Stormzy and Benedict Cumberbatch Dazzle at Milan Fashion Week’s Prada Show
Stormzy and Benedict Cumberbatch looked dapper as they lead the stars at the Prada fashion in Milan. British actors were out in for the Prada…
Critics have met the release of new Netflix documentary Eric, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, with glowing reviews.
The new show, which was released on the streaming platform on Thursday, centres on one of New York’s leading puppeteers and the creator of a fictional children’s television show Good Day Sunshine.
He struggles to keep himself and his life together after his nine-year-old son goes missing on the way to school.
After the series dropped on the streaming platform on Thursday, fans have been full of praise for one notorious actor’s performance in the show.
Featuring in a new series titled Eric, Benedict Cumberbatch has garnered instant approval from fans for his dual portrayal of leading New York puppeteer Vincent and the title character, a blue monster puppet.
Critics have met the release of new Netflix documentary Eric, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, with glowing reviews
The new show, which was released on the streaming platform on Thursday, centres on one of New York’s leading puppeteers
The Guardian was effusive in its praise of Benedict’s performance, penning: ‘Cumberbatch, as you might expect, is mesmerising as the viciously narcissistic Vincent, pretty much drunk on his own talent long before he turns to the bottle to cope with Edgar’s disappearance, and psychologically unravelling in the wake of both.
The review continued: ‘Awards will doubtless – and rightly – be given to Cumberbatch for his portrait of Vincent’s descent into hellish despair and madness.’
The publication also singled out New York Police Department detective Michael Ledroit (McKinley Belcher III), a Black closeted gay man who is caring for his dying partner away from his day-job in protecting the public.
It highlighted the on-screen relationship between as being ‘heartbreaking’, given the paucity of scenes the pair are in together throughout the series.
The Independent added that Benedict ‘is at his best when playing weirdos but noted that ‘[Benedict’s} performance runs the risk of being too charmless, but Cumberbatch keeps Vincent just the right side of slippery.
While The Guardian praised McKinley’s portrayal of Michael Ledroit, The Independent was not quite as positive in its views, remarking: ‘Ledroit is not quite slippery enough.
‘The flaws of Vincent and his adulterous wife Cassie are well-drawn; Ledroit is simply a tool to move the plot along. It is symptomatic of Eric’s fundamental imbalance.’
It concluded: ‘It is a mystery with a twist, where the twist is more interesting than the mystery. You don’t drink the cocktail for the garnish, but that doesn’t stop it adding some, much-needed, zest.’
The new show, which was released on the streaming platform on Thursday, centres on one of New York’s leading puppeteers and the creator of a fictional children’s television show Good Day Sunshine
He struggles to keep himself and his life together after his nine-year-old son goes missing on the way to school
Featuring in a new series titled Eric, Benedict Cumberbatch has garnered instant approval from fans for his dual portrayal of leading New York puppeteer Vincent and the title character, a blue monster puppet
The Telegraph’s Anita Singh also gave the film a positive assessment as they dubbed it ‘Benedict’s ‘best performance since Patrick Melrose’.
The publication felt he drew attention to the show’s ‘magical realism’ as they credited the success of the hit to its grounding sense of pragmatism.
‘A lot of dramas fumble around for the right tone. That Eric can explore grief in one moment, then switch to Cumberbatch and his fluffy sidekick dancing away to the strains of Gloria by Laura Branigan, is testament to the talent involved here.
‘It’s inventive, assured and far less weird than you expect.’
But while The Telegraph applauded Benedict for his striking performance, TV Guide believed Gabby Hoffmann’s performance was due all the credit as they dubbed her execution as ‘breathtaking’.
TV Guide’s Liam Mathews disagreed with the Telegraph regarding the show’s realism as they said its ‘unrealistic moments’ as the production’s main ‘problem’.
‘The show’s biggest problem is moments that are so contrived and unrealistic that they shatter the suspension of disbelief.’
‘But everything leading up to that climax is quite strong. Eric doesn’t have much we haven’t seen before, but it’s put together in a unique enough way to be compelling.’
The Metro also felt the show’s uniqueness deserved a nod as they said ‘its vision is extraordinary’ and that it is ‘rare to find something so original’.
But despite it’s initial rave review, Adam Miller could not over look the quick resolution of lose threads and its lack of focus.
‘It never stops being magical but the very promising start soon loses focus and several loose threads are resolved too quickly when otherwise it is on track to be a blinder of a limited series.’
However, just like what most reviews all agreed on, The Metro was over joyous wit the sheer quality of Benedict and Gabby’s performances.
‘It is still one of the most enjoyable dramas I’ve seen for a very long time and at the very least come for Gabby Hoffmann and Benedict Cumberbatch who by far give two stand-out performances of the year.’
As well as critics being broadly positive in their feedback regarding the series, fans were also complimentary.
After the series dropped on the streaming platform on Thursday, fans have been full of praise for one notorious actor’s performance in the show
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, they were full of praise for the Sherlock and Avengers star, posting: ‘Eric on Netflix is a true gem!! Benedict Cumberbatch did it again!!’
‘As a major Benedict Cumberbatch fan who has been blown away by many of his performances, I say this with complete sincerity:
‘His work in Eric as Vincent Anderson is his best yet.’
‘Obsessed doesn’t even cover it! Benedict Cumberbatch is back as a broken puppeteer desperate to find his missing son in 80s NYC. Watch Eric now and prepare to have your heartstrings pulled’.
