Movies

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

BBG News

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I’m excited to share that Benito Skinner, known for his internet comedy stints, has made a splash in traditional media with his eight-episode sitcom, “Overcompensating,” debuting on Prime Video this Thursday. In this series, I step into the shoes of Benny, a sheltered college freshman from Idaho, whose innocence lends an old-fashioned charm to the show – even as we delve into topics like sex and relationships.

Despite its racy dialogue and occasional explicit scenes, “Overcompensating” champions values that resonate deeply: friendship, truthfulness, loyalty, kindness, self-acceptance, and authenticity in dealing with others. Our heroes grapple to maintain these ideals amidst a backdrop of contemporary slang like “bruhs” and “bitches,” and societal expectations about what truly matters.

It’s hinted early in the show that Benny might be gay, although neither he nor anyone else in the story is fully aware of it yet. This is suggested subtly through some meaningful glances and nervous reactions as Benny navigates his way through college, where he feels the pressure of parental expectations, particularly when it comes to his major (business). Interestingly, his sister Grace (played by Mary Beth Barone) from fictional Yates University is already present. She’s not thrilled about her successful high school brother encroaching on her ivy-covered college territory. Meanwhile, Pete (Adam DiMarco), who happens to be a business major, seems to impress Benny’s father (Kyle MacLachlan), but his influence in the university may not be as significant as he believes.

During orientation, Benny encounters Carmen (Wally Baram), a kind girl hailing from New Jersey. Her former high school boyfriend has been sharing photos of his new life, causing pressure for them to reinvent themselves in college – that is, to emulate others. In an attempt to move on, they consider getting closer, which leads to a complicated relationship marked by closeness. Carmen may seem more worldly, or perhaps she’s less torn than Benny, but both are essentially greenhorns and share compatible personalities.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but see a tinge of sorrow hidden beneath the laughter in this story – a sorrow that echoes within Benny’s character and within a society where such deceit and self-deception remain a necessity. It’s heartbreaking to witness his confusion. Interestingly, it wasn’t until Skinner, now 31, reached his final year at Georgetown that he decided to embrace his truth. I can only hope the series will speed up this process, as a viewer, I find myself growing restless.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m captivated by Skinner, who’s known for his quirky internet videos but also has some acting gigs under his belt. In this series, he plays his younger self with a charisma that’s both bottled-up and maddeningly unpredictable.

Moving on to Baram, a writer for shows like “Shrinking” and “What We Do in the Shadows,” who made a surprising leap into acting from the writers’ room of “Overcompensating.” As Grace, she initially comes across as a stereotype that’s easy to brush off, but as she starts taking herself more seriously, she delivers a performance that’s truly moving – even heart-wrenching, though I doubt both Grace and Baram would appreciate such sentimentality.

It’s interesting to note that most characters in this show, whether main or minor, are hiding layers of neediness beneath their tough facades. But then again, that’s often the case with real people too.

The central theme of the series revolves around the characters pairing up and then unpairing again, all while they experience different milestones of youth such as playing beer pong and acquiring fake IDs. A significant part of the season focuses on an absurd secret club called Flesh & Gold, to which Benny and Carmen have mysteriously been admitted and seem overly keen to belong – it seems more a source of embarrassment than privilege. Nevertheless, the show manages to extract entertainment from this, including a guest appearance by James Van Der Beek, who played Dawson in another series, as a decadent older member.

In this production, Skinner has gained enough cultural significance to persuade Jennifer Aniston to join in a humorous prank video. This cultural influence is hinted at by the appearance of Charli XCX (who also serves as music supervisor) in an entertaining extended cameo as herself, which will delight younger viewers. On the other hand, MacLachlan and Connie Britton portraying Benny’s parents may impress older viewers due to their fame. Other recognizable figures making brief appearances include Andrea Martin as the school’s dean, Didi Conn as Grace’s “adopt-a-grandmother,” Megan Fox as a talking poster of herself, and Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers, and Lukas Gage playing the boy who escaped Benny before he knew what he was seeking. Rish Shah portrays Miles, a good-looking classmate whom Benny forms a connection with, making him one of the series’ more down-to-earth characters. In this production, Holmes is scarcely recognizable from “Welcome to Flatch,” playing Hailee, Carmen’s roommate, who is like an ornate ice cream sundae in personality – talking non-stop, sweet, and a bit dimwitted; much like her character on “Flatch,” she proves to be quite charming.

Occasionally, conflicts may seem contrived towards the end of each season, serving more as a means to maintain tension rather than foster genuine relationships between characters. This pattern could persist over four seasons if the goal is to chronicle Benny and Carmen’s college journey. However, since Skinner enjoys shows like “Gossip Girl,” where betrayals and shifting alliances were common occurrences, he might find a way to incorporate similar elements into this narrative. In essence, it’s an engaging and light-hearted setting with plenty of comedic elements, but it also serves as a reminder of the relief that comes from leaving college behind.

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2025-05-14 19:31

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