HBO’s “Barry” takes aim at role-playing and the desire for fame.
Can a hit man go straight and find happiness in Hollywood? That’s the question that the wickedly witty new HBO dramedy “Barry” asks. Created by Alec Berg and star Bill Hader, the dark comedy follows contract assassin Barry as he flies to Los Angeles to off an actor and ends up getting bitten by the acting bug. The show is all about role-playing with everyone wanting to be something they’re not. It lampoons both the underworld and the world of actors, with especially pointed jabs at the shallow pursuits of fame. (Henry Winkler is a supporting standout as Barry’s egotistical acting coach.) It’s a killer comedy, in both the literal and figurative sense.