Movies

For ‘Overcompensating,’ Benito Skinner enlisted Wally Baram to tell a coming out story

BBG News

In the freshly launched comedy series “Overcompensating” on Prime Video, characters seem excessively eager or energetic. This is the observation made by Benito Skinner, the creator and lead actor, who drew inspiration from his own college experiences in the mid-2010s. He believes that this era provided an ideal setting to dramatize his personal journey of self-discovery and coming out.

The theme revolves around Benny (portrayed by Skinner), a previous high school football player hidden in the closet and now a college fraternity member, who excessively tries to prove his heterosexuality by altering his voice and suppressing his passion for Lorde’s music. This behavior is noticeable, if not more so, when he interacts with “The Alliance of LGBTQ+ individuals,” as he navigates through campus.

Instead, Skinner recognized that the complex bond between Benny and Carmen, who serves as both confidante and disguise, holds significant narrative depth. In this version of events, however, Carmen, portrayed by Wally Baram, is not merely a side character in Benny’s journey to self-acceptance. Rather, she plays an integral role in shaping his understanding of himself.

Skinner remarks, “That narrative and the college experience can be seen as a rite of passage, especially for many individuals identifying as LGBTQ+.” He goes on to explain, “In these situations, they often find supportive friends, forming safe spaces while dealing with their own personal challenges. What struck me was realizing that not only was I experiencing this journey personally, but she was too – having a completely different experience alongside mine.

In a straightforward manner, Baram revealed that as soon as she perused the initial episode of the series, she immediately grasped the character’s origin.

In the script I received, there’s a character introduced within the first few pages – a girl with unruly, curly hair who’s a bit clumsy and struggles to fit in because she can’t keep up with what everyone else is doing. As the story progresses, this character tries to make up for it by showing excessive affection, which resonated deeply with me as I could relate to that feeling for a significant part of my life.

At the orientation gathering, I found myself striking up a conversation with Carmen, sharing a laugh over our mutual annoyance towards the fellow student who kept boasting about being related to Amanda Knox. In a somewhat awkward yet charming encounter we’ll call it our own, we got to know each other. To quell my unwanted attraction towards cute guys on campus and steer clear of becoming an outcast if I didn’t hook up with a girl on my first day at school, I decided to pursue Carmen.

Review

‘Overcompensating’ navigates the confusion of college life and self-discovery

In this humorous Prime Video series, the internet sensation Benito Skinner and comedian Wally Baram share the spotlight. The story revolves around a shy first-year student who is grappling with both college life and his burgeoning identity regarding his sexuality.

Throughout the eight-episode journey of “Overcompensating,” I found myself drawn into the complexities of their freshman relationship, which Benny and Carmen seemed to navigate with increasing intricacy. Initially, Carmen was puzzled about why things weren’t quite gelling between us in more intimate moments (to put it mildly, our dorm room encounters). The underlying cause of this issue proved challenging for her – and me – to pinpoint.

As a movie critic, let me share my thoughts: In this captivating narrative, one character expresses a sentiment that resonates deeply – “It’s as if it was inexplicable to some, but the relationships I’ve had with women were shrouded in mystery and misinterpretation due to a heartrending deceit.” The intriguing character of Carmen, as the writer eloquently puts it, is a breath of fresh air because she embodies the confusion many women face when questioning, “What on earth is going on with this guy?”

Interestingly, the writer points out that sexual orientation was often overlooked by these women as to why their relationships weren’t working. Intriguingly, he suggests that for many women, understanding this aspect of his character would have been a crucial key to unlocking clarity. And he adds poignantly, “You haven’t done anything wrong.” This statement is a testament to the fact that it was not the women who were at fault in these failed relationships, but rather a deep-seated truth that needed to be acknowledged.

Locating the perfect actress to capture Carmen’s endearing unease proved difficult. Similar to Benny, Carmen is eagerly attempting to begin anew and blend in at the imaginary Yates University. She frequently strives to carry out what appears as normalcy for a college fresher.

Carmen isn’t fluent in college slang – her caption for her first selfie with Benny reads “Cheers to a night we’ll never recall with friends we’ll never forget” – but she’s adept at beer pong, first-person shooter games, and downing drinks just like the fraternity boys on campus. What’s more significant is that she is kind and considerate, the type of nurturing girlfriend a closeted individual such as Benny might find himself drawn to.

At the recommendation by Alli Reich, a producer from A24, Skinner tuned into Baram’s performance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in 2021. Here, the comedian of Mexican and Syrian descent humorously discussed her difficulties adjusting to adulthood. She felt particularly puzzled because she had a youthful appearance but also developed adult characteristics like breasts and an adolescent-sounding voice. In her act, she quipped, “I’m 5’2”, I have a baby face, but I’ve got boobs and the voice of an eighth grade Jewish boy.

For approximately four to five years, Skinner remembers spending time with this character. During that period, he watched a video which turned out to be quite uncanny. The woman on the screen perfectly matched his mental image of Carmen. He exclaimed, “Ah, it seems like she’s the one!

In a charmingly humble manner, Baram seemed ideally suited to fit into the eccentric ensemble that Skinner was gathering for his unconventional comedy production.

When we finally encountered each other face-to-face, it seemed as though I was carrying miniature maracas, Baram humorously notes. The atmosphere in the room was akin to a warm greeting, much like when two dogs come across one another, and their tails perk up enthusiastically.

“It was so two chihuahuas meet, finally,” Skinner adds.

The dynamic of “overcompensating” stems from their strong chemistry. However, as the story progresses, it transforms into a production featuring multiple characters. As Benny embarks on his first semester at Yates, we delve deeper into the lives of his sister Grace (Mary Beth Barone), her arrogant fraternity boyfriend Peter (Adam DiMarco), his charming crush Miles (Rish Shah), and Carmen’s bold, feisty roommate Hailee (Holmes).

The series, in its portrayal of college life, resonates strongly with millennials, stirring feelings of nostalgic discomfort. Kicking off with Britney Spears’ “Lucky” and featuring the classic queer film “George of the Jungle,” starring a muscular Brendan Fraser in loincloth, sets the tone. However, it’s the strategic use of songs throughout the series that best encapsulates that era. While Charli XCX grabs attention as she appears in Episode 4, the inclusion of a My Chemical Romance song in a subsequent episode underscored for the cast how profoundly and accurately the show’s writing reflects that time.

Baram remarked, “Reading ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ gave me a chilling feeling because I thought it was a unique experience only for me, locked away in my room. But when you included it, I realized that we all have had such moments. It’s comforting and surprising to know that others can relate.

Skinner emphasizes that the statement was so accurate it seemed personal to everyone present. He also points out that Mary Beth had similar feelings about the song. When they discussed it, she said, “I can feel it in my bones, both good and embarrassingly so.” He believes the song could make a comeback, and thinks Gen Z will particularly appreciate it as it seems very relatable to them.

Barone’s awkward karaoke performance of the 2006 emo hit song evokes a sense of connection because it embodies the raw emotion (and discomfort) that comes from being completely authentic – an aspect that each character in “Overcompensating” struggles with, to different extents.

Skinner’s comedy effectively portrays the overwhelming sensations of self-doubt and insecurity – be it a timid guy joining a fraternity, a hidden emotional girl striving for her boyfriend’s approval, or a reserved freshman discovering her identity apart from home.

Some individuals who stride into college with an attitude of ‘I’ll do what I want, regardless,’ enter as if they’re a wild bat – such courage left me in admiration, Skinner shares. ‘This is amazing,’ I thought to myself, ‘to have the audacity to be this self-assured.’ On the other hand, I found myself questioning my own presence in the very next moment.

In other words, Baram really captured the essence of Carmen and finding his character when he listened to “Truth Hurts” by Lizzo.

She shares that it reminds her of an episode from her past when she believed she was mastering social situations. She attended a party, thinking she would have a great time and connect with others. However, she admits she was actually presenting a false version of herself, and regardless of whether the social interaction turned out to be successful or not, she felt unfulfilled at the end.

The show expands ideas fundamental to queer culture, such as the closet and chosen families, and positions them as essential aspects of contemporary university life. Amidst humor about pink eye, problematic Grindr dates, and a brilliant critique of college improv, it passionately advocates for making the most out of those transformative years.

Skinner remarks, “I believe they’ve got the knack for it – the Benny and Carmen approach. It means discovering someone who allows you to stay true to yourself and your desires without feeling the need to change or overcompensate. For me, it’s like being with the right person eliminates the urge to pretend.

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2025-05-15 13:34

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