Philomena Cunk (played with an earnest sort of chutzpa by Diane Morgan) has been around for over ten years, first featuring on Charlie Brooker’sWeekly Wipe. Like most people*, I first came across Cunk on Netflix with Cunk on Earth. I thought it was hilarious. Surreal, silly and informative. Even if the experts—who are genuine—know that Cunk is playing it for laughs (and I’m sure they’d have some idea given Diane Morgan isn’t an unknown**), their reactions to Cunk’s non-sequiturs are laugh-out-loud funny.*** The injection of the absurd—like the running gag of “Pump up the Volume”—is the cherry on top.
When Cunk on Life dropped, the family watched it together. We laughed and smiled, but overall, we thought it was a bit “meh.”
The mockumentary asks the question: Why are we here? To answer this, the show covers everything from religion to sex, art and culture, physics and the Large Hadron Collider. It’s a lot to pack in, and that’s part of the problem. I get it—the show isn’t meant to be a deep dive into Christian theology, the nature of God, or the tension between science and faith. But even as a series of comedic set pieces, we whip through it too quickly.
Then there’s how they treat religion. The Old Testament, with its creation story, is labelled as a Christian document. Not a reference is made to Judaism. You know, the religion that’s the foundation for Christianity and without we wouldn’t have the Old Testament. Hasn’t anyone watched the Monopoly scene from Heretic?!?!**** The reason Judaism is given the Tijuana*****is because the show is moving at lightspeed, and who has time to talk about Jews or Hindus or Muslims or literally any faith other than Christianity?!
I also thought featuring Brian Cox was a mistake. For two reasons. One: unlike the other experts, most people watching will have some idea who he is, and that removes the gag of the unknown academic having to field questions from Cunk. Two: Cox plays it up. Where the other experts politely answer Cunk’s idiotic queries, Cox grows increasingly “annoyed” with Cunk—undermining the premise the show is built on.
This has all been very negative. But I did find parts—especially The Pump Up Your Volume bit—funny. And some of Cunk’s questions—especially when she involves an ex-boyfriend or family members—did elicit a chuckle. I just wanted it to be better.
*Come to think of it, I have no evidence for this. For all I know, I was the last person to encounter Cunk.
**Except, clearly, to me. The last Cunk ignoratii on Earth.
***Obviously, plenty is left on the cutting room floor, and we only get the best reactions and answers. Still, it’s funny.
**** https://youtu.be/iRt923JXFVE?si=Qr2sVSFnRaGwW_nV
*****Tijuana Brass, rhyming slang for arse. Get with the program people.TV Shows Watched: Cunk on Life, directed by Al Campbell
Philomena Cunk (played with an earnest sort of chutzpa by Diane Morgan) has been around for over ten years, first featuring on Charlie Brooker’sWeekly Wipe. Like most people*, I first came across Cunk on Netflix with Cunk on Earth. I thought it was hilarious. Surreal, silly and informative. Even if the experts—who are genuine—know that Cunk is playing it for laughs (and I’m sure they’d have some idea given Diane Morgan isn’t an unknown**), their reactions to Cunk’s non-sequiturs are laugh-out-loud funny.*** The injection of the absurd—like the running gag of “Pump up the Volume”—is the cherry on top.
When Cunk on Life dropped, the family watched it together. We laughed and smiled, but overall, we thought it was a bit “meh.”
The mockumentary asks the question: Why are we here? To answer this, the show covers everything from religion to sex, art and culture, physics and the Large Hadron Collider. It’s a lot to pack in, and that’s part of the problem. I get it—the show isn’t meant to be a deep dive into Christian theology, the nature of God, or the tension between science and faith. But even as a series of comedic set pieces, we whip through it too quickly.
Then there’s how they treat religion. The Old Testament, with its creation story, is labelled as a Christian document. Not a reference is made to Judaism. You know, the religion that’s the foundation for Christianity and without we wouldn’t have the Old Testament. Hasn’t anyone watched the Monopoly scene from Heretic?!?!**** The reason Judaism is given the Tijuana*****is because the show is moving at lightspeed, and who has time to talk about Jews or Hindus or Muslims or literally any faith other than Christianity?!
I also thought featuring Brian Cox was a mistake. For two reasons. One: unlike the other experts, most people watching will have some idea who he is, and that removes the gag of the unknown academic having to field questions from Cunk. Two: Cox plays it up. Where the other experts politely answer Cunk’s idiotic queries, Cox grows increasingly “annoyed” with Cunk—undermining the premise the show is built on.
This has all been very negative. But I did find parts—especially The Pump Up Your Volume bit—funny. And some of Cunk’s questions—especially when she involves an ex-boyfriend or family members—did elicit a chuckle. I just wanted it to be better.
*Come to think of it, I have no evidence for this. For all I know, I was the last person to encounter Cunk.
**Except, clearly, to me. The last Cunk ignoratii on Earth.
***Obviously, plenty is left on the cutting room floor, and we only get the best reactions and answers. Still, it’s funny.
**** https://youtu.be/iRt923JXFVE?si=Qr2sVSFnRaGwW_nV
*****Tijuana Brass, rhyming slang for arse. Get with the program people.
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