Savannah Black / 14 May 2025 / Categories: Movie and TV Shows, TV Show

Loot fails it’s leading lady Maya Rudolph

Fans wait to see if Apple commissions a third season

For me Maya Rudolph is a comedic genius so Loot, an American comedy TV show created by Matt Hubbard and Alan Yang premiered on June 24, 2022, on Apple TV+ was an easy box set yes. For anyone who doesn’t know who she is, she played Lillian in Bridesmaids, Annie’s best friend who got married. She’s the daughter of American soul singer Minnie Ripperton famous for the 1974 classic, “Loving You” a lullaby written for Maya and her brother Marc.

In the US she’s more well known for her appearances on Saturday Night Live, a comedy skit, sketch show probably her most famous, a take off of Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election. I’ll try to find a you tube link for you all.

It wasn’t me who actually said the show fails its leading lady but after watching, as a massive fan, five or six episodes, I’ve given up.

The premise of the story is a good one, the Loot plot follows Molly Novak nee Wells as she reimagines her life’s purpose after discovering her husband of 20 years is cheating with Hayley. Molly must work out what to do with her $87 billion settlement; she decides to re-engage with her charitable foundation and reconnect with the real world-finding herself along the way.

For me inspite of a capable ensemble cast the show just doesn’t land in the way I’d expect from a tour de force comedic talent like Rudolph.

The sets are colourful, the clothes are whacky, but the really brilliant gags are few and far between and the writing feels like it doesn’t know where it’s going, sometimes silly, sometimes serious and emotional, I couldn’t connect with the character, in the same way America Ferrera is Ugly Betty, or Calista Flockhart embodied Ally McBeal.

You kinda feel like you are in the Barbie movie one minute, Bridesmaids the next and even though the episodes are short, 35 minutes they did drag.

For me Loot just isn’t as good as we’ve come to expect from genius Maya Rudolph and it’s really hard to say why, even her relationship with ex husband John Novak played by Adam Scott I didn’t buy into.

The visit to the exclusive Los Angeles members only spa Halsa in episode 5 where Molly has an altercation with her old life friend Jacinta, played by Caitlin Reilly felt like watching a rerun of Rose Byrne’s hilarious portrayal of Helen in Bridesmaids.

They look absolutely nothing alike but the acting, timing, even the dialogue felt like a complete take off. I have watched Bridesmaids almost to word perfect level it has to be said.

I wanted to love it, I love Maya Rudolph. I may return but unlikely. And if Apple TV Commision a third season of which there are rumours it will be because of the stars wide appeal and genuine fan base support not because the material delivered is worthy.

I am surprised Maya isn’t saying let me write it.

It’s a shame because there’s not very much female led TV anyway and certainly not female led comedy.

I so wanted to love this show but it feels knocked off and pieced together punctuated by not enough moments of Maya Rudolph genius.

I can only remember one incredible “Bridesmaids” worthy gag.

“What am I doing at 9.00am? I’ll be sleeping.