Short Film Reviews: "Freedom"

Fearless:

It's only appropriate to start this list with a film whose title could easily describe those in Ukraine fighting to protect their country. The word is also used by Daniel (Wes McGee) to describe Margret Mason (Fionnula Flanagan), an aging former actress who meets Daniel as he's preparing to end his own life. Margret invites the man to her home for a chat, and an unlikely friendship begins. Fearless gets off to a slow but steady start that segues into a charmingly poignant story. While Margret and Daniel meet by complete chance, they quickly forge a bond as it becomes clear they have quite a bit in common.

While the action basically boils down to two people talking for about 24 minutes, the emotion behind Margret and Daniel's conversation and the gut-punch finale is richly compelling. Even if you see the writing on the wall regarding Margret's secret, the reveal is still bound to break your heart. Fionnula Flanagan and Wes McGee are phenomenal in the lead roles. They share incredible chemistry and sell their characters as compassionate but tortured souls. The only difference between them is that Margret's acting prowess makes her better at concealing her anguish--something supported by Flanagan's gravitas-heavy performance. With the first two acts of the movie making you fall in love with Margret and Daniel's relationship, the final act and its ending are sure to have you wanting to reach through the screen and hug them. So if you're feeling brave enough to risk leaving the movie with a tear-stained face, grab some tissues and check out Ted and Alexandra Kotcheff's Fearless.

Score: 9 out of 10 Shakespearean monologues.

Roid Rage:

Now for a film that's more likely to trigger your gag reflex than your tear ducts. Sammy (Zach Canfield) was a simple man with an unfulfilling but simple life. But after contracting a ravenous case of hemorrhoids that leads to a killing spree, Sammy goes on the run as the FBI and the scientists responsible for his mutation work to eliminate him. It's a gory horror-comedy filled with potentially nausea-inducing imagery. The visuals stand out as the only memorable thing about Roid Rage, because story-wise, it's as dry as the carpet of a cheap motel room. While there are some fun action sequences and good jokes, the script often slips into lifeless meandering as Sammy and his pursuers go from one location to another.

The acting isn't much to speak about either, with Zach Canfield giving a bland performance as the film's bland average joe protagonist. Though to be fair, the entire character roster of Roid Rage has the collective personality of a tumbleweed. Even taking into account that the movie aims to be a parody of sci-fi/detective films, this is excessively generic. The only diamonds to be found in the rough are "The Doc" and Agent Jenkins, played by John Archer Lundgren and John Russo. Lundgren commits to his role as a creepy proctologist while Russo commits to maintaining the veneer of a hardboiled detective, even when his dialogue takes a turn for the ridiculous. But outside of those two, all the actors here seem to be going through the motions. Despite its undeniably unique premise, Roid Rage has little to make me give it a high recommendation. In fact, if you have a weak stomach and/or a strong aversion to grotesque body horror, I'd say you're better off steering clear of this short film.

Score: 4 out of 10 gay bartenders.

Everything's Fine: A Panic Attack in D Major:

If you have experience with anxiety or are a recent college graduate, Everything's Fine: A Panic Attack in D Major might strike close to home. Opening with Zoe (Carly Blane) finishing grad school, the movie follows the young woman as her life becomes one fraught with stress, self-loathing, and frustration. It's a feeling many who graduated during the COVID-19 pandemic felt and one several continue to feel as current events continue to paint a bleak picture of the state of the world. But as told through musical numbers, Everything's Fine addresses a real-world struggle in a way that avoids becoming disheartening. From the challenge of finding a job right out of college to social media envy to the stigma against anxiety, a lot of relevant topics are covered through well-performed songs.

In addition to having a lovely voice, Carly Blane's acting makes Zoe's journey through the various degrees of mental health easy to get invested in. Whether she's cheerfully trying to ignore her troubles or bemoaning how her life has turned out, Blane will have you empathizing for Zoe with every note. Derek Klena is a similar combination of great singing and great acting as "Xanax." So is Chelsea Watts as Zoe's schoolmate Krista, who proves essential in helping Zoe find stability again. A beautifully written and directed mini-musical that could act as a ray of hope to anyone going through hard times, Everything's Fine scores top marks with me.

Score: 10 out of 10 ice cream cone earrings.

Entertainment:

Desperate to curb their summer boredom, friends Ben and Evan (Joshua J. Ballard and Eric Bempong) pass the time breaking into houses. And despite the IMDb synopsis indicating otherwise, that's all there is to Entertainment. Sure, Ben and Evan discover a gun during their casual B&E spree and encounter an unexpected situation. But their juvenile escapades don't lead to anything life-changing or innocence-shattering like the movie's IMDb page would imply. Instead, we just watch as two average kids break into people's houses and mess around with their stuff. It's not interesting, the lead actors are given next to nothing to work with, and the ending leaves all its story's potential to languish on the proverbial vine. In short, Entertainment provides anything but, and TV movie regular Marcus Rosner deserved better than to have one of his first few roles be a thankless cameo in such a dud of a film.

Score: 1 out of 10 Vancity hats.

Domestic Disturbing:

With its short length and brand of humor, I could easily see Domestic Disturbing being retooled into a Saturday Night Live sketch. Arriving at Jermaine's (Timothy Hornor) door are Officers Poleson and Bird (Brian Tee and Rob Botts), who have some questions to ask him about a most bizarre string of robberies. The comedy in Gary Weeks' script is relatively one-note, but it's salvaged by the competent cast delivering it. Brian Tee and Rob Botts make for a hilarious pair of comically serious cops while Timothy Hornor and Emily-Grace Murray (who plays Jermaine's lover Leslie) act as effective soundboards for their wackiness. The movie also has a humorously overdramatic twist ending working in its favor. It's not top-tier comedy, but Domestic Disturbing should still be able to make you smile in the time it takes Officer Poleson to weird Jermaine out with his description of the burglars.

Score: 5 out of 10 wiener dogs dressed like Santa.

Off Campus:

While Everything's Fine focused on life after college, Off Campus is about life during college. Jake (Phillip Pruitt) is your average college student who's living off-campus with his four best friends: womanizer Nick (Nick Ballard), bookworm Calvin (Matt Russak), stoner Groth (Joey Sylvester), and hothead Scott (Scott Landgraf). As Jake navigates his life of partying, chasing girls, and occasionally going to class, will he also learn something new about himself? While it comes to a sentimental end, Off Campus is otherwise a laugh riot as it follows this wild bunch of college friends. Though he's comparatively the most grounded amongst his housemates, Jake is just as much of a party animal and would-be Casanova as Nick. The smooth pacing and witty writing keep Jake and company's antics fresh and entertaining, with the comedy not detracting from the aforementioned sentimental wrap-up.

In fact, the conclusion is enhanced by how endearing the characters are. We spend the most time with Jake and Nick and they're perfectly portrayed by Phillip Pruitt and Nick Ballard. They share authentic chemistry that allows you to believe their characters would be best friends and they each bring their own individual appeal. Pruitt makes Jake adorkable while Ballard works with the script to develop Nick Stone beyond his womanizer archetype. While vapid and egotistical, Nick genuinely cares about Jake and his other housemates and even has a sardonic friendship of sorts with Ashley, Jake's female best friend who gives Nick no shortage of snark for his horndog ways. Lauren Marini gives a charming performance as Jake's tell-it-like-it-is confidante, as does Jessie Nickson as Jake's crush Samantha.

The rest of Pruitt and Ballard's co-stars also give strong performances, even though their characters aren't as lucky as Jake and Nick in the character growth department. While Calvin gets some development as he works to break out of his shell, Groth and Scott are left confined to their stereotypes. There's also a few jokes that don't land--the whole Intro to Women's Studies bit being chief among them--and some sound issues. There are scenes where the dialogue is overpowered by the bad audio mixing/editing and the golf ball injury scene is laughably executed. But apart from those stumbles, Off Campus is a fun movie with a stellar cast of kooky characters. If you'd like to relive your college days or (if you can't relate to Jake and his buddies' undergrad debauchery) go on an escapist adventure, grab a cold one and let five lovable hooligans take you for a ride.

Score: 8 out of 10 penguin cubs.

Mimi & Me:

This last film is a classic tale of a young girl asking an adult for advice on getting a boy to notice her. Too bad the person Em (Genevieve Buechner) decides to ask is her unfiltered, alcoholic, chain-smoking, gambling-addicted grandmother Mimi (Patti Allan). Will Mimi's words of wisdom help Em land her crush Sam (Dakota Daulby)? Or will they just lead her to disaster? You'll have to watch to find out. You should also watch Mimi & Me if you're in the mood for a simple but sweet story about the unconventional love between a woman and her granddaughter. Mimi is certainly a prickly woman and her advice to Em isn't what many would call appropriate. But Patti Allan allows the audience to see that Mimi really does care about Em--even if she's too stubborn to admit it.

Genevieve Buechner matches wits with Allan in the acting department. She makes Em likable when she's fretting about Sam and funny when she gets drunk with Mimi and decides to follow her grandmother's advice. Buechner also wisely plays Em as having become accustomed to her grandmother's rough edges. As such, it doesn't come across like the teen is legitimately hurt by Mimi's harsh words. Buechner and Allan blend well together when Em and Mimi are drinking and cracking jokes, so it's no surprise that the duo are just as great at selling their characters' strange but nonetheless loving bond.

While Buechner gives an authentic portrayal of an awkward teenage girl, Dakota Daulby gives an equally authentic portrayal of a drunk and slightly douchey teenage boy. While it would've been easy for Marly Reed to write Sam as an all-around monster who cruelly rejects Em or tries to take advantage of her, he's instead a less malicious breed of jerk. He may be lying to Em about being interested in her beyond hooking up, but at least there's some major lines he won't cross. With amusing leading ladies and a swift-footed pace that keeps its uncomplicated story from growing dull, Mimi & Me is a coming-of-age dramedy worth checking out when you have the time. Just don't repeat Em's mistake and use it as a guide for how to land a boyfriend...

Score: 7 out of 10 interlock breathalyzers.

Overall:

For the most part, I chose a good pack of short films for this special review list. While Roid Rage and especially Entertainment fell to the bottom of the scoring rubric, Fearless and Everything's Fine: A Panic Attack in D Major rose to the top. The other three films each occupy a different level on the scale, having enough good qualities to counteract their lesser ones. And with most of the movies on this list being of a heartwarming or comedic nature, it's definitely my hope that my writing does something to lift the spirits of anyone feeling down because of all the darkness happening in our world right now.

Below are some websites if you're looking for ways to help Ukraine in this time of crisis. I've also included the link to a GoFundMe set up by someone I went to college with who is part of a group of men who have formed an extraction team in Europe. Their goal is to help navigate citizens in contested areas to safety. But to do so, they need supplies. So if you can, consider donating to help Dallas Casey and his comrades in their courageous mission to protect those in Ukraine who have had their lives upturned by a senseless war.

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