Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Average Joes get pulled into violence, accidental espionge.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Wrong Mans
What's the Story?
When mild-mannered British county council worker Sam Pinkett (Mathew Baynton) answers a chilling call from a mobile phone he finds just steps away from the site of a car crash, he's unwittingly pulled into a world of deadly, high-stakes espionage that won't take "No, thank you" for an answer. But help arrives in the form of movie-quoting mail clerk Phil Bourne (James Corden), who signs himself up as Sam's sidekick and vows to "roll deep," no matter what. Although neither suspects what they're ultimately in for, together they're THE WRONG MANS for the job.
Is It Any Good?
Although it's airing in the United States exclusively on Hulu, The Wrong Mans previously reached British audiences via the BBC, where Baynton/Corden's winning partnership as a mismatched pair of buddy spies drew apt comparisons to Simon Pegg/Nick Frost pairings in big-screen comedies such as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. And that might be why we like them so much here -- their chemistry feels chummy and familiar.
Either way, their hijinks are hilarious. And, although it's true that The Wrong Mans' comedic subtleties might not appeal to a wide swath of Americans, those looking for a fresh take on TV will appreciate the series' genre-bending break from tradition because it also delivers in the action department, from eye-popping visuals to effective cliffhangers that will keep you watching multiple episodes in succession.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Wrong Mans' mix of action and comedy. Does it favor one genre more than another? How does the show's comedic tone play against the relative realism of its violence?
How believable is The Wrong Mans' world? Does the show paint the world as a more dangerous place than it actually is?
How does the fact that The Wrong Mans airs in the United States exclusively on Hulu affect its audience? How might the series fare on network television or pay cable?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 24, 2013
- Cast : James Corden , Mathew Baynton , Sarah Solemani
- Network : Hulu
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Friendship
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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