'The Last Man on Earth' series premiere review: 'Alive in Tucson' and 'The Elephant in the Room'

In the year 2019, a virus wipes out humanity as we know it. One year later, though, average everyman Phil Miller (Will Forte) still remains alive and well, as he drives his bus across the country to see if humanity can be found anywhere. To no avail, however, as he, indeed, is alone in a now barren world.

That's how we begin Forte's series The Last Man on Earth, and whether you engaged it our not from that opening this is a comedy series through and through. Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the filmmakers behind last year's The Lego Movie and 22 Jump Street, Forte's show contains all their signature quick cuts and montages found in their past works, but this two-part series premiere is still a more somber and low-key addition to their resumes than anything they created before.

The laughs come and stride, especially from the first part of The Last Man on Earth's premiere "Alive in Tuscon," no worries should come towards that regard. Miller's public freedom creates some great comedy set pieces and segments here, from our main character blowing up cars to him drinking and masturbating as heavily as he wishes. But behind all this fun comes equal measures of thoughtful meditations on what goes through the mind of a man who lives in his lonesomeness for seemingly all of entirety. For all this entertainment and character development, however, Forte's show never feel disjointed or uneven tonally.

Perhaps this is something to watch as Miller and Lord step away from the directors' chairs and stick firmly in producers' positions. But from this two-part opening, it looks as though there's not only a lot of potential here, but a great deal of respect to last human on Earth films of the past, most notably recent efforts like I Am Legend and The Road or lone survivor tales like Cast Away, the latter of which gets parodied and respected heavily in Forte's screenplay for the first-part of this premiere.

It's clear throughout these episodes Forte and his team are smarter than your average Fox series in terms of plotting and revealing its cards. The so-called virus which wiped out humanity is never addressed beyond one opening title card and Phil's past life is only seen briefly in one super-quick flashback. Plus, Phil's conversations with God are not only well-written, but showcase a softer, more emotional character at the center of this comedy show which could produce some nicely subtle drama as the season goes on.

While "Alive in Tuscon" is certainly more likable than part two, "The Elephant in the Room," a certain Flight of the Conchords actress and comedian who makes a pivotal role in part two and briefly in part one showcases the level of thought and planning Forte has in mind for his new series. The comedy feels natural and easily adjustable, and while Lord and Miller's style is evident, it's not too overbearing to the point where future filmmakers have to force themselves to produce work in their same, distinct mold.

Forte, an extremely funny comedic actor and one of Saturday Night Live's most underrated performers, is in desperate need of a vehicle of his own, and deserves it completely. If Fox decides to give this somber-yet-heartfelt and very funny series a chance, they should have a hit for not only their popular Sunday line-up and also for the comedian at center. The Last Man on Earth is a smart, sweet and appropriately grim but smartly subdued new series which has tons of potential and a good amount of heart to boot. What Forte's show lacks in quantity of humanity it makes for in quality of humanity in stride.

Image courtesy of INFphoto.com