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Your Friends and Neighbors marks Jon Hamm’s latest venture into television, showcasing a compelling narrative centered on a wealthy hedge fund executive who finds himself in dire straits and turns to minor crimes to maintain his façade. Premiering on Apple TV+ in early April, the series has garnered favorable reviews for its intriguing storyline and Hamm’s performance.
The show explores a profound midlife crisis while serving as an excellent platform for Hamm to demonstrate his impressive skills. Although he has continued to impress audiences in various roles since his breakout as Don Draper in Mad Men, this series presents a unique opportunity for him. The reasons for its resonance with audiences are multifaceted.
Who Is Jon Hamm’s Character in ‘Your Friends And Neighbors’?
In Your Friends and Neighbors, Jon Hamm portrays Andrew “Coop” Cooper, a man who has seemingly achieved the quintessential American Dream. After following the expected life trajectory—landing a prestigious job, marrying a wonderful woman, and raising two children—Coop suddenly finds his world unraveling. A failed marriage leads to the loss of his home and job, thrusting him into the depths of a midlife crisis.
With contractual obligations preventing him from immediately finding new employment, Coop must devise a means of income. As he grapples with escalating bills for his children’s private school and extracurricular activities, the pressure mounts. The need to maintain his status among affluent friends adds another layer of complexity.
As he navigates this turmoil, Coop becomes acutely aware of the lavish lifestyles of those around him. An epiphany strikes: his well-off neighbors possess an excess of material items and likely would not miss some of their valuables. Over time, he rationalizes that stealing small items from them could be an effortless way to bridge the financial gap.
By day, Coop dons the trappings of wealth and privilege—a sharp suit and a golf club membership. But by night, he transforms into a thief, concealed in a black hoodie and cap. It is his internal dialogue that provides viewers with a glimpse into his psychological struggles. He begins to recognize that, like him, everyone in his circle is also masked behind their own pretenses.
Who Is Don Draper in ‘Mad Men’?
Contrastingly, Jon Hamm’s portrayal of Don Draper in Mad Men remains a high-water mark of his career. Draper is a talented advertising executive known for crafting compelling campaigns during the 1960s. Yet, beneath his polished exterior lies a complicated, fractured individual whose past haunts him.
The crux of Draper’s identity is built on deception; he is not Don Draper but Richard “Dick” Whitman, who appropriated the identity of a deceased soldier during the Korean War. His tumultuous upbringing, marred by a mother who died during childbirth and a troubled childhood, laid the foundation for his disconnection from himself. Despite his outward success, Draper’s life is defined by loneliness and emotional turmoil.
He is charming and talented, with the ability to captivate audiences with pitches for products as varied as Kodak projectors and pantyhose. However, his personal life suffers, marked by infidelity and heavy drinking, highlighting the stark contrast between his public persona and private despair.
Why Coop Is Hamm’s Best Role Since ‘Mad Men’
Before Mad Men, Jon Hamm had various roles, but it was that series that solidified his status in Hollywood. He distinguished himself in the role—one that earned him an Emmy and multiple Golden Globe Awards—running from 2007 to 2015. His subsequent work, including appearances in Top Gun: Maverick, Black Mirror, The Morning Show, and Fargo, revealed Hamm’s versatility, but Coop feels like a return to his dramatic roots.
Hamm’s ability to portray complex, troubled characters resonates deeply with viewers, and in the opening scene of Your Friends and Neighbors, he delivers a powerful monologue that sets the tone for his character’s conflict. His emotional depth in the moments of solitude is palpable, echoing the essence of Draper while asserting his unique identity as Coop.
While Hamm acknowledges the risk of typecasting following his iconic role as Draper, he embraced the challenge of taking on diverse characters. His comedic roles on shows like 30 Rock sought to expand his range, yet there seems to be an intrinsic alignment with darker, troubled personas.
Coop represents a familiar archetype that Hamm navigates with grace—an insecure, approval-seeking individual struggling to fit into societal expectations. This dynamic evokes memories of the intricacies woven throughout Draper’s character. Though Your Friends and Neighbors may not achieve the monumental acclaim of Mad Men, Hamm’s portrayal of Coop serves as a reminder of the actor’s captivating talent. Aptly referred to as a modern-day Don Draper, Coop reminds audiences why Hamm became a standout figure in television.
Stream Your Friends and Neighbors on Apple TV+.
Source
movieweb.com