Flipped

Flipped is a unique hybrid of comedic satire and home design intrigue, released on Quibi in 2020. It weaves a delectably eccentric storyline that ties decadent home renovations with the shady world of underground crime. The series, which consists of 11 short episodes that each run for around 10 minutes, aligns well with Quibi’s vision of providing "quick bite" entertainment for busy, on-the-go watchers.

The central characters of the series are Cricket (Kaitlin Olson) and Jann Melfi (Will Forte), a quirky, middle-class couple with grand designs not just for their house, but for their lives as well. The couple shares an unfulfilled dream of becoming widely celebrated TV home renovation stars. They envision themselves as design pioneers, eagerly waiting to transform their commonplace lives into a lush, design-powered prestige. However, their extraordinary vision is hampered by their lack of funds and design expertise.

Jann's narcissism and self-proclaimed "creative genius", paired with Cricket's entertainingly intense enthusiasm and her misplaced belief in Jann's talent, set the comedic foundations of the show. Their dreaming and scheming to become the next big thing in the home renovation reality TV space, while being thoroughly unqualified, is at once endearing and hilarious. In the real world, such illusions would be quickly shattered, but Jann and Cricket's world is a little different.

Their fortunes take a left turn when they stumble upon a dilapidated, old building and spend their last dime to buy and renovate it. The hilarity begins when their renovation project leads them to stumble upon a stash of hidden drug money. They decide to utilize this newfound wealth to kickstart their TV careers and transform the building into a work of art.

However, there's a twist. The hidden stash they've appropriated belongs to two members of a Mexican drug cartel, played with effervescent charm and surprising humor by actors Arturo Castro and Andy Garcia. When the cartel discovers who has their cash, they kidnap Jann and Cricket, leading to a series of outrageously hilarious events.

Now, instead of renovating homes for their imaginary TV audience, Jann and Cricket are imprisoned and forced to use their creative "talents" to renovate the Mexican cartel's mansions. The contrast between the couple's TV dream world and the dangerous reality of a drug cartel becomes a rich source of humor and unexpected narratives.

Flipped doesn't shy away from leveraging cliche stereotypes of the crime world, yet infuses enough uniqueness to craft intriguing characters and narratives. While retaining a lighthearted tone, it also offers periodic commentary on class and social ambition, making it more than just your run-of-the-mill comedy.

Cricket, along with her overstated enthusiasm and questionable design choices, stands out as a robust character. Kaitlin Olson encapsulates the essence of an aspiring middle-class woman whose biggest enemy is her lack of talent – something she blissfully unaware of.

Will Forte's portrayal of Jann Melfi mirrors a similar lack of awareness. Convinced that he is a misunderstood genius, Jann embarks on this wild journey with a hilarious blend of arrogance, ignorance, and cluelessly misplaced confidence. Along with the leading duo, Arturo Castro and Andy Garcia bring in an equal amount of wit, charm, and depth to the show.

Flipped gleefully dances between the world of home renovation dreams and the darkly humorous undertones of the crime world. With its whip-smart dialogues, comic timing, and unexpected plot turns, Flipped makes for an engaging watch. Despite its superficial image as a comedic drama about a pair of home renovation dreamers, it succeeds in providing meaningful commentary on contemporary society and individual aspirations. It effectively exploits its episodic format to build anticipation and extracts remarkable performances from its leads.

In conclusion, Flipped is a comedy series that stands as a testament to Quibi's ambition of presenting unconventional, bite-sized storytelling. For viewers who enjoy home-renovation mixed with comical crime, Flipped could be a hilariously bizarre, yet an oddly satisfying and refreshing departure from the everyday home renovation show.