BET's Boomerang is a sharp and witty take on millennial gender politics

The Hollywood Reporter

Lena Waithe's TV sequel to Eddie Murphy's 1992 film -- made in collaboration with original Boomerang star Halle Berry and showrunner Ben Cory Jones -- shines two minutes into the pilot, says Robyn Bahr. "In its favor, the show feels less Boomerang: The Second Generation than Boomerang by way of Friends," says Bahr. "I've come to expect that anything helmed by Emmy-winning writer-actress Lena Waithe (The Chi, Master of None) is going to be smart, funny and emotionally searing, and her latest effort is no exception. Boomerang is sharply detailed, a relatable portrait of young friendship 20 years into the 21st century. As exemplified by the joke ('joke') about Twitter subcultures, Waithe has bejeweled her comical and rapid-fire dialogue with enough modern-day commentary to tell me this comedy isn't here to just play around with musty Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus stereotypes."

ALSO:

• Boomerang's vibe feels much more laid-back than the film's, but the world feels instantly realized and immersive
• Boomerang is great on its own -- perhaps it didn't need to be connected to the 1992 film
• How Lena Waithe convinced Halle Berry to get involved in the Boomerang TV series