Mike Myers’ new Netflix series has divided viewers since its release last week, with positive reaction on social media contrasting with largely negative reviews from critics.
The Pentaverate bills itself as a ‘comedy event series’ that poses the question: “What if a secret society of five men has been working to influence world events for the greater good since the Black Plague of 1347?”
It sees Myers play eight different characters, with a synopsis from Netflix explaining: “As this new series begins, one unlikely Canadian journalist finds himself embroiled in a mission to uncover the truth and just possibly save the world himself.
"Remember, the Pentaverate must never be exposed!”
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The series currently has a score of 27 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, following an influx of not-so-glowing reviews from critics.
Writing for the Chicago Sun Times, Richard Roeper referred to the show as a ‘profoundly unfunny series of sex and poop jokes’, adding: “The convoluted and goofy plot holds little or no interest and is basically just an excuse for some fish-in-a-barrel humor poking fun at conspiracy theorists and disinformation on the Internet—and the aforementioned and relentless barrage of uninspired jokes about flatulence, sexual organs, penetration, bodily functions, circumcision, vomiting, you get the idea.”
IGN’s Matt Fowler wrote: “It's an exhausting effort that never produces enough laughs to justify the massive amounts of makeup or prosthetics involved.
"There are a few running gags that elicit chuckles, and there's a sweet heart at the center of the vulgarity, but this particular brand feels sadly past its prime.”
Caroline Framke from Variety, meanwhile, said The Pentaverate was simply the 'latest example of Netflix's blank-check bloat', concluding in her review: "As far as The Pentaverate has a point at all, it’s to act as a symbol of Netflix’s commitment to giving Myers as much time, money and creative freedom as he wants — a truth the show itself winks at in a couple segments featuring a fake Netflix executive cutting in to insist that the show reel back its explicitly crude material, before making it even cruder.
"That the resulting show isn’t good doesn’t especially matter, in the end. It’ll probably still find enough curious viewers to justify the partnership, and for Netflix, that’ll be more than enough."
However, over on social media, the consensus generally appears to be a positive one, with many people praising the ‘silliness’ of the premise, saying it feels like a huge throwback to classic 90s-era Mike Myers.
One tweeted: "An absolute riot. Austin Powers vibe, Mike Myers at his hilarious best. Takes me back to good ol’ 90s humour. #ThePentaverate."
Someone else said: "God bless The Pentaverate and Mike Myers' return to incredible character work and plain old goofy fun. When Sasquatch s**t in the hallway, I cackled."
A third wrote: "The Pentaverate was honestly so good... Funny and silly and stupid at times, but also very very sweet and surprisingly very genuine. Honestly in my opinion one of the best things Mike Myers has done, and I say that as a pretty huge fan of his stuff from the 90s."
A fourth simply said: "The Pentaverate is good. Very willing to die on this hill."
You can stream The Pentaverate on Netflix now.
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Topics: Netflix, Film and TV
Jess Hardiman