HBO’s Rooster is an acting masterclass, with tour-de-force performances from Steve Carrell, Phil Dunster, Danielle Deadwyler, John C. McGinley, and more. It’s at once charming, incisive, and laugh-out-loud funny.

It’s the kind of show that doesn’t knock your socks off​, but its amiable wit is more than welcome.

Though the series strikes the creator’s signature balance of humor and emotional depth, Rooster has yet to rival Shrinking, Ted Lasso, or The Office. That’s not to say the six of ten episodes made available for review weren’t a genuinely fun ride; rather, it’s a testament to the incredible heights we’ve seen both men reach.

“Rooster” thrives on the tension between Carell’s self-deprecating likability and Greg’s relative boorishness.

The show manages to be both intermittently amusing and highly disposable.

Aside from the occasional choice gag, its geniality dampens its silliness.

Unfortunately, “Rooster” is full of predictable characters and circumstances, adding up to a lackluster narrative.