Red Oaks
Red Oaks
TV-MA | 28 August 2014 (USA)
SEASON & EPISODES
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • Reviews
    horizonbts-206-628336

    Stick with this one as it works, at first I wondered as the characters seemed kind of awkard or misplaced, it didn't take long to find out the story, characters, and setting all end up meshing well and bringing the fun of the 80's out of the past!! It's kind of like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Caddyshack, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and Risky Business all wrapped into one! Growing up and loving the 80's movies this is exactly what I needed in a series. The setting is at Red Oaks Country club so thus the feeling of Caddyshack only tennis is the big game here. Craig Roberts plays David Meyers the tennis guru at the Red Oaks club, kind of a poor man's Ferris Bueller, and the glue that keeps it all together, Ennis Emmer/Nash is the Bill Murray and it took me a few episodes, but I absolutely love his humor and what he brings to the table!! Finally there is Oliver Cooper who plays Wheeler-similar to a Spicoli of a Fast Times at Ridgemont High who loves to party and screams 80's into his character. The series has the language, the cars, the girls, and finally the style of the 80's. If you like me are looking for that 80's type of feel and miss those great movies, here it is all wrapped up into a neat little series. I am addicted now and I can't quit binging, again stick with it, and I am sure like me you will find it hitting on all cylinders with a great 80's flair. Kudo's to Amazon for opening up the 80's time capsule and I also might add very well done!

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    rockwoodjo

    As an angry gen x'r that was THERE in the 80s, I won't waste your time with prose, so here goes:1) There were no fat sidekicks in the 1980s. That formulaic curly haired fro wearing Jonah Hill type genius did not exist - a fat sidekick would be more John Candy. That is a millennial invention. A more believable Wheeler would be skinny, small, and with giant glasses and wear suits - and probably wouldn't bath. I recall there was this guy named Bill Gates...2) It's obvious the budget went to High Castle, as the producers didn't really try to make the sets look or feel genuine 80s. Kudos to wardrobe, but come on guys. Everything, including door fixtures to lights weren't legit. Geez, at least paint the walls the right color. So many times I watched this, thinking it was taking place modern day, and the actors were just driving crappy old cars and wearing thrift store clothes. I kept forgetting it was in the 80s... maybe that was the point?3) No video arcades? That's were you bought/traded your drugs. These teenage club working guys were so cool, idealistic, and confident, they didn't need to bother with the hottest technology of the time! Like I said, the 80s was applied to Red Oaks like cheap washable veneer. 4) Painfully obvious the worn out stories were meant to appeal to Millennials and their cry baby problems. Folks were hustling in the 80s and not being whiny about their dreams. It was eat, or be eaten. Russians and Nuclear war were around the corner. Status was king. No school = No future. You believed if you worked hard at anything, you would get there. That theme was touched upon - sort of. Regardless, I hope all the Boomers enjoyed watching this with their (still living at home) kids and felt some sort of connection.5) Thank goodness the actors saved the day! I was surprised many of them did not phone it in, but instead gave it their best to make it work. Watch Red Oaks for the performances, and don't expect to find yourself immersed in the 80s. Go rent Dirty Dancing, Flashdance, or Footloose for the real experience.Yeahh, that's right I gave it only a 6. Now you know why it ended at season 3.

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    arampapik

    Show takes place in the 80's. If you've grow up during that time, you will feel a sense of nostalgia while watching this show. Big camcorders, no cell phones, big hair, colorful sunglasses, denim, aerobics, etc. Kind of makes me want to re-live the times. Show is very well made. Great cinematography , good selection of actors, lots of settings, easy to follow plot with just the right amount of side stories going on. I would re-watch the show... can't say that about many shows. Can't wait till season 3.

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    forsyth19

    Recently discussed this show in a bar with a friend I'd recommended it too, who said he and his wife really enjoyed it and that watching it felt like receiving a warm friendly hug off the TV. With some alcohol in my system I felt I knew what he was driving at.It's a shame Amazon doesn't appear to promote it as much as it could. It probably struggles to define what to sell it on. The first episode leads you to think rehash of Caddyshack but its not that or a gross-out comedy. Then you might think its a laugh at the 'crazy 80s' show like the Goldbergs, its not that either. My own view is its a very well-observed, well-acted, humorous (occasionally lol) coming of age tale that happens to be set in the 1980s, but I guess difficult to fit all that on promotional material.The writing is excellent at balancing comedy, character development and the occasional emotional, heart-felt moments. The cherry on top is the soundtrack and rediscovering forgotten gems of 80s music - Talk Talk anyone? OK if you're cynical you might say the characters are cliché and could be distilled down to; the every-man, the stoner genius, the spoilt girl, nice but dim girl, the eccentric foreigner, the hard-nosed business man etc etc. But clichés persist as they tend to exist and when then they're this well portrayed all can be forgiven.Anyway, I think demographics can help decide whether you'll agree with me or not 1) if you're late 30s or older i.e. you can recall a childhood without mobile phones 2)you're the kinda person who once in a blue moon reflects on your early relationships, your university or first job choices - did you really make the right choices? and 3) you just like well-written comedy and enjoy spending some time getting to know and give a damn about likable characters then give this show a go.Like any good hug, you'll want it to go on, so all fingers crossed for a 3rd series.

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