Chuck is basically every geek’s wet dream. A dopey tech guy is thrown into a world that’s half James Bond and half Kevin Smith. His secret life of adventure and danger gives him newfound confidence and the attention of an unattainably hot woman. The premise isn’t exactly breaking new ground, but the well-executed offering from the bros who brought us The OC is one of the strongest contenders for the upcoming season.
The NBC pilot, written by Josh Schwartz and directed by McG, introduces us to the title character: a socially inept computer geek with a dead-end job and a group of charming friends. On the night of his 20-somethingth birthday he receives an email from his college roommate (now a rogue CIA agent) which contains all of the government’s secrets encrypted on images. Watching the photos flash across his monitor, Chuck goes catatonic and wakes up the next morning with all of the information stored unwittingly in his head. He must now work with two (possibly evil) government agents to keep America safe for freedom and bla, bla, bla…
Reluctant heroes are nothing new, and the notion of “downloading information into your brain” is a comically tough pill to swallow. Yet Chuck seems to work really well. Why? Because the guy playing him (Zachary Levi) is simultaneously hilarious, endearing and utterly brilliant every moment he’s on the screen. If Schwartz knows anything, it’s writing and casting underdogs. Levi is as perfect for Chuck as Adam Brody was for Seth Cohen.
The star of Chuck’s inner-circle is his best friend Morgan (Joshua Gomez), an ideal sidekick who seems poised to provide the bulk of the show’s physical comedy. In one of the funnier scenes in the first episode, Chuck and Morgan return home to find a masked stranger trying to steal Chuck’s computer. After Morgan throws a few household objects that are deflected and repeatedly hit his friend, they are both knocked out and come to in a comprising position – one they were kind enough to recreate at Comic-Con this weekend. Chuck also has a doting sister, Ellie (the ever-wonderful Sarah Lancaster – blessedly spared from another annoying season of What About Brian?), who is on a never-ending mission to get her brother out of his shell. There’s also Ellie’s boyfriend, who, despite substantial screen time, is known only by the sarcastic moniker of “Captain Awesome.”
Chuck is funny, fast-paced and oddly compelling for a show that is seldom serious. NBC’s other newbies pale in comparison, but it won’t really matter if Chuck does for the network what Heroes did last year. The ugliest obstacle Chuck is likely to face might be Schwartz’s dreadful creative slumps that plagued The OC. Teen soaps certainly have more trappings of banality; the temptation for simple, hackneyed storylines on The OC must have been overwhelming, but most of the time there was really no excuse. If he’s as hands-on with Chuck as he was with Ryan, Seth and company… it will be an interesting test of stamina.
Oh good. Can’t wait to see this! Always loved Zachary Levi since he stole the show on Less Than Perfect.
Chuck is racist and the show should be boycotted. Chuck portrays Asian Americans in a negative light. A strong message should be sent to Chuck, NBC, and the entertainment industry that such racism will not be tolerated.