Book adaptationsare always a mixed bag; for starters, you have fans of the book who expect you to fail, and then there’s the issue of doing justice to the source material itself. But if you’ve gotDon CheadleandKristen Bellcoming out to bat, half the battle’s already won. Whether it’s Basher Tarr with his cockney accent in theOcean trilogyor porn actor slash aspiring electronic store owner Buck Swope inBoogie Nights,Cheadle always brings something newand fresh to every role. And when you pair him upwith Bell, who wowed us inForgetting Sarah MarshallandVeronica Mars, it becomes the perfect one-two punch thatHouse of Liesdelivered successfully over five seasons.
House of Liesis based onMartin Kihn’sbookHouse of Lies: How Management Consultants Steal YourWatch and Then Tell You the Time. The comedy-drama series was created byMatthew Carnahan(Dirt),and starsBen Schwartz,Josh Lawson,Dawn Olivieri,Donis Leonard Jr.,andGlynn Turman,along with Cheadle and Bell.
‘House of Lies’Gives Cheadle Free Rein to Showcase His Talent
House of Liesis about a bunch of consultants led by a whip-smart, charming, and manipulative operator who will stop at nothing to win over clients. The series provides a no-holds-barred peek inside a management consultant firm that proclaims to be the second best, led by itsfast-talking and even faster-living boss, Marty Kaan (Cheadle). The fact that the top consultancy management spot is held by Marty’s ex-wife’s firm makes the race to claim the summit even more important. The back and forth between Marty and his ex-wife Monica (Olivieri) adds another layer to the show. They say thatwhen you have a thoroughbred, the best thing to do is to turn him loose. And that’s whatHouse of Liescreator Carnahan does.
Cheadle as Marty is magnetic, throwing business jargon with panache and oftentimes breaking the fourth wall to bring the audience in on the scam. It’sanother dimension to his prowess as an actor, and Cheadle really knows how to play with the idiosyncracies of his character in a way that brings out their personality. We can tell that Marty’s sleazeball attitude hides a soft, caring interior. Another reason to check out this series is because of Cheadle’s chemistry with Kristen Bell, which is an odd pairing, but it works. Bell, as Jeannie van der Hooven, engages in awill-they-won’t-they complex, flirtatious, and sometimes adversarial relationship with Marty, which is a central element of the show’s appeal. The Season 1 finale, when both get drunk, begins their curious courtship, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats for five seasons, wishing these two could see how right they are for each other.
In oneinterview, Cheadle termed the duo’s confusing relationship as an exercise in futility by emotionally dim teenagers who knew how to play the callous, cynical game but, when it came to affairs of the heart, were completely at sea. In the same interview, Bell also confirmed thatJeannie knows Marty’s the best thing that happened to her, but it’s just who they both are as people. They’re hardwired to look for weaknesses and then push for the advantage. These forces, played by this odd pairing of genuinely funny leads, keep the series buzzing. While the series started off with Jeannie being limited to making wisecracks and ending up as a foil for the guy’s jokes, her character arc expanded promisingly, in turn coming to be the yin to Marty’s yang.
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Jennifer Lopez and Bobby Cannavale also star in the film.
‘House of Lies’ Adds the Layers to Its Characters Bit by Bit, Keeping the Narrative Interesting
WhileHouse of Liesstarted as a daring comedic critique of consultants and their wealthy clientele, it developed a more complex narrative, especially through the subplot involving Marty’s family life. The characters appeared morally corrupt, driven by unbridled greed and lust on the surface, but then, just when we were about to write them off as cold-hearted swindlers,the show’s sharp humor revealed a softer underbellythat was best highlighted by the romance between Marty and Jeannie and also the contentious custody battle for Marty’s eccentric son, Roscoe (Leaonard Jr.). Marty may be many things to many people, but in his love for Roscoe, he finally shows his true softer side, and we get to see the beating heart of the series. It’s no surprise that Roscoe, with his progressive views on his sexual identity, became one oftelevision’s most endearing characters. His self-assured manner is in stark contrast with Marty’s impulsive nature. Rather than create confusion, this not only gives the series a much-needed soft, mushy center but also adds depth.
Ultimately,House of Liesworks because of Cheadle, who makes Marty Khan worth rooting for despite the many awful things he does, and Bell, who shines in an uncharacteristically mean but well-rounded role. Marty and Jeannie getting together was the perfect ending the show needed. WatchHouse of Liesfor the pairs’ amazing chemistry, if nothing else.
House of Liesis available to stream on Paramount Plus in the U.S.
House of Lies
