Review: House of Lies - Amsterdam (Doug Loses Himself in This One!)

Air Date: Sunday, January 15, 2011, 10/9c on Showtime

RATING: ★★★★★

Review: House of Lies - Amsterdam (Doug Loses Himself in This One!) 1

Josh Lawson as Doug, Kristen Bell as Jeannie Van Der Hooven, Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan, Dawn Olivieri as Monica, and Ben Schwartz as Clyde Oberholt - Photo: Patrick Ecclesine/SHOWTIME

I wasn’t sure what to expect but House of Lies is not your typical comedy. With top notch actors, excellent writing and engaging dialogue, there’s no doubt Showtime has itself a new hit! The way it’s shot with freeze frames during Marty Kaan’s (Don Cheadle) explanations of terminology, which some viewers may not understand—and other funny tidbits for our enjoyment—all are components which add to the hilarity of House of Lies. It’s fresh, witty, and intelligent making the show pulse with vibrant energy.

Observations:

Cheadle is amazing in this role! He somewhat channels Petey Greene from Talk to Me but with a polished edge. Cheadle completely embodies Marty Kaan; there’s no two ways about it. You can see it in the way he talks to clients—like they’re his friends. He doesn’t hold back; he doesn’t cut corners; and he’s blunt and in your face (love that!). Marty’s execution is flawless. He needs to smooth talk his clients in order to get them to believe he can do what they need him to do for their business. And on top of that, his ass is cray-cray!

I enjoy the definitions and other explanations Marty dishes out during each episode. I feel like I’m learning something, as well as being entertained. Its part of Marty’s character—his inner monologue and need to make sure we understand him. He may be a “sociopath,” but he’s got the gift of gab.

“Amsterdam” is a safe word. It’s an interesting choice of word considering Marty’s ex-wife Monica (Dawn Olivieri), is the one he uses it with. I’m not sure why he continues to fall into bed with her since she’s such a horrible mother and drug addict. It doesn’t turn him off enough to keep him from “hooking up” with her whenever he can, so there has to be still be a connection between them.

Watching Doug (Josh Lawson) making a fool of himself while showing Cat Deeley (guest starring as herself) he’s good at “crumping” is definitely the highlight of “Amsterdam.” He does great while talking to her then completely loses it. I admit I do not see him losing himself quite as much as he does. “Oh no. Uh, I think I came.” Poor Doug.

It seems each week we will get a glimpse into the working day of Marty and his team. What’s interesting about this is each case is a different one and I look forward to seeing what the writers come up with to shake things up.

Funny lines:

Marty: “Principal Gita.”

Principal Gita (Mo Gaffney): “You always know it’s me.”

Marty: “Yeah, that’s called caller ID.”

Bridget (actor not credited): “If I accuse him of serial whore-banging and fathering a child with our housekeeper of twenty years, is that slander?”

While I love Cheadle in this role, I have to acknowledge his other cast mates as they help to keep the show afloat. The camaraderie is genuine and heartfelt with this cast and you can feel it during each scene. Kristen Bell as Jeannie adds the feminine touch; Glynn Turman as Marty’s father Jeremiah is a delight despite the few short moments he graces the screen; Ben Schwartz as Clyde is sheer comic genius; Josh Lawson as Doug is a chasm of shyness, intelligence, and clumsiness; and Donis Leonard Jr. as Marty’s son Roscoe is a scene stealer. He’s a cross-dressing middle schooler who is screaming for attention from both of his dysfunctional parents. House of Lies is so much fun and I cannot wait to see what lies in store for the rest of the season. Showtime is giving all other networks a run for their money with this one.

Tune in to House of Lies, Sundays at 10/9c only on Showtime. For more on the show, visit http://www.sho.com/site/houseoflies/home.sho.

Official HOUSE OF LIES Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HouseOfLies

Official HOUSE OF LIES Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/SHO_HouseOfLies

Official HOUSE OF LIES Series Site: http://www.sho.com/site/houseoflies/home.sho

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Writer, mother, realist, cloud lover, daydreamer, dessert enthusiast, sweet tea addict, perfectionist, and lover of life and Christ, but not in that order. http://www.fanfiction.net/~vikingloverelle