Florida Man is a gripping crime drama starring Venezuelan actor Edgar Ramírez. The story centers on a former Philadelphia cop whose gambling addiction triggers an uncontrollable spiral of raw consequences.
The new Netflix series is inspired by the popular meme that has been circulating the web for years and is connected to wild and strange stories that occur in the state where the sun always shines. Created by Donald Todd, the show features Jason Bateman (Ozark) as executive producer.
Florida Man is a hybrid of genres that includes drama, black comedy, a treasure hunt and a survival tale. The limited series is described as “a wild odyssey into a sunny place for shady people.”
Donald Todd, the program’s creator and showrunner, is best known for his work on the hit series This is Us and Sleepy Hollow. As for the cast, Edgar Ramirez is joined by an amazing team that includes Abbey Lee, Emory Cohen, Clark Gregg, Paul Schneider, Lee Scott Davis and Anthony La Paglia.
Although the title of this limited program invites us to make certain assumptions, Florida Man goes beyond meme culture to deliver an off-the-wall crime drama; Jason Bateman hopes viewers will enjoy Florida Man as much as they enjoyed his esteemed drama Ozark.
Directors of the fiction include Haifaa Al-Mansour, Miguel Arteta, Julian Farino, Kevin Bray and Clark Gregg.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Juyodtul_7s
The story
In Florida Man, Emmy-nominated actor Edgar Ramírez plays Mike Valentine, a former gambler, former cop, and former Florida resident, who returns to his hometown after years of resentment.
Overall, Mike is in a tangled mess because of his gambling debts. Everything he has ever wanted has vanished from his grasp. His addiction has cost him his job, his marriage, his friends, and left him in debt to Moss Yankov (Emory Cohen), a ruthless mobster.
In a desperate attempt to pay off debts to the gangster, Mike has agreed to work for him doing menacing and shady jobs.
When Delly West (Abbey Lee), the Philadelphia mobster’s girlfriend, hops into her new convertible and suddenly flees to Florida, Mike is tasked with bringing her back; what the explosive Moss Yankov doesn’t know is that Mike and Delly are on-off lovers. And, there may be more between them than sex.
What was intended to be a simple, quick trip for the ex-cop turns into a dangerous pirate treasure hunt and a disturbing family reunion.
Once Mike returns home, it doesn’t take long for him to get into all sorts of trouble. In this sense, Florida is portrayed in the show as the most quirky, curious, and unusual place in the United States of America. Fiction suggests that no one enters the Sunshine State and comes out unscathed. Obviously, Mike Valentine will be no exception.
While tracking Delly, Mike finds himself in more trouble than he ever imagined. As he moves forward in his investigation he has to deal with real and staged murders, family secrets, and painful memories.
Initially, the ex-cop is determined to return to Philadelphia once he finds his boss’s girlfriend. However, faced with the unexpected possibility of getting his hands on pirate treasure estimated at $100 million, Mike’s plans take a sudden turn. Without thinking twice, he decides to ally with Delly and take on this daring proposal.
Unable to contain himself in the face of the game, the protagonist believes that the best way to leave the life of crime is to get involved in a new and dangerous gamble. Delly, meanwhile, seems to be busy with her own mystery.
As you might expect, Mike will have to deal with several formidable enemies standing in his way. However, the most delicate challenge for the former gambler will be to face the past and try to heal old wounds and grudges within the family.
The thing is, the Valentine family hasn’t been on good terms for far too long and Mike will have to face unfinished business with his sister, Patsy (Otmara Marrero), his father, Sonny (Anthony LaPaglia), and even his ex-wife, Iris (Lex Scott Davis).
As the Netflix series progresses, it becomes clear that the characters are hiding in plain sight. No one is what they seem. Everyone is keeping deep secrets that could be tremendously devastating.
Along the way, and as the title of the series indicates, Mike Valentine will find himself involved in hysterical and irreverent situations in the best Florida Man meme style. And the fact is, the ex-player’s desperate attempts to get his hands on the gold lead him into deeper and deeper waters of crime and deceit.
Of note, Sheriff Ketcher’s (Clark Gregg) subplot is an interesting and clever addition to the story.
It happens that early in the season, Mike Valentine steals Sheriff Ketcher’s gun during a family vacation in Florida. Ketcher, obsessed with duty, decides to retrieve his gun immediately. However, this search soon unleashes a series of misfortunes and misadventures for the officer, who eventually crosses paths with the former gambler.
In the later episodes, gangster Moss Yankov decides to take matters into his own hands and travels to Florida to track Mike down after exhausting his patience and feeling betrayed by his trusted man.
In the end, things move quickly. Mike stubbornly pursues his mission no matter what it takes. However, when Moss abruptly appears on the scene, everything and everyone is thrown into a corner. Moss Yankov’s shadow will try to engulf all in its path.
During his stay in Florida, Mike Valentine will discover that no one can escape his past, nor completely detach himself from his roots. What was supposed to be a small mission ends up becoming a chaotic adventure that keeps the viewer on edge; it is worth noting that some of the show’s plot lines touch on issues such as addiction, divorce, morality, corruption, grief, and suicide.
The cast
Undoubtedly, praise must be given to the cast members, who bring emotion and tension to each of their roles. Edgar Ramirez does a fantastic job as Mike Valentine. The Emmy-nominated actor – whose previous roles include Zero Dark Thirty, Carlos, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Point Break, The Undoing, Jungle Cruise – embodies a man stuck in two worlds with solvency.
Abbey Lee, in the role of Delly, is a wise choice and fits her character effortlessly. Lee, who transitions from drama to comedy seamlessly, is essential for this type of fiction.
For his part, Emory Cohen’s performance as an underrated Philadelphia mobster is interesting. The actor makes the most of the material, brings strength and vulnerability to the character. One is left with the feeling that the producers could have explored a bit of Moss’ childhood and how he grew up in the shadow of his father.
Also noteworthy is the presence of veteran stage and television actor Anthony LaPaglia in the role of Mike’s father. His performance is a delicate point between the man who has succumbed to corruption and the family man who does his best to protect his children. The scenes LaPaglia and Ramirez share reflect the love-hate relationship of a fractured family.
Clark Gregg is a bold element. Although it is a minor role, the character of Sheriff Ketcher is hilarious, and Gregg’s performance is impressive.
Is the Florida Man series based on a true story?
Although technically the show is not based on a true story, the Netflix project is loosely inspired by the Florida Man memes, which refer to an alleged prevalence of men performing maniacal, irrational, and absurd actions in the state of Florida.
So no, Florida Man is not based on a true story. It is a fictional crime drama made exclusively for the streaming giant.
Verdict
In this crime drama there is a mix of crime novel, comedy, mystery, treasure hunt, and Florida memes. The fun, surprises, and twists make us forgive some of the story’s slips.
While not perfect, Florida Man is a fun and unpredictable ride worth watching.