I'm sure people don't spend much time looking through my reviews specifically, but if you did, you'd know that I'm a wrestling fan. So, I knew aspects of the Rock's story before starting the series, his time at Miami and how that turned out - as well as what his father and grandparents did within the business. Even if I didn't though, I think I'd have reasonably enjoyed this first season of "Young Rock" which, whilst on the slight side, is a charming and occasionally funny show.
Dwayne Johnson (Dwayne Johnson) is running for President and has agreed to a series of interviews with Randall Park (Randall Park) to explain his philosophies on things. The interviews involve stories recounted from various points in his younger life. Aged 10, Dewey (Adrian Groulx) idolises his father, Rocky Johnson (Joseph Lee Anderson) but often has to stay with his mother Ata (Stacey Leilua), daughter of Hawaii based Wrestling promotor Lia (Ana Tuisila), widow of the "High Chief" Peter Maivia. Aged 15, Dwayne (Bradley Constant) is acutely aware of his family's lowly station, as his father struggles for matches and they make ends meet however they can. Finally, as a college Student Dwayne (Uli Latukefu) tries desperately to get minutes for the Miami Hurricanes in the hope of gaining an NFL career that can end his family's financial worries once and for all.
I won't argue with you,if you want to accuse "Young Rock" of being a docile bit of network comedy. It very much is that, lessons are learned, people are generally nice and friendly and it's all very earnest. There's no biting political satire or edgy black comedy. But as an example of a network sitcom, I thought it was reasonably successful. I generally laughed a few times in each episode and the rest of the time was amused or entertained enough by the story of it to keep going.
I'll be back for the second season.
