Episode Guide
Episode 1 – | Review Score – 3/5 Episode 2 – | Review Score – 3/5 Episode 3 – | Review Score – 3/5 Episode 4 – | Review Score – 3/5 Episode 5 – | Review Score – 3/5 Episode 6 – | Review Score – 3/5 True Story is an engaging but predictable thriller, with well-orchestrated twists. An inspired Wesley Snipes and Kevin Hart partnership is enough to drive this 7 episode series forward, but it’s certainly not without its flaws. The story itself opens with a monologue that actually sounds like Kevin Hart is talking about his life. He’s not, thank goodness, as we’re instead whisked across to the high-flying life of fictional celebrity Kid. He’s been doing comedy gigs, big-budget superhero movies and is on top of the world. When Kid arrives in Philly for the next stop on his tour, his world is turned upside down when his brother Carlton shows up. After a drunken night downtown, Kid wakes up next to a young woman, who’s lying face-down on the bed. Presumably dead after an overdose, Carlton and Kid work together to try and hide the evidence before they’re caught out. After enlisting the help of Greek gangsters, Kid finds his entire world spiraling out of control. Will he be able to make it out of this unscathed? The performances from Hart and Snipes are actually pretty good and certainly enough to keep you watching until the end. The trouble is, the story has one too many contrived bouts of drama in it, and you’ll see the big twist coming a mile off. The other problem here comes from the celebrity culture and constant references to the high-life. From live-stream videos blowing up with thousands of watchers in a flash, to the inclusion of a deliberate bit of dialogue tto tell us a hotel costs $5000 a night, this show is relentless for pushing the high-life. Oh, Kid’s been invited to Beyonce and Jay Z’s party? That’s cool. What’s this? Kid is doing a superhero movie with Chris Hemsworth? Great! Kid gets VIP access to the Sixer’s game, complete with a backstage pass and a swanky VIP box high above everyone? Yeah, we get it. This may sound like I’m being sour but honestly, this show is so over the top and in-your-face with its wealthy lifestyle that it forgets to tell an engaging thriller. There’s a constant push/pull between Kid’s “everyday life” and the dark thriller aspects. Unfortunately this also sours the experience of watching the thriller unfold. True Story isn’t going to be a show to take the world by storm. Fans of Kevin Hart and Wesley Snipes will eat this up though, while those after a simple but enjoyable thriller will find enough to keep them satisfied over a few nights. Does this compete with the best of the genre though? In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger: No chance.
