She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
The She-Hulk in “Attorney at Law” isn’t the savage variety some comic book fans might expect, nor is she precisely sensational, but the potential for both is there.
Director:
Kat Cairo and Anu Valia
Cast:
Tatiana Maslany, Mark Ruffalo, Tim Roth, Benedict Wong, Ginger Gonzaga, Jameela Jamil and Charlie Cox
Running Time:
9 sitcom-length episodes
Available in weekly installments on Disney+
Call me old school, but “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” gave me 1980s-era comic book feels. I seem to remember that back then, She-Hulk was something of a comic sex symbol. And the 14-year-old me was positively smitten.
The She-Hulk in “Attorney at Law” isn’t the savage variety some comic book fans might expect, nor is she precisely sensational, but the potential for both is there.
Episode 1 introduces us to young attorney Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany), the cousin of Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo). During a visit to Banner’s private island getaway, an event results in Walters receiving a dose of the green stuff. And because her biology is similar to that of the mild-mannered scientist, she Hulks out.
Fans of the ’80s comic might not like how this origin story is told; it’s brief and lacks emotional weight. But with a nod to the “Sensational” comic iteration of the character, the goofy fourth wall breaking and constant in-jokes relegate this MCU series to an unapologetic sitcom.
Viewers of a certain age will immediately peg “Attorney at Law” as “Ally McBeal” meets “Fleabag.” It’s a wonder that “McBeal” creator David E. Kelley isn’t given credit for this series. As a legal comedy, though, “She-Hulk” barely registers. “Better Call Saul” fans schooled on the finer points of the practice of creative, edgy law will find the sparse courtroom sequences sorely lacking. But the superhero elements help maintain interest.
After gaining Hulk powers, Jennifer is recruited to run the arm of a major law firm that represents folks with superpowers. And, of course, her first major case is to represent The Abomination (Tim Roth) in his parole hearing. Yes, this show pulls together the various Hulk movies, even joking about the actors who once inhabited Banner on the big screen.
As we might remember, the Abomination tried to kill Banner in a brutal fistfight that destroyed several city blocks. In taking the case, not only must Walters get around an apparent legal conflict, but she’s got to argue that this vicious killing machine should be released back into civilized society. Making heroes of former villains isn’t without precedent in the MCU (Loki comes to mind). But The Abomination is a different sort of fellow with a Greek chorus of women blissfully waiting to take him home with them.
The stream of cameos from the cinematic universe does approach the gratuitous. However, the light and playful tone keep things from bogging down. Maslany has fun with Walters, frequently addressing the viewers to comment on the foolishness of it all. I liked Maslany's fun but still mature presence; she’s not a naïve 20-something, and her Tinder profile becomes an intriguing plot point.
But given the sitcom scope of this series, there’s little room for drama in the first four episodes that were shared with critics. It plays mainly for laughs. But I got a whiff of something heavier in one scene where Walters, in her She-Hulk mode, longingly snaps a glimpse of herself in the mirror. The push and pull between Walters in and out of the big green body could provide an opportunity to make this show about something substantial.
We’ve already seen the Hulk identity crisis theme explored in the Avengers films as Banner conquered his destructive alter ego and evolved into Smart Hulk. And Smart Hulk is on display in the first two episodes as Banner assists Walters with her initial transition. Unlike Banner, Walters almost immediately harnesses her powers, and she can turn them off and on at will while retaining her mental faculties.
But Walters quickly discovers that most people prefer her in the green skin and muscled-up physique. Her new employer requires her to be in Hulk form, even, at times, in the courtroom. And a one-night stand ends with her partner deciding to express his displeasure when he sees her relatively puny human identity. I see a crash coming that could offer a jolt of much-needed sentiment.
“She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” continues the silly trend in the MCU that held back the last Thor outing. But in breaking the fourth wall and having Walters/She-Hulk directly address the audience with self-aware humor, the character might have a hard time inserting herself convincingly into theatrical outings that must offer more than just charm and chuckles.