Kevin James’ YouTube page, which sprung up right when we went into quarantine, has been one of the best parts of 2020. We’re not damning him with feint praise, either. The original videos he’s been putting out would be awesome in any year. The reason they’re so good is that he fully commits to them, no matter how silly or absurd the premise. And they don’t get any dumber—in the best way—than his BBC nature documentary parody narrated by “Sir” Adam Sandler.
Just be prepared to see a big furry Kevin James give birth to a little furry Kevin James.
James stars in a spot-on spoof of Sir David Attenborough’s beloved nature documentary series like Planet Earth and Life. The fictional show, Nature Planet from HEP, takes an “epic look into the endangered species, The Silver-Breasted Montle, as they battle back from the brink of extinction.” The cuddly animals, which resemble koala bears with the bearded face of the The King of Queens star, live a life of peace and tranquility in the Tanana forest of Alaska. There they eat for 16 hours a day. It’s a good life, but one that could be wiped out forever. The Montle’s only known predator, the “Big Bird,” is a threat to the species’ survival. But there is hope. (Unlike in the case of forgetting the sight of Kevin James birthing a baby koala.)
Kevin James
This pitch-perfect parody gets all of the nuances, beats, and camera shots absolutely right. It also nails that circle-of-life-style sense of dread and hope all at once. And Adam Sandler legitimately does a great job narrating. Especially since some of these lines must have been hard to read with a straight face. But what really sells the whole thing is James’ unwavering commitment to the bit. It’s all so, so stupid, and he’s all in on it. Even if that means sitting in a lake in a koala suit. And while that would be funny any year, it’s really what we need in 2020.
Featured Image: Kevin James