Why ‘Overcompensating’ is the New Must-Watch College Comedy You Can’t Miss!

by

A wave of risqué comedies seems to be sweeping across streaming platforms, more than at any point in recent memory. These shows are proving surprisingly enjoyable. Following the acclaim for “Summer of ’69” on Netflix, it’s now Prime Video’s turn to get a bit naughty with its new series ““, which has overtaken the popular “Reacher” to take the top spot in the ratings since its premiere last week.

Overcompensating, a fresh and unique production, doesn’t rely on big-name stars, grand action sequences, or screenplays by Taylor Sheridan for success. Instead, this comedy based on real events by Benito Skinner revolves around “a closeted ex-football player who befriends an outsider at college to fit in.” If the plot reminds you of campus sex comedies from the 70s, 80s, and beyond, then you’re on point! Critics on Rotten Tomatoes have praised it highly with a score of 94%.

Known for his comedic talents on social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, Creator Skinner takes center stage in the series as the lead character Benny. He co-produces the show alongside Jonah Hill of “Superbad” fame. In addition to Benny, the main cast includes Wally Baram as an unconventional friend to Benny, Carmen; Mary Beth Barone; Adam DiMarco, who starred in “The White Lotus”; and Rish Shah.

The show doesn’t depend on well-known actors for its success, but it does feature some recognizable faces among its guest stars. For instance, Megan Fox appears as a poster (in a suggestive context, given the raunchy college setting), Charlie XCX, Rachel Matthews from ‘Happy Death Day’, and surprisingly, Edith Conn who gained fame for her role as Frenchy in the 1978 musical ‘Grease’.

Is ‘Overcompensating’ Worth Watching on Prime Video?

It appears that both viewers and reviewers are strongly of the opinion that watching “Overcompensating” is a good use of your time. In fact, critics have been extremely complimentary towards the series, and its 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes serves as proof of this positive sentiment.

Michael Shirey from Gay City News contends that the series resonates due to its courage in depicting both the positive, negative, and untidy aspects of college life. The sincerity of the series has undoubtedly contributed to it receiving numerous favorable critiques. Belen Prieto from Espinof described it as “Overcompensating” being more than just a title; it’s essentially a heartfelt tribute to self-exploration, the significance of identity and self-awareness, and, naturally, friendship.

According to Alan Sepinwall from Rolling Stone magazine, while many YouTube projects highlight why their creators excel on YouTube but not television, the series Overcompensating is solid enough to potentially challenge that norm. This sentiment is echoed by Maddy Mussen of the London Evening Standard, who believes that Skinner has finally found his stride with this project. She hopes that its release will bring the success it deserves, allowing Skinner to move on from impersonations and focus on creating a second season, as he now has more substantial work to pursue.

It might seem effortless for poor action movies to climb high on streaming rankings, but a decent comedy series managing the same feat is less common. However, Overcompensating seems to be bucking this trend in multiple ways and may even manage to escape the unfortunate one-and-done cancellation pattern.

Read More

2025-05-21 14:13