Happy Endings

• Director: Various
• Screenwriter/Written By: David Caspe
• Producer: Prentice Penny
• Starring: Adam Pally, Casey Wilson, Damon Wayans Jr., Elisha Cuthbert, Eliza Coupe, Zachary Knighton
• Running Time: 30 mins.
• Language: English

Happy Endings,  is a TV comedy that looks at the relationships within a group of quirky, outgoing personalities with plenty of punch lines. When a couple—Elisha Cuthbert (24, The Girl Next Door) as Alex and Zachary Knighton (Flash Forward, The Hitcher) as Dave—split at the alter, their friends become confused about whose side to take.  The show looks at the strength of friendships and how far people will go to remain friends, even after the bride runs away. Happy Endings is good to watch when you feel like laughing about change that is inevitable. Indeed, for someone who is about to take a big step in life, such as marriage, it’s funny watching ridiculous people handle it.

The comedy comes off as witty and fast-paced, which keeps the viewers on their toes—a sign of  good writing. Yet, at the same time, the acting seems too forced and intense during moments when the characters make jokes about each other. Casey Wilson (Killers, Bride Wars) who plays Penny Hartz and Damon Wayans Jr. (My Wife and Kids, The Other Guys) as Brad Williams over-act funny moments that would go over better with subtlety. In spite of that, the humor is centered on these moments and the situations seem true to life, except funnier.

In an episode from the  first season: “The Shershow Redemption,” pun intended, the groups’ old friend Shershow is getting married and he invites them to his wedding. Alex and Dave, who are now friends, decide to be each other’s wingman at the reception party. In a well written scene, Dave asks Alex if she would like to take on the challenge of being his wingman and she says, “I do.” Then, Dave asks, “Where was that six months ago?” Obviously joking, but truthfully hurt, which is clear if you watch the pilot.  Something you have to do with this show, otherwise it seems as though the two never had a deeper connection than being friends. In fact, their relationship feels confusing, something that is more shallow than meaningful. Even though it was six months since Alex ran from the wedding by this point, their bond seems nonexistent and would not heal so quickly.

Regardless of the weakness of their relationship, Adam Pally (Taking Woodstock, Solitary Man) as the gay best friend Max Blum makes every scene he is in humorous with simple, noteworthy punch lines. One such scene is when Penny gets up to give a speech at Shershow’s reception. She makes a drunken fool of herself, talks about her fake fiancé, and falls over on the podium. Artfully, Max simply says, “magical night,” and boosts the humor.

In this episode alone, there are several comical scenes that enhance the plot showing newcomer David Caspe’s creative genius in writing scenes for these characters. Without a doubt, Happy Endings holds the attention and funny bones of its viewers.