Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Funny, touching dark comedy about loss has drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Life & Beth
What's the Story?
In LIFE & BETH, comedian Amy Schumer (Inside Amy Schumer) writes and directs episodes of this darkly comic show depicting a woman in her late '30s named Beth, whose life is hamstrung by a sudden loss. Not that it was going that well anyway: Feeling happy about her career and her enthusiastic boyfriend (Kevin Kane) was a struggle. She soon loses her taste for New York City life and returns to Long Island, where she grew up, reconnecting with old friends while searching for wine to sell. Returning home also triggers flashbacks of her teen years, reminding her of tender and awkward moments. Will Beth come to terms with her inner teen? Will she learn to love where she's from?
Is It Any Good?
Comical, boozy, and a little sad, Life & Beth treads the line between nostalgia and hangover. Amy Schumer peeks through the looking glass at a semi-autobiographical version of herself, returning to the Long Island of her youth. The Beth who returns home after a tragic loss is in desperate need of an emotional and physical detox, having been surrounded by the high-end dregs of a low-end wine business. The flashbacks she experiences are tender and awkward, and there are many funny moments along the journey.
If booze wasn't so central to the show, there might be room for the loss that Beth experiences to land a little more profoundly. The cast is quite good (Michael Cera expertly plays a chicken-slaughtering vineyard tender on the autism spectrum), and the flashbacks make for addictive fodder. Teens and fans of Schumer's self-conscious humor will enjoy this the most.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about underage drinking and smoking in Life & Beth. Do shows that depict teens drinking and smoking affect the way you think about alcohol and tobacco use?
In this comedy, the main character sells alcohol and drinks a lot. How do you see it affecting her life?
This series deals with death and loss in a comedic way. What other shows or books are darkly comic? How does humor help in a sad situation? How can it distract from real issues?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 18, 2022
- Cast : Kevin Kane , Amy Schumer , Michael Cera
- Network : Hulu
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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