White Famous is a middling, masculine comedy, probably worth a second look but maybe not a third.

The self-loathing here is the type that’s common to so many Hollywood satires, filled with the requisite pythons and soul crushers who keep the sausage factory conveyor belt moving. But much of this goes beyond loathing to self-lacerating.

It’s [Jay] Pharoah, though, best known for his six-season stint on SNL, who carries the action. He’s droll enough, making his eyes dance at others’ foolishness, but he also has an unexpected sadness about him that adds dimension to the show.