HBO Max: “DTF St. Louis” starring Jason Bateman.
“Nobody’s normal. That’s just how they look from across the street.” So says Kevin (Chris Perfetti), one of the strange characters in “DTF St. Louis,” Steven Conrad’s amusing murder mystery series (HBO Max).
“DTF,” you see, is short for down-to-f*ck, an acronym which may be familiar to those who cruise hookup apps. The cruiser in question here is Floyd Smernitch (David Harbour), a kind but shlubby ASL interpreter. While signing at a televised broadcast of a local hurricane, Floyd hits it off with Clark Forrest (Jason Bateman), the cheery local TV weatherman. The two become friends and workout buddies.
At a neighborhood picnic, during a game of cornhole, Clark meets Carol Smernitch (Linda Cardellini), Floyd’s hot wife, and their respective tails start wagging. Sensing trouble in paradise between the Smerniches, Clark suggests he and Floyd sign up for DTF St Louis, a site for consenting adults who wish to cheat on their spouses. Wary at first, Floyd agrees.
Actually Clark doesn’t need the site at all. He and Carol begin whooping it up at the local low-budget motel, regularly engaging in all sorts of kinky shenanigans. Meanwhile the only people Floyd attracts are men—which is unfortunate as he is straight.
Suddenly, Floyd is found dead, at the community pool at 4 am. Who dunnit? Was it a crime of passion? And who was passionate about who?
No spoilers here, just major kudos to Harbour and Cardellini—both alumni of “Brokeback Mountain”— for landing such meaty roles in a popular HBO Max series. Also, Richard Jenkins is hilarious as the straitlaced detective investigating the murder. A plainspoken Midwestern, he is appalled by the kinky people it attracts. Including such “normal” citizens like Clark and Floyd
But “DTF” is more than another comedy or murder mystery. It’s an interesting exploration of the range of emotions in male friendships.
Try an episode of “DTF St. Louis”. And if you don’t like it, swipe left.
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