Netflix series based on 'heart warming' true story now streaming

A new Netflix series, based on a 'heartbreaking yet hilarious' 'true' story, is now available for streaming.

The show, titled A Man on the Inside, stars Ted Danson and reunites him with writer Mike Schur, following their successful collaboration on The Good Place, another hit series on the platform.

Danson plays the role of Charles, a retired professor who feels life has nothing new to offer a year after his wife's death. He's stuck in a routine and has grown distant from his daughter Emily, portrayed by Mary Elizabeth Ellis.

However, an intriguing classified ad from a private investigator in the newspaper inspires him to embark on a new adventure.

Charles is given an unusual task: to go undercover in the Pacific View Retirement Home in San Francisco to solve the mystery of a stolen family heirloom.

With both residents and staff as potential suspects, it's up to Charles to crack the case without attracting the attention of the home's director Didi, played by Stephanie Beatriz, reports the Daily Record.

While the plot may seem far-fetched, it is actually rooted in reality, as depicted in a 2020 documentary that was nominated for an Oscar in 2021. The feature-length doc, The Mole Agent, follows the real-life exploits of 83-year-old Sergio Chamy, who genuinely infiltrated a care home in Chile to investigate potential elder abuse.

Chamy spent three months undercover, with a camera crew documenting his every move while pretending not to know his true identity or purpose. The film has garnered a stellar 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with both viewers and critics calling it both heart-wrenching and humorous.

A critic praised the show, remarking: "Funny, heart warming and sometimes heart breaking, we follow our spy as he struggles with the tech he needs to use for his mission and as he finds immerses himself in the lives of the various characters in the nursing home in this touching, insightful film."

An enthusiastic viewer expressed their thoughts online, writing:"A heart warming look at how connection feeds the human spirit. Some of the scenes HAD to be spontaneous. They were hilarious and genuine. Definitely worth watching!".

Mike Schur, the creator behind the Netflix hit and other successful sitcoms like Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine Nine, opened up about the moment the original documentary sparked his vision. In an interview with the LA Times, he shared: "I watched it and very quickly I saw the whole show. Three weeks later, we had lunch with Ted (Danson)."

He continued, discussing the casting of the lead role: "Sergio is a compelling and charismatic person. You can't remake something unless you are sure you have someone who can re-create that performance, which in this case isn't a performance - it's just who he [Sergio] is. Only Ted could do this."

While many real-life moments make their way into the series, such as potential recruits demonstrating their tech-savviness, Schur acknowledged that this would only guide him to a certain extent. He further stated: "We're gonna have to change a bunch of stuff, we're gonna have to expand a bunch of stuff, we're going to create new characters that are not in the documentary, but the documentary is the North Star. That doesn't mean the story as much as it means the feeling, which I don't even know if I could describe, but I know what it is when I feel it."

As Sergio investigates throughout the documentary, attempting to uncover potential crimes, he ends up forming connections with many residents. This aspect has the most profound impact on its audience, a sentiment that Schur was eager to emulate.

"Every single person who saw the documentary had the same feeling: 'I need to call my mom, I need to call my dad, I need to call my grandma, grandpa; I need to spend more time with my kids.' It is a remarkably universal feeling that comes out of the documentary, and I hope this same is true of the show, because that was the goal."

A Man on the Inside is streaming on Netflix, The Mole Agent is available to rent on digital storefronts including Amazon Prime Video