Primo series review: Big on laughs and family

Tracey Phillipps

12 months ago

Primo Photo credit: Jeff Neumann/Amazon Freevee Copyright: Amazon Freevee

Do not sleep on Primo.

I am predicting that Amazon Freevee has another hit on its hands with Primo. Executive produced by Shea Serrano and Michael Schur, this comedy is smartly written and chock-full of pop culture references, sibling rivalry and good will.

Sixteen-year-old Rafa is an only child. But mom Drea (Christina Vidal) is one of six siblings, Drea plus her five brothers. Rafa’s dad is long gone, but Rafa aka Primo has his mom and all his uncles rooting for him. To say Primo gets a lot of advice would be an understatement. It can be a lot for a young man on the brink of first love. But it makes for great comedy, plus their intentions are very much good.

Try not to get distracted by the striking physical resemblance between Primo (Ignacio Diaz-Silverio) and actor Tom Holland. Rest assured that Diaz-Silverio owns the role. Diaz-Silverio’s portrayal is relatable and heartfelt. Primo appreciates his family’s involvement, but it can also feel a little suffocating at times. And what will his new friend (maybe future girlfriend?) Mya think of his zany uncles?

One-liners for days

Five uncles with unique personas makes for an abundance of laugh out loud comedy. The show also offers different pairings or groupings of the uncles for storylines, which keeps the comedy super fresh.

Humor comes naturally from sibling rivalry, family secrets, competitiveness, the awkwardness of growing up, plus a dose of good old-fashioned immature jokes (like when one uncle teases another’s size by saying he has a “cute, tiny Lego body”.)

Watching sister Drea trying to keep her brothers in line also generates an endless supply of jokes. When it comes down to it, the siblings learn from each other as much as Primo learns from his elders.

Watch and repeat

I am already on my second watch of the series. With a short runtime and rapid-fire humor, it’s easy to miss some of the hilarity unless you watch again.

The stories are quick-witted, and they move fast. Speaking of repetition, there are some fun long-running jokes that cleverly resurface in multiple episodes.

Goodwill

On top of the comedy, Primo boasts great focus on a family’s love, forgiveness and loyalty. Watch for multiple lessons learned each episode. I think comedy is at its best when coupled with heart.

Remember the joke about one uncle’s “cute, tiny Lego body”? The smaller uncle previously comments on his own stature in a prior episode, making the jokes feel less mean-spirited. At the end of the day, the whole family solidly has each other’s backs.