You may or may not have heard of Fox’s new comedy, Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life. It’s TV’s version of The Hangover meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, told through the mistakes and lessons learned of a post-graduate millennial. It’s relatable, fun, and binge-worthy. (Trust me, I totally did that last weekend.)
Cooper Barrett (Jack Cutmore-Scott) is fresh out of school. But, life after college is not how he imagined. (We’ve all been there, right?) He’s broke and attempting to start a business. He’s living with his two best friends—nerdy Neal (Charlie Saxton) and the “loveable jackass” Barry (James Earl). And, he’s fallen in love with their neighbor, Kelly (Meaghan Rath), who occasionally joins in on the group’s crazy antics.
Together, they’re in over their heads and constantly getting into outrageous situations, which includes being kidnapped and spending a night in jail. Always there to bail them out is Cooper’s 40-year-old brother, Josh (Justin Bartha), who loves hanging out with the guys and having a bit of alone time away from his wife, Leslie (Liza Lapria) and their two kids.
As Cooper struggles with each of life’s many challenges, he teaches us important lessons about perseverance and the meaning of friendship.
Cooper Barrett is an enjoyable half-hour of television. It has a nostalgic feel that compliments the show’s overarching message—something I’m sure will resonant with audiences.
The show isn’t afraid to take risks from its wacky situations to Cooper Barrett talking directly into the camera. It’s a potentially polarizing move, and one I normally dislike but for this show, it works. You feel like you’re the fourth member of the Wolf Pack group.
Led by a cast of fresh faces, the show’s strength is the chemistry between its cast, specifically Jack Cutmore-Scott and Meaghan Rath. Jack brings his irresistible charm and leading-man persona to the role and Meaghan Rath is a scene-stealer. The pair’s relationship reminds me of Jim and Pam from The Office. For that reason alone, it’s worth tuning in.
As the story and characters develop, Fox could have a real hit.
Photo Credit: Jeff Lipsky / FOX
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