Seems soIs Ellie's sob story that she has family?

How is it cheating?How can Lawrence be ordinarily funny in day to day conversation but so bad at this?
Tayce and Ellie are doing well but is it cheating a bit?
Not cheating as such but surely they have an advantage when they have a plethora of character material to use, whereas real people generally have less ready material?How is it cheating?