TV Review: Green Eggs and Ham

If you asked me to list the things I didn’t want, didn’t need and didn’t ask for, I would certainly include Netflix’s Green Eggs and Ham. From Executive Producer Ellen DeGeneres comes a thirteen-episode adaptation of Doctor Seuss’ beloved children’s book, one that tries but fails to recapture the spirit of its source material. Along the way, it contorts and adds to the book, resulting in a flimsy and barely entertaining plot.The series follows Sam-I-Am (Adam Devine), the only character in the actual book, as he tries to return a Chickeraffe to its natural habitat. Thrown in for the ride are Guy-Am-I (Michael Douglas), a failed inventor, and mother-daughter pair Michellee (Diane Keaton) and Elanabeth (Ilana Glazer). In pursuit are poachers McWinkle (Jeffrey Wright) and Gluntz (Jillian Bell), as well as bounty hunter Gluntz (John Turturro). As can be expected from a show involving DeGeneres, Green Eggs and Ham promotes environmental stewardship and animal rights. While its intentions deserve commendation, the execution can feel a little “preachy.” To bring such a loose interpretation of source material requires a more innovative story, one that packs a little more punch. Frankly, the tale of “savior saves animal” has been told—many times over.Much of the adaptation relies on invoking the spirit of the original book. This comes from the use of whimsical dialogue, characteristic of Seuss’ writings and its film or television adaptations. Yet, after years of Seuss’ dominance in children’s literature, there’s something that feels too safe about relying on this type of dialogue. All of it just feels like it’s been done before.The art style also borrows heavily from Seuss. Each animal and figure is drawn in a way that is fantastical, borderline absurd. Really, the art is where the imitation really shines. Green Eggs and Ham’s animators have skillfully translated Seuss’s drawings into moving figurines, in a way that seems more authentic than previous attempts, such as The Lorax. The visuals are simply gorgeous, and—due to the plot’s resemblance to real-life events—the artistic absurdity provokes critical thought by reflecting something familiar in a foreign way.The show’s cast also manage to imbue their characters with humanity, even though they lend only their voices. In particular, Michael Douglas embodies his grouchy character, Guy-Am-I, with skill. Diane Keaton is similarly a highlight. With a script this flimsy, it is a godsend that the show’s producers were able to pull in such a strong cast.All in all, Green Eggs and Ham is a legitimate, earnest attempt to modernize and expand what is now a classic. While it does not succeed at its admittedly-challenging task, it stands on its own as a mediocre animated show. It doesn’t exceed expectations, but there was no way it could have, given public familiarity and emotional attachment to the source. Does that mean it’s unwatchable? No. Does it mean it’s Emmy-worthy? Also no. Really, this is one to put on for kids when you’re babysitting and have nothing better to do. Honestly, the film is just in line with about eighty percent of the content on Netflix today. If you ask me, that’s not too bad for an adaptation nobody really wanted.