Just as the whole world did, it feels as if Amy Schumer went through some serious self-reflection during the pandemic. Schumer has mentioned much of Life & Beth is autobiographical (at least 50%), revealing “secret” self-struggles in the series, including a battle with trichotillomania, a disorder that causes one to pull their hair out. But it’s the brutal honesty that feels like the key to Life & Beth and there are biting jokes that help highlight and ease all the biting reality.
Here are your five screenwriting takeaways from Life & Beth.
1. The joy of flashbacks. Life & Beth is interspersed with flashbacks to Beth (Amy Schumer) as a pre-teen. It’s filled with tough truths about life at this time and many scenes of coming-of-age awkwardness. These scenes feel essential to constantly root for Beth as we learn why she became estranged from a best friend, general family struggles, and how she both adored and battled with her mother. When Beth gets her first kiss, the power feels more in her friends rooting for and protecting her, than around the kiss itself. That’s where a lot of the power of these flashbacks lie. It seems young Beth clearly knew who she was thanks to a great support network of women and discovering who she is now, partially involves reconnecting with these voices from home.
2. The power of sisters. Beth’s sister, Ann, is played by a dryly funny Susannah Flood. Ann has a tendency to hang up on Beth and deny her initial needy requests, but despite this behavior, Ann is actually always listening. Many moving moments happen between these two whether it’s stealing a bottle of tequila, or Ann simply replying to Beth when she states she’s leaving her fiancé: “I know.” It’s no wonder Schumer has nailed the powerful voices of sisters, as she’s spent much of her life co-writing with her own.
3. The truth in comedy. Small spoiler: Beth deals with a major loss in the first episode of the series, or more accurately, she just doesn’t deal with the loss at all. She attempts to carry on with her life even though the loss is staring her right in the face. Schumer cleverly introduces a game here. Beth doesn’t cry over this significant loss while her nitwit of a boyfriend (hysterically played by Kevin Kane) keeps bringing it up, as he seems particularly torn up about it all. Early episodes then build this fun tension — is Beth ever going to cry?! It’s a nice conceit, but it also feels true to life. There’s no right or wrong way to grieve. Extreme circumstances make us feel extreme feelings in bizarre ways and when Beth finally starts to deal with her loss, it feels both funny and on point.
4. Michael Cera is back. There is no doubt that Michael Cera’s role as John is inspired by Schumer’s real-life husband who has made a living as a chef. In Life & Beth, Cera shines as a brutally honest, passionate organic farmer — and a surprising love interest for Beth. The role harkens back to his big-eyed innocence and charm in Juno and Scott Pilgrim, and it’s nice to see the nice guy win.
5. The intangibility of happy. Ultimately, while Life & Beth is an exploration of past traumas, it’s also a lovely look at what makes one happy in the present. The idea of happiness and finding it within yourself instead of through external validation is not easy…nor are interpersonal relationships when the traumas feel extra raw, but it’s a rewarding journey to watch Beth try even when she fails.
Final Takeaway: Amy Schumer has assembled a powerhouse of comedians to help tell a very personal story of love, loss, and the things we bury deep within ourselves. It’s always an invigorating watch when a creator gets to explore their voice seemingly unencumbered, and it feels as though Schumer has come into her own here both personally and professionally. Life & Beth is a must-watch for fans of the comedian, or simply fans of those who are ready to peel back the layers we use to cover up ourselves to just get through the day.