Alice & Jack is a British television series made for Channel 4 and PBS. A romantic drama created and written by Victor Levin, it stars Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson.
| Alice & Jack | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | Victor Levin |
| Screenplay by | Victor Levin |
| Directed by | Juho Kuosmanen Hong Khaou |
| Starring |
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| Theme music composer | Stephen Rennicks[1] |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Tracy O'Riordan |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | |
| Release | 14 February – 29 February 2024 |
Alice & Jack premiered on 14 February 2024. The series consists of 6 episodes.[2]
Synopsis
editThe series follows the lives of its titular characters over a decade and a half. Alice, a high-strung loner who works in finance, goes on a date with Jack, a shy, gentle scientist. After spending one night together, they go their separate ways, but there is an attraction that keeps bringing them back together time and again in spite of themselves.
Cast
edit- Andrea Riseborough as Alice
- Domhnall Gleeson as Jack
- Aisling Bea as Lynn
- Aimee Lou Wood as Maya
- Sunil Patel as Paul
- Rachel Adedeji as Donna
- Tommy McDonnell as Danny
- Millie Ashford as teenage Celia
- Thalissa Teixeira as Rachel
Production
editThe show is written by Victor Levin. The series is directed by Juho Kuosmanen and Hong Khaou. It is a Fremantle production in partnership with Me + You Productions, Groundswell Productions and De Maio Entertainment and Masterpiece. Tracy O'Riordan is producer on the series. Andrea Riseborough and Domnhall Gleeson will both star and executive produce. Other executive producers include Levin, Kuosmanen, Richard Yee and Krishnendu Majumdar, Michael London, Shannon Gaulding, Lorenzo De Maio, Rebecca Dundon and Hilary Martin.[3]
Casting
editJoining Riseborough and Gleeson in the cast are Aisling Bea, Sunil Patel and Aimee Lou Wood.[4]
Filming
editFilming took place in London, southeast England and Gran Canaria in the summer of 2022.[5]
Broadcast
editThe series premiered in the UK on Channel 4 on 14 February 2024 and in the US on Masterpiece on March 17, 2024.[6][7]
Reception
editAnita Singh of the Telegraph awarded the series two stars out of five, writing that "Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson are narcissistic and sappy, respectively, in this pretentious foil to Netflix's current hit rom-com."[8]
James Hibbs of the Radio Times writes:
Impressive performances, insufferable characters.
There's innovation in this show's bones, and that's to be applauded. It's clear that everyone involved in this project cares about it deeply, and wanted to make something new, something original.
In a number of ways, they have succeeded. Alice & Jack feels unique as you watch it, helped along by two phenomenal performances, strong visuals and a dazzling score. It largely feels more like an indie film than a series.
When the story allows these characters to explore other aspects of the human experience, rather than just their destructive, self-indulgent love story, is when it comes alive.[9]
Lucy Mangan, in The Guardian, gives two stars out of five and writes: "Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson have zero chemistry. ... Alice & Jack works harder and harder to convince us of everything, but, despite the talented leads giving it their all, there isn't enough to convince us of anything."[10]
Vicky Jessop in The Standard website also gives gives two stars out of five and writes: "...this bleeding hearts story needs a defibrillator ... Quite why either Domhnall Gleeson or Andrea Riseborough signed up for this is a mystery".[11]
Carol Midgley, in The Times, gives it four out of five stars and says: "I've fallen for this anti-rom-com".[12]
References
edit- ^ "Stephen Rennicks Scoring Channel 4's 'Alice & Jack'". Film Music Reporter. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
- ^ "Alice & Jack: Release date, cast and latest news for Channel 4 drama". radiotimes.com. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ Goldbart, Max (9 August 2023). "Andrea Riseborough Cast In 'Alice & Jack', First Major Role Since 'To Leslie' Controversy; Channel 4 Drama Also Stars Domnhall Gleeson". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ London, Rob (9 August 2023). "Domhnall Gleeson and Andrea Riseborough Reunite for Romance Series 'Alice & Jack'". Collider. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ Ravindra, Manori (9 August 2023). "Andrea Riseborough, Domhnall Gleeson Lead Offbeat Channel 4 Romance 'Alice & Jack,' Directed by 'Compartment Number 6' Helmer (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ Rice, Lynette (12 December 2023). "'Alice & Jack': Masterpiece Reveals Premiere Date For Series Starring Andrea Riseborough, Domhnall Gleeson". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ Heritage, Stuart; Abbott, Kate (28 December 2023). "'Guaranteed to be a banger': the 50 must-see TV shows for 2024". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ "Alice & Jack, review: Channel 4's joyless, anti-Valentine's slog is no One Day". The Telegraph. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ "Alice & Jack review: Impressive performances, insufferable characters". Radio Times. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Alice & Jack review – Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson have zero chemistry". The Guardian. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Alice & Jack on Channel 4 review: this bleeding hearts story needs a defibrillator". The Standard. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ Carol Midgley (14 February 2024). "Alice & Jack review — I've fallen for this anti-rom-com". The Times. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
External links
edit- Alice & Jack at IMDb