Jayme Cole and Ben Hilzer’s Ben & Gary: Streaming feels partially like Amazon Women on the Moon coupled with Key & Peele-style situationals and parodies to form a quick, chuckle-loaded, and culturally relevant meditation on the streaming era.
Ben (Ben Hilzer) and Gary (Gary John Miller) are men on a mission. They show up stocked, c@#k-locked and ready to rock at a financier’s office to pitch the streaming service to eclipse all other streaming services. Their lone audience, an unassuming businessman (Jack Anderson), isn’t at all prepared for the onslaught headed into his office.
But the second they explode through the office door, Ben and Gary unleash their act, both precarious and exhilarating. The businessman can only sit dumbfounded and bask in the blinding brilliance of Ben and Gary’s awesomeness.
“They show up stocked, c@#k-locked and ready to rock at a financier’s office.”
With a combo of RoboCop-esque infomercials and brilliant possible cinematic franchise installments, my favorite of which was Top Gun: Grounded. Anyone reading this familiar with the movie Be Kind Rewind will understand me when I say it’s like the Sweded version of Tom Cruise’s meal ticket, which boasts none of the things you love about Top Gun or Top Gun: Maverick. You just have to use your imagination.
Hilzer and Miller actually remind me a little of British comedy duo Hale & Pace as they drift flawlessly and effortlessly between characters and set-ups, which blend cleverly and comfortably, so the laughs just build on top of each other as there are moments when the stakes rise, and Ben and Gary are forced to up the ante before proffering the deal-sealing blow.
Ben & Gary: Streaming has a confidence that comes out on screen. It’s a comedy act I hope we get to see in greater length and breadth, for there is not a doubt in my mind that Ben and Gary have all the awesomeness required to blow humanity’s collective mind.
"…a quick, chuckle-loaded and culturally relevant meditation on the streaming era."
