The ‘Burbs: A Silly, Twisty Return to the Neighborhood [Review] 

A new version of The ‘Burbs is headed to Peacock, and the series delivers a fun new spin on Joe Dante’s 1989 film. The show stars Keke Palmer as Samira, a new mom adjusting to suburban life in her husband’s hometown. The ‘Burbs is based on Dana Olsen’s original film script and was created for television by Celeste Hughey. 

The new ‘Burbs does a successful job of capturing the tone of the original film while still feeling fresh. Just like its predecessor, the series is a dark comedy filled with goofy characters and surprising twists. However, the story isn’t a remake, which leaves room for new ideas, extra thrills, and a more modern feel. While this adaptation has its flaws, it’s good enough to leave you wanting more. 

The Similarities

Peacock’s The Burbs proves that suburban culture never really changes. Just like the film, the monotony of the cul-de-sac life starts to get to our main character. In the case of Tom Hanks’ Ray, he’s taking a week off to try to unwind from his daily stresses, but his obsession with the new neighbors leads him into a spiral. With Palmer’s Samira, she’s on maternity leave and not used to a life outside of the city. When she gets a new neighbor of her own, she becomes obsessed with solving her street’s 20-year-old mystery,

Just like Hanks in the original film, Palmer leads the project by exuding charm and star power. It’s nice to see a woman grapple with mundane realities, especially with the added layer of new motherhood. Ray and Samira have very different internal struggles, but their fixations and frustrations are the crux of each story. It also helps that Palmer is effortlessly funny.

While you don’t need to be familiar with Dante’s classic film, The ‘Burbs series pays homage to the movie in many ways. There are plenty of easter eggs to enjoy, as well as similar situations. While the show’s events aren’t an exact copy, you’ll see familiar scenarios like a neighbor not cleaning up after their dog, awkward encounters involving sardines, and the consequences of digging in someone else’s basement.

Another similiary bettwen the two projects is the delightful cast of neighbors. Only this time, women get to shine… 

The Differences

The most egregious thing about The ‘Burbs movie was how it designated a supreme talent like Carrie Fisher to the role of a nagging wife. In the television version, Palmer, Paula Pell, and Julia Duffy prove that women can be wacky and wreak havoc in their neighborhood just as well as men. Pell is especially hilarious as the block-bound Dana, and Duffy oozes quirkiness as the widowed Lynn. Supporting actors Danielle Kennedy and Erica Dasher round out the ladies and provide some big laughs of their own.

In addition to showcasing women, The ‘Burbs series isn’t afraid to tackle racism. Samira experiences everything from microaggressions to blatant prejudice from the people in her predominantly white town. Even if you can’t relate to Samira’s experience, you are instantly on her team. Despite tackling some heavy subjects, the show does its best to mix uncomfortable realities with humor. The ‘Burbs doesn’t always succeed in balancing genres, but it knows it’s a comedy first, and that’s most important.

While the women rule this neighborhood, there’s still a lot to love about the men in The ‘Burbs. Jack Whitehall is adorable as Samira’s good-natured husband, Rob. While he’s basically fulfilling Fisher’s role from the film, the script gives Whitehall more to work with. A lot of the show’s mystery revolves around Rob’s childhood, which leaves room for Whitehall to play with the role.

Unfortunately, believing Palmer and Whitehall as romantic partners is initially a struggle. Why did this fashionable city girl marry such a seemingly dull suburbanite? (Shoutout to costume designer Tracye Gigi Field for putting Palmer in some of the best sweaters in television history.) However, as the show goes on, Palmer and Whitehall ease into their dynamic, and you start to root for them as a couple. 

Mark Proksch also shines as Tod, bringing his signature weirdness that audiences miss from What We Do in the Shadows. Meanwhile, Kapil Talwalkar is lovable as Naveen, Rob’s best friend.

One major difference from the film is the neighborhood’s lack of kids. While Samira and Rob have a baby, there’s no character equivalent to the excitable teen played by Corey Feldman in the original. A fun aspect of The ‘Burbs is watching unlikely friendships form due to proximity. Feldman brought a youthful appeal that’s missing from the series.

Without Dante at the helm, the new ‘Burbs is also lacking in visual style. Dante made a lot of eccentric choices behind the camera that gave his films a unique feel. While the new show is entertaining, it’s not reinventing the wheel.

Cliffhanger Concerns

Without giving away any spoilers, The ‘Burbs ends on a pretty big cliffhanger. Hopefully, that means Peacock believes in the project, but it’s a risky move. It’s hard not to feel disappointed by an open-ended finale when you don’t know if the show is coming back. The threat of cancellation has always been the reality of TV, but more and more shows aren’t getting a second chance in the streaming era. It would be a shame to let The ‘Burbs end here, because the show clearly has more to say.

‘The Burbs is not without its flaws. It’s repetitive at times, and the genre mixing doesn’t always work. While blending comedy and thrills is a nod to the original, it’s a tough combination to balance throughout eight episodes. That being said, the good far outweighs the bad. The ‘Burbs is a nice and easy binge that manages to provide laughs and mystery, even if the two aren’t always sympatico. The cast alone is worth giving this show a fair shake.

The ‘Burbs drops on Peacock on February 8th. Stay tuned for our interview with The ‘Burbs star, Erica Dasher.