Thunk! A 144-page screenplay falls from the ceiling and straight into the hands of a pair of conflicted friends, Matt and Ben. Signed with both their names, the friends debate whether the manuscript is a blessing or a curse. The aggressively male satire about testing friendship, “Matt and Ben,” amusingly explores how “Good Will Hunting” (1997) came to be.

Originally produced by Dartmouth College classmates Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers in 2002, the show pokes fun at the celebrity duo Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and the mystery of how a pair of boisterous young men were able to produce the award-winning drama “Good Will Hunting” (1997). “Matt and Ben” features a cast of two women who portray the sleazy goofball Ben Affleck (Spring Ferrara) as a foil to the pretentious and uptight Matt Damon (Genevieve Lerner). 

They spend the entire runtime arguing over what to do with the script, whether it came from heaven or hell and reliving their childhood experiences. The pair have undeniable chemistry, perfectly encapsulating the energy of two longtime friends who are forging a path to fame in an adult world. 

The characters of Matt and Ben play off of each other brilliantly. Ferrara especially, truly embodied the physicality of Ben, a man-child who has spent his entire life as a jock and a popular kid, whose immaturity left him with a slacker attitude. Meanwhile, Lerner’s Matt takes on the role of a preppy Harvard dropout with the wind still in his sails. Matt’s inflated ego leads him to make questionable decisions and toss his closest friend aside.

The show mirrors some of the real-life experiences of Damon and Affleck; however, it turns them into exaggerated losers who are blessed by happenstance. At no point does the script take itself seriously, with every vulnerable moment broken by cheeseballs thrown across the stage or a cross-eyed, cane-wielding J.D. Salinger (Genevieve Lerner) busting down their door. 

Most of the drama lies within Matt’s doubt of Ben’s talents. Though he underestimates him, Ben never gives up his adoration for Matt. Matt’s inner thoughts and conflicts are explored more deeply than Ben’s. He keeps secrets from him and constantly belittles him. His reactions stem from a deep-rooted jealousy and resentment that, despite putting in very little effort, Ben has always been more popular — especially with the ladies. 

Fans of Damon and Affleck might have seen clips floating around online of the pair’s close bond during interviews and red carpets. Some online users have speculated that there could be a secret homoerotic bond between them — which could mean nothing. 

While the play does not capture that side of the duo, it does capture their brotherly bond. Matt feels like an older brother to Ben, constantly bickering with him. Ben is a puppy dog of a younger brother, following Matt around and admiring all he does. 

Since the two men do not seem creatively in tune with each other at first and argue about what they want out of any script, the play questions how these two doofuses could have produced an award-worthy screenplay.

The production design was one of the show’s greatest standouts. The small size of the theater worked to the production’s advantage. The boxy stage layout created a homey atmosphere, a perfect backdrop for “INT – BEN’S APARTMENT,” where the entire show took place. The apartment walls were painted directly onto the theater walls, which gave it a very DIY, homemade energy. 

Stage left showcased a patchwork couch seemingly held together with duct tape, where many of the pair’s interactions took place. The stage was littered with half-eaten bags of chips and empty beer cans, which the actors would stomp all over and throw around, perfect for the physical comedy the script demanded.

The sound design was another strong point for this production. Cartoonish sound effects supplemented the absurdity of the situation and emphasized the biggest moments in the show. A few moments featured a laugh track, or comedic punching sounds in place of real action. Whenever a character had a realization, the lights would flash for a second and a warping sound would play. 

“Matt and Ben” was a hilarious one-hour ride of exaggerated male friendship and millennial humor that is definitely worth a watch. The short run time comes with an equally fast pace. There is never a dull moment, and the lack of intermission allows the scenes to flow from one to the next with ease.

“Matt and Ben” will run until Sept. 5, with a performance Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Sherry Theater in North Hollywood.