Review: Curb Your Enthusiasm, “The Gettysburg Address” | Season 12, Episode 6
Goofiness is an asset as Larry’s latest unlikely love interest comes into focus
In observing the general downturn in quality over the course of this show, I’ve often thought about the ways the shift in tone has contributed. Sure, the formula of this show is still remarkably similar to how it began, in many ways, but the comedy has a certain broadness now that wasn’t always there. It feels like Larry David shoots for goofiness more often; the character of Larry relies more on yelling and swearing, and to a certain extent that vibe extends to the rest of the show.
But while the worst episodes of modern-day Curb make me fixate on that goofiness factor, that absurdity is an asset in an episode like “The Gettysburg Address.” You can argue about whether or not these recent seasons are as funny on a minute-by-minute basis as the older ones, but there remains a certain playfulness that keeps the show feeling fresh and enjoyable. Often long-running sitcoms start to feel exhausted and uninspired by the end, but you get the sense that David stil…