'Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness' Review

Michael Petrey
6 hours ago
2 min read

Limited Series.

Aired On: HBO Max.

Release Date: 06/26/26.

Genre: Comedy. History.

The Verdict: A Must-See

Larry David returns to HBO a little over two years after the series finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm with Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness. With over 2 decades of hit television comedies under David’s belt, he’s not looking to reinvent the wheel… Although I could easily see this as a premise in which Larry argues for the benefits of a stone octagon over a circular wheel, that would be outside the scope of American history for this show.

I have only seen the first episode thus far, but it delivered in the ways I expected: Curb-esque comedy skits that place Larry in the shoes of both American historical icons and inconvenient bystanders, seemingly aggravating historical game changers until history changes for the worse. The series promises to feature beloved Curb regulars and in this first episode, a hilarious exchange between Larry and Richard Kind as Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Watson is a highlight. It makes me sad that Richard Lewis and Bob Einstein are not around to see and participate in this show as well. David’s comedy is only as funny as the counterparts that can dish his sharp-witted, often improvised humor right back at him.

A minor complaint I have is that the show’s introductory sketch about the draft of the Declaration of Independence features not one but several retreaded Curb premises that play more like a Greatest Hits of Curb than a brand-new show. The remaining sketches feel fresher, albeit familiar to the world of Larry David and the recurring theme of mutual annoyance and frustration between Larry and everyone around him. The main difference in this show is the use of historical context and American icons, which lead to some amusing, albeit ludicrous, scenarios devoid of any historical accuracy. The show seems to take a similar stance to Conan O’Brien Must Go, which actively seeks to do the opposite of teaching its audience anything about the country it visits, instead leaning heavily into slapstick silliness with very little informational substance.

Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Happiness brought me happiness, despite not pursuing a new creative direction or risk, but by serving up my favorite comfort food in the form of Larry’s reliable comedy, fueled by cringe, elevated improvisational comedy with talented guest stars, and amusing set pieces and costume designs that make for a bottomless sandbox for David and other talented comedians to play in.

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