"Ben and Kate," the brand new series that debuted on Fox Tuesday night, is a delightful comedy with smart, good-looking, very funny people, and a premise with a lot of potential. While the sweetness and adorable factor may be a bit much for some viewers, it's the chemistry and likeability of the lead actors that make it such an enjoyable time.
Silly, sweet, and very funny
The storylines center on siblings Kate and Ben, their two best friends (Tommy and BJ), and Kate's 5-year-old daughter, Maddie.
From the moment the characters are introduced, there is a basic understanding of their individual quirks and personalities. Kate, played by Dakota Johnson, is a serious single-mom, and her goofy brother, Ben (Nat Faxon), a lovable man-child. BJ, Kate's bff, is a sassy Brit with snappy one-liners, while Tommy plays the loyal buddy of Ben.
Wedding crashers
When Ben finds out that Darcy, the woman of his dreams and "Future Mrs. Ben Fox," is getting married, he and his crew devise a plan to crash the wedding and get the bride to come to her senses. Unfortunately, they are one hour too late, but that doesn't stop them from partaking in the reception, having a few drinks, and jumping into the pool fully clothed.
Fanny packs rock!
A few of the highlights included a discussion of the fanny pack that Kate wears around her waist: "You look like a Korean golfer," says brother Ben, while BJ asks, "Do you know what 'fanny' means in my country (England)?" An annoyed Kate responds: "Well, do you know what "B.J." means in my country?" Touche!
Can your butt hear me now?
When Kate prepares for her big night (and first sexual encounter) with George, she asks for BJ's advice, which results in a clever bit about "putting things in your mouth" to look sexy, including nibbling on multiple straws at one time.
Meanwhile, on the date, Kate "butt dialed" her brother, which accidentally gave Ben the opportunity to overhear George making plans with his lover (whoops!), and the entire restaurant got a free peep show as Kate, feeling a little warm, couldn't quite pull a sweater over her head fast enough. The scene of her helplessly lost in a cardigan, while exposing herself in a black bra, was classic.
What's not to like?
"Ben and Kate" deserves to succeed because the characters have depth and personality, the relationship between the two siblings is sweet and natural with real and easily relatable dialogue. If the writers can add a little more edge to the writing, the highly entertaining comedy could stick around for years.
