‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’ Is Pretty, Pretty Bad — and I Loved It

Iconic curmudgeon Larry David celebrates our nation's 250th anniversary in an HBO sketch show that rehashes American history through his distinct lens. But amid a parade of recycled jokes and celebrity guests, the "Curb" star's unique blend of pettiness and perception make for a revealing portrait of an oft-ridiculous country.

The third episode of Larry David’s new HBO sketch show, “Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness,” may be its worst. There’s a sketch centered on one of David’s characters not being invited to the Boston Tea Party, as if the rebellious uprising was just another dinner party. A Wright Brothers spoof features airline humor ripped straight from “Seinfeld’s” stand-up sets, and a rehash of the McCarthy hearings starts with Larry claiming a Communist sympathizer doesn’t respect wood — like he’s restaging “Curb Your Enthusiasm” in black-and-white.

Many sketches recycle David’s most popular stances, such as his outspoken disdain for waiting in line, sharing dessert, and saying “Happy New Year” too many days after January 1. Some sketches even repeat the same complaints within the same sketch, rather than continue what, in theory, should be a never-ending laundry list of nagging social customs.

This is Larry David, after all. The man has opinions about everything.

So I’m sure some viewers will be annoyed, even disappointed, to hear a bevy of old chestnuts redeployed under the auspices a new series. (There could be a lot less nagging wives, too.) “Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” is far from an innovative in its approach to poking fun at American history, and its lengthy sketches can grow tiring as they plod toward their expected conclusions.

But I must admit: I enjoyed every second.

My delight is first (and, more than likely, best) explained simply: Larry David is a timeless character. His perspective doesn’t need to shift whether it’s voiced 200 years in the past or 2,000 years in the future. He is who he is, and no matter the wigs, costumes, props, or setting, he’s never trying to convince us otherwise. Watching the Larry we know and love shuffling through time, arguing with presidents and generals, is funny — and during the roughest sketches, he’s still funny enough.

Also, for as thrilling as his creative logic and observations can be, there’s a pleasing familiarity to seeing him throw a shit-fit over the inanity of the Electoral College or flee from every battle he’s expected to face. We’re all Larry on some level — overwhelmed with righteous indignation, exasperated by our fellow man’s inability to recognize our rightness, and desperate to survive, no matter the embarrassment. He’s an ideal guide, even if he’s not guiding us anywhere unexpected.

…particularly for a “celebration” of America’s 250th anniversary in the year of our Lord two-thousand-and-twenty-six. While “Life, Larry, and The Pursuit of Unhappiness” doesn’t exactly lambaste the U.S. of A. every chance it gets (its subtitle, “An Almost History of America,” feels like placation), David and co-creator Jeff Schaffer make it easy for anyone suffering from a lack of patriotism to tap into an undercurrent of dissatisfaction. Samuel L. Jackson’s pointed narration sets up every sketch. Racism, antisemitism, and misogyny have a consistent presence. There’s a sketch I’m not allowed to mention that bluntly calls out our sitting president (featuring a pair of particularly substantive voices), and the series doesn’t shy away from topical commentary (even with Barack Obama as an executive producer and host).

Which brings me to my favorite sketch, which just so happens to be another entry from Episode 3. While I’ve been asked to avoid specifics, the sketch features a “Curb Your Enthusiasm” reunion whose new framework shares more than a few similarities with the duo’s “Curb” dynamic. From a bird’s eye view, the script (if there was one) may sound like a rip-off of what the unlikely friends got up to before. But the premise and particulars provide enough novelty to keep you hooked, and their brilliant chemistry enlivens their 19th century scenario with big, hearty laughs.

The sketch may not say anything more than “Curb” did, and “Curb” almost certainly said it better. But it is direct and effective in its directness — a neat (if loose) encapsulation of what “Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” has to impart about America, its ambitions and failures, allures and breaking points, significance and ridiculousness.

Perhaps most importantly, it made me chuckle from start to finish. As visitors to “Widow’s Bay” were recently reminded, if you can’t laugh at American history, you’re only in for more misery.

Grade: B-

“Life, Larry, and The Pursuit of Unhappiness” premieres Friday, June 26 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO. New episodes will be released weekly through the finale on August 7.