Review: 'Neon Joe, Werewolf Hunter'

Comedy is subjective and even the broadest television comedies will have viewers that just don't "get it." That difference of opinion is especially an issue with niche comedies, where the split between loving the show or hating it can be especially huge.

That subjective reaction is definitely a factor with NEON JOE, WEREWOLF HUNTER, which premieres this week for a five night run on Adult Swim. It's a very broad spoof of horror movies from Jon Glaser, who also created and starred in the memorable Adult Swim series DELOCATED.

In this show, Glaser plays the title character, who is called upon to track down a werewolf terrorizing the resort community of Gerrity, Vermont. The werewolf kills actor Paul Rudd in the first scene and then goes on to kill a group of hacky sack players before Neon Joe is hired to do whatever peculiar thing he does to track down the murderous creature.

The script has a lot genuinely funny lines and an ensemble of audacious characters, including the lesbian/alien town mayor, played by former LAW & ORDER: SVU star Stephanie March. There are some wry and very clever references to classic horror movies and Glaser's trailer park ARROW look is skeevy clever.

But at least for me, the careening of comedic and acting styles between scenes keeps the show from really resonating. March plays her role fairly seriously while some other actors deliver their lines in an over-the-top semi-screaming that is jarring and takes away from the clever writing.

I enjoyed individual scenes and moments in NEON JOE, WEREWOLF HUNTER. But overall, it's a series that's hard for me to recommend unless you're a fan of this type of disjointed and broad style of humor.