The
show is so cheesy you would think they had Larry Lackapants writes the jokes (obscure Cow and Chicken reference, ignore my geekiness).
Yet another
devastatingly bad relationship based sitcom, like there weren’t enough of those
(>1 is already too many).
So, where to start? Well the acting is dreadful. Biggs
seems to have given up on being an actor on the big screen (not that I’m
complaining, but this isn’t an improvement) and decided to stick to what he
knows best – which apparently isn’t acting. Watching introverted, confidence-lacking,
awkward guys as the leading role is NOT ENJOYABLE. Seriously, this is something
that I may address in depth on one of my “Off on a Tangent” segments, but in short:
shows using this personality type for their protagonist are painful to watch.
In writing a leading character you should (only) have two options: 1.The overconfident, macho, ladykiller, like Sterling
Archer or, 2. A pseudo-realistic portrayal of the average guy, like Jason Segel’s
role in forgetting Sarah Marshall, anything else just turns out really bad.
Labine seems
to have kept the same character he is best known for, the overly confident and
obnoxious best friend, which he does very well, but this draw-by-numbers type
show isn’t a good fit for him (he was much better on “Reaper”). Judy Greer is
too good of an actress to be in this show, and it will definitely be a setback
in her career, not to mention that it’s an insult to her acting ability. Also
somebody should really let her be the star of a show and stop casting her as a supporting
role, especially since no amount of support can save the embarrassingly awful
acting of the so called main female character, played by Sarah Chalke. I’m
still uncertain if the audience is supposed to pity her character, find her
likeable or attempt to relate to her, because really all she’s accomplishing is
giving me a migraine.
Although
not central to the main story it should still be mentioned that the character
played by Sarah Wright is just uncomfortable to watch, not to mention insulting
and condescending that the producers would think this would be funny or
appealing in any way! Making fun of dumb people is not comedy, no matter what
Desperate Housewives would like you to think.
It should be said that whatever the actors could do with their roles was limited
from the start, primarily due to the unimaginative, immature and overused
comedy that the show is constructed on. Saying that it has absolutely no
originality is a serious understatement. The jokes are painfully unfunny, and
overall the show is simply a poor man’s HIMYM (and that should tell you
something).
Usually
I watch more than a couple of episodes before I cast judgement on a show, but
in this case I see no point in subjecting myself to more torture in hope that
maybe they will change the monkey on the typewriter and some dramatic improvement
will occur.
I am sometimes
inclined to give a show what I call the “neutral vote”, simply saying
the show is a good example of its genre (e.g. Southland) and is
watchable, but in this case I can’t even do that. The show is poorly written,
the acting is subpar, and it becomes painful to watch after the first couple of
jokes (and I use the term loosely). I have to award it a verso police and hope you never have to see it again.
