Turn Up Charlie tells the story of Charlie (Idris Elba), a washed up DJ who is living in his aunt’s house with his stoner best friend Del. Like most comedy programmes it focuses on a slightly tragic character who has become stuck in a rut with their life seemingly going from bad to worse. Charlie was at one stage a popular DJ in a happy relationship but due to several bad choices has ended up going broke, losing his girlfriend, and having to move in with his slightly batty aunt. As well as playing the lead protagonist, Elba is also a co creator and executive producer of Turn Up Charlie and although the show’s fictitious, it has a slightly autobiographical element in that Elba is also a recognised DJ and was raised in London.
Despite all this it seems plain weird to see Idris Elba in a comedy sitcom, as he has predominantly starred in edgy thrillers, heavy dramas, and action packed blockbusters. This isn’t the first instance where an actor known for macho, tough guy roles has taken up daycare duties – the classic example being Arnold Schwarzenegger in Kindergarten Cop, and more recently Vin Diesel in The Pacifier. Idris Elba follows in their footsteps and certain similarities can indeed be drawn in his performance. But being brutally honest Arnie and Vin aren’t the best actors in the world and their performances are mainly reliant on the laughs and the bizarre fact that they are in a totally different role. There is a certain novelty in Elba’s completely unusual placement but he still acts well enough to show depth, and his humour seems more natural and genuine then those that have come before him. It’s a testament to Elba’s acting capability that he works extremely well in the role and gives a very amusing performance. It is also a nice change of pace for Elba. Although the humour is a bit daft and the story not particularly engrossing, there is something enjoyable and relaxing about Turn Up Charlie. It is an easy going and chilled comedy drama that delivers something different from Idris Elba and the parts that focus on his attempts to become a successful DJ are interesting because they are based on his real life experiences.
Charlie’s situation becomes even more comical when David, one of his best friends from school, offers him a job as his kid’s nanny. Charlie agrees but only because David’s wife Sara is also a DJ and allows him to use her recording studio in exchange for minding their daughter. The unexpected and unusual pairing of the two is the best aspect of the show. Charlie, a down to earth bloke who’s a bit of a joker, opposite Gabby, a very intelligent but socially inept girl. There is the classic troupe of how they don’t get on a first and then they do get along and then fall out again before eventually making up that is a tad cliché. But there is enough decent humour, as well as a sprinkling of drama to sustain interest. Frankie Hervey and Idris Elba work very well opposite one another and their on screen chemistry is both believable and somewhat sweet. They are characters that are depressed and alone and although they never admit it to one another, they benefit from their time spent together and provide the support they both need. Although a totally different style of programme Luther had a similar odd pairing in season two where Luther looks after a young woman who is being manipulated by some unsavory characters. That same sense of chemistry and connection was used then and shows his ability to play a caring guardian figure effectively.
The first half of Turn Up Charlie is really enjoyable and fun to watch. There is a good balance between Charlie’s new world of nannying and his struggle to break back onto the music scene. The development of his and Gabby’s friendship is very well done with all the highs and lows they encounter along the way. It is mostly light-hearted and easy-going humour, with bite-sized half an hour episodes and a series of fairly amusing situations. The drama when used is effective and adds a bit more depth to the show and thanks to Elba’s experience and skill as a serious actor it comes across as genuine and authentic. There is an interesting mix of music, some songs which I really enjoyed, and others that weren’t my taste but enough of a balance that I was able to appreciate parts of the soundtrack.
MORE: 5 Biggest TV Shows Of March 2019
On the other hand, the second half lets the show down a bit. Charlie starts off as a loser but there is something likeable, grounded and relatable about the character. In the later episodes he changes and although required within context of the story, it felt like they went a bit too far. Even when he is supposedly the nice guy in the last few episodes, Charlie comes across as a bit sleazy and full of himself. The decision to have David and Sara encountering issues within their relationship due to their increasing fame and workload works well, as it demonstrates the impact it has on Gabby. But throwing Charlie into the middle of the argument doesn’t quite work and by the final episode, there wasn’t really a single character I liked any more.
There are a few instances of nice cinematography and editing. The sequence where Charlie is playing one of his first gigs after having been out of action has a nice visual twist which is achieved through smart editing: by showing us a fancy looking stage, heaving crowd and buzzing atmosphere the viewer gets the impression that Charlie is about to perform at a sell out gig. It keeps flicking back and forth between the build up on stage to him preparing to go on. When he does eventually come out to perform it is a completely different venue with a tiny crowd. Then it is revealed that the stage we were being shown beforehand is the gig Sara is playing at instead, cleverly tricking the audience into thinking Charlie had made a surprise comeback. The episode where Charlie and Sara lose Gabby and Hunter at Latitude festival is well done, as it is a great setting and location for such a frantic but also humorous situation. However the best use of camerawork and editing is during the episode where Charlie is partying and Disc Jockeying in Ibiza. The unique camera angles and shots, quick cuts and intense and impacting imagery really get across the crazy and wild reality that is getting off your face in Ibiza.
Turn Up Charlie isn’t a groundbreaking television show but it does provide some laughs and presents a number of amusing situations. The first half of the season balances content well with the focus on Charlie and Gabby’s friendship interspersed with his attempts to break back onto the music scene. It is primarily comedy based but there is an element of drama which gives the characters added depth and relatability. Idris Elba shows his versatility as an actor being able to play a down on his luck loser surprisingly well. Elba has played a number of different roles but he is most notably famous for Luther. It has become a role he is synonymous with, much like Daniel Craig’s James Bond, making it hard to imagine him playing anyone else. This intense, broody and intelligent persona can also be seen in other performances such as The Wire and his appearance as Heimdall in the Thor Trilogy of films. Although this last is a more light-hearted series, his character possesses a clever, straight laced and intense personality, which viewers are much more familiar with. However in Turn Up Charlie Elba presents a character who is tragic yet entertaining and manages to combine humour and drama effectively to present an interesting and entertaining performance.
Unfortunately the second half of Turn Up Charlie is not as well executed. Most of the characters are unlikable, the story doesn’t seem to going anywhere and the balance between the nanny focus and the DJ oriented aspects become offset. When Charlie heads off to Ibiza ,it very much feels like an extended music video, focusing on the cool and hip world of DJ’ing and the music industry, overlooking the important development and relationships explored through the nanny narrative.
Turn Up Charlie isn’t really able to decide what it is and the prime example of this is the last episode where nothing is resolved and the characters seem to have come full circle. A few more episodes might have managed to wrap things up more effectively. What we are left with is a half baked product that had potential and value but didn’t quite see it through to fruition. It is a shame because some of the aspects of the show work really nicely but others end up missing the mark.
Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site. We cover gaming news, movie reviews, wrestling and much more.
