Netflix's #1 Show Wanted to Be the Ultimate Christmas Comedy & Turned Out to Be a Disappointment

Netflix recently released the Christmas miniseries Man vs. Baby, which topped the streaming charts. Starring Rowan Atkinson, the project was intended to provide viewers with the perfect pre-holiday laughs.

However, despite its big name and seasonal setting, the series turned out to be one of December's biggest disappointments.

What Is 'Man vs. Baby' About?

The unlucky Trevor Bingley has once again found himself caught in the middle of chaos. After being laid off from his temporary job at a school, he finds an unwelcome child abandoned on his doorstep.

Meanwhile, he receives an urgent call from his former employer asking him to babysit a luxurious penthouse while the owners are away for Christmas.

Trevor is forced to take the baby with him and finds himself in a modern smart home crammed with fragile valuables. The story quickly turns into a series of disasters as he tries to watch the child without destroying the apartment.

'Man vs. Baby' Is a Sequel to Another Netflix Comedy, 'Man vs. Bee'

Man vs. Baby is a direct continuation of the format conceived by Atkinson and screenwriter William Davies. Inspired by the realities of lockdown, the original show featured Trevor who battled a pesky bee in a smart home, destroying everything in his path.

The new installment retains the same formula: one awkward man against a small but catastrophic problem in a confined space.

However, the details have changed. Instead of nine short episodes, there are now four half-hour episodes.

'Man vs. Baby' Was Supposed to Be Funny, but It Only Makes You Feel Sorry

Conceived as a classic sitcom in the style of Mr. Bean, Man vs. Baby evokes sympathy and awkwardness instead of laughter.

Rather than playing an eccentric oddball, Atkinson plays an elderly, confused man who misses the elevator, forgets his phone, and wanders helplessly through a labyrinth of corridors.

It's disheartening to see a once-great comedian trying to play by outdated rules. Man vs. Baby is a sad spectacle that demonstrates the need for even a genius of physical comedy to recognize early on that his signature role requires a serious update or proper ending.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Man vs. Baby'?

• Man vs. Baby has 71% from critics and 57% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the miniseries has a score of 6.5/10.