"Space Force" is a new project from the creators of "The Office" that is unlikely to become a hit.

The end of May on Netflix culminated in the release of the series "Space Force", created by Greg Daniels and Steve Carell, who previously gave the world the cult show "The Office." 

Let's try to figure out whether Carell, after a string of successful dramatic roles, should have returned to sitcoms, and whether the launch of "Space Force" can be considered successful.

Topical Satire

According to the plot, the US government decides to create a new military branch - the Space Force - headed by Steve Carell's character Mark Naird (of course, "funny" pun jokes about nerd are included). Under his command are various people, from brilliant scientists from different corners of the planet to a press secretary obsessed with Twitter.

The very idea of mocking the topic of space forces (which has been discussed in all seriousness in recent years) looks intriguing and extremely relevant. A healthy dose of humor on topical issues has never hurt anyone. But, alas, you can't go far on one interesting concept alone. And that is the main problem with the series "Space Force."

Uninteresting Characters

The core of any popular sitcom is likable and unusual characters. In this regard, Daniels and Carell's brainchild is a complete disaster. The main character of the show looks like a caricature parody of the legendary Michael Scott from "The Office." He is also not the most exemplary boss and is not distinguished by outstanding intelligence (to put it mildly). His actions are rarely logical, and calling them funny is a stretch. An actor of Carell's caliber is simply constrained within such a dreary role.

The secondary characters of the show "Space Force" can be considered equally unsuccessful. They are full of stereotypes and absurd caricature. A goofy general in the role of secretary, an astrobotanist who must necessarily be Asian, a troubled daughter, dumb jock military personnel. Here, literally at every turn, viewers encounter clichés that are never played out in any original way, unlike the recent "The Great," where absurdity and outright cranberry sauce were presented in a fairly fresh and witty manner.

From the cast, perhaps only John Malkovich deserves praise, who is clearly bored in his role as a pedantic scientist, but does so in his characteristic brilliant manner.

Mediocre Humor

Another obvious problem with "Space Force" is the simply colossal number of jokes that miss the mark. For a sitcom, this is a real failure when, in 20-30 minutes of runtime, only a couple of gags and one one-liner can be called successful. 

Greg Daniels and the team somehow decided that in 2020, sending a chimpanzee into outer space, followed by its capture by the ubiquitous Chinese, would be incredibly funny. In the creators' view, the episode with military exercises, which is completely outdone by any paintball episode from "Community" or laser tag scenes from "How I Met Your Mother," looks very hilarious. And again, clichés, stereotypes, repetitions — all this is evident not only in the characters but also in the humor.

Should You Watch "Space Force"

If you expect to see a witty comedy of situations, spend time in the company of pleasant and charming heroes, if you are convinced that Alexey Vorobyov is contraindicated from appearing in film, then feel free to skip the series "Space Force." Yes, Alexey Vorobyov actually starred in this show, and this is another problem of the project among many.