SummarySam Pinkett (James Corden) and Phil Bourne (Mathew Baynton) are office workers who witness a car crash and find themselves in a case of mistaken identity as they becomes involved in a kidnapping in this imported BBC2 comedy.
SummarySam Pinkett (James Corden) and Phil Bourne (Mathew Baynton) are office workers who witness a car crash and find themselves in a case of mistaken identity as they becomes involved in a kidnapping in this imported BBC2 comedy.
I expected to be tired of the joke behind The Wrong Mans within an episode or two. Instead, I found myself engrossed enough in the story of who wanted Sam dead at any particular moment, and why, to keep watching until I made it all the way to the end and could appreciate just how well Baynton, Corden and company stuck the landing.
Mostly, though, The Wrong Mans coasts along on the strength of Mr. Corden, Mr. Baynton and Tom Basden’s sneaky-funny writing (“You know what danger doesn’t do? Call ahead. Unless it’s the I.R.A.”) and the pleasure of watching Mr. Corden timidly but delightedly snorting drugs at a mobster’s party or trying to blend in with a group of svelte dancers.
Corden and Baynton bring considerable charm to their broadly drawn roles, and have the natural rapport necessary for any odd couple pairing.... Production values are solid, and film and TV director Jim Field Smith opts for a classic style that foregrounds both the action and comedy without any stylistic fuss.
The ambitious series finds a nice balance of slapstick and suspense. You might feel cheated if you're expecting the usual setup and joke, setup and joke format of many American sitcoms, but there are plenty of surprises and laughs.