilities in impressive action sequences. But there’s always a hint of the actor’s – and the character’s – personality built into the action. The movie recognizes how ridiculous the setup might all sound to people unfamiliar with the comics, and instead of trying to ignore that, it revels in it. The end result is that, even whenAnt-Manfails, it’s a mostly enjoyable movie.
She-Hulkhas already been set up in much the same way, more comedy than drama. These days, of course, most properties don’t stay in just one genre. Comedies can, and do have heartfelt moments, and dramas, particularly in the MCU, often introduce comedic elements. Still, the setup forShe-Hulkseems to be for a completely different idea than what fans have seen so far in the MCU – TV shows included.WandaVision,The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,andLokiare very different properties, but neither of them can be considered to be wholly comedic.
The fact that Marvel is trying to show its range with the Marvel Disney shows is a good thing. The setup ofWandaVisionmight have been hilarious at first, but it’s hard to argue the show was really going for comedy. Sam and Bucky’s banter was fun, butThe Falcon and The Winter Soldierdealt with some very heavy themes.Lokiseems to begoing for big existential questions.She-Hulkcan be something completely different, and that will help it stand out in a suddenly much more crowded landscape of Marvel TV shows.
Courtroom dramas, in general,haven’t been wholly comedic either, but they can be.Ally McBealdid it in the 90s.Boston Legaldid it in the mid-200s. AndShe-Hulkhas the advantage of a secret identity, and some hard-to-control powers to draw from when it comes to laughs. She-Hulk also has anactress of the caliber of Tatiana Maslany, who, though not precisely known for her comedic chops, has already proven she can play any character required of her, even if she has to play five at the same time, as she did inOrphan Black. Playing only Jennifer Walters andShe-Hulkwill probably feel like a breeze for Maslany.
Scott Lang’s whole demeanorand the wayAnt-Mandealt with a character who was coming out of jail, trying to do better for himself and his daughter, and still never veered into the morose are a very good mirror for what She-Hulk needs to do. It will be interesting to see them attempt to marry Jennifer’s job, and her wins and losses as a lawyer, to herShe-Hulkpersona. On paper, it sounds like it could be very heavy if dealt with in a straightforward way. But with humor as a basis and some heartfelt moments and good action sequences mixed in,She-Hulkcould be the kind of groundbreaking shows that opens up the door for the MCU going forward. And, if the character and the show are successful, then it’s likely fans will see her make the jump to the big screen and bring more balance to the MCU as a whole.
There aren’t a lot of MCU properties thatShe-Hulkcould draw from, as it attempts to set itself up as a legal comedy with a superhero at the helm. The Ant-Man movies are the best inspiration the people behind the show could find for the balance they will require if the show is going to work. ConsideringAnt-Manis going into its third movie, it might be up toShe-Hulkto not just copy the tone but carry that tone in the MCU going forward. It’s something the MCU doesn’t really have in abundance, and there’s certainly an appetite for it.
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