After a decade of Trump and the 'competence' of Starmer, etc. etc., this hyper-farcical view of politics lands a little sour.
Stylistically, [Iannucci's] comedy exists in the sweet spot between nervy, semi-documentary realism (embodied by a jittery, hand-held camera) and archly stylized dialogue, à la Aaron Sorkin. In fact, one way to look at Iannucci is as Sorkin without the idealism. […] Veep is The West Wing purged of anything but pure, bristling ambition. Where Sorkin is narcissistically drawn to figures whose uncompromising brilliance is also their tragic flaw […] Iannucci is a chronicler of straight-up idiocy.
— Adam Nayman (The Ringer)
Iannucci’s political satire has always operated via the farce of snowballing social faux pas, but the filmmaker has difficulty translating that to the Soviet system where those in power never even have to suffer the illusion of public accountability.
— Jake Cole (Slant Magazine)
Synopsis: When dictator Joseph Stalin dies, his parasitic cronies square off in a frantic power struggle to become the next Soviet leader. As they bumble, brawl and back-stab their way to the top, the question remains — just who is running the government?