Comedy Strand

This will feature an added layer of did it make me laugh?

The Gospel According to Gail by Florence Winter Hill

Beep Beep, get off the road you stupid animal!

Mia is 17 and is already learning how to drive with her driving instructor Gail. Though Gail is an odd instructor and has a weird way of teaching her students. Sounds like it could be a funny storyline but it just never really worked for me.

I was not a fan of this one. There was the little plot or anything to really care for. The ending was also supposed to be shocking/surprising however only left me baffled about the choice that the character made. I am still confused about the turn of events. I guess I just never got the script to this one as I was left throughout waiting for something to draw me in and the short to begin but then it just ended. I was honestly believing the short was just starting before it somehow concluded highlighting that I never got it. The characters never clicked with me but maybe part of it is because I still have not learned to drive…so it's not relatable to me…right?

Laugh: I have to admit there is one visual gag that got to me and it taught me so much about the instructor on that alone. The rest of the humour I could not find or worked for me but maybe it is not my type.

I am unsure if I would recommend this one, I am still confused about what it truly was, to be honest.

Pussy Boo by Director Rémi Parisse

Reads the premise….oh this is going to be good.

It's another under 5 minutes short but it's certainly a treat. Grandparents Paulette & Roger have always failed at trying to get their grandaughter a good birthday present. This year they stumble across her favourite singer and have the idea to inspire the gift on that.

There is not much really to say but I loved the grandparents as you could tell how much they were trying and I was rooting for them. In a world where we have had songs like WAP, I think we all knew where the joke was going to be but it somehow still got me. It's incredibly short, the jokes land and the ending puts a smile on your face (great concept/writing).

Laugh: I would say I chuckled as the main element is predictable but still gold.

Overall with a three-minute running time you have to watch this short.

Don vs Lightning by Johnny Burns & Pier van Tijn

Where is it, where is it…oh there it is.

Don has the worst luck ever as no matter how hard he tries to enjoy his day, lightning keeps striking him. Throughout the short, we bang into many characters from the town and see how frustrated Don gets.

The concept for this has so much potential already for humour and it’s certainly is unique. The characters that are featured are all strange and I loved exploring this town that Don lives in. The script could have had more potential as some humour never stuck but the characters and story are brilliantly written. There is nothing serious or gripping instead it is just a fun time watching Don go about his life with the worst luck. Joanna Scanlan is the stand out for me, I loved her as Maggie, she is a character we all need in our life. The friendship with Don (played by Peter Mullan) I kept wanting more of and still do.

Laugh: Not much but it did get me. What is worse is that it got me with jokes I knew were coming. I also have to say the final joke did get me and I found it to be pretty clever.

I would say give this comedy a go, the idea alone should have sold you on this one. If not maybe me telling you to watch it will :).

The Gnome by Rory Hern

Don’t be a jumpscare, please don't be a jumpscare!

The brief story is at night a runner suddenly spots a gnome in the middle of the pavement. That's is all there is to know because the more I say the less special this film would be.

So this one is incredibly brief and short but it does not slow down on building that tension. I have to praise the cinematography as the reveals were shocking and truly something you would see in a horror film. I am always impressed how people can produce something like this within such a short amount of time and Rory Hern does it also.

Laugh: This one got more a sigh than a laugh when the joke landed. It's like hearing a dad joke, it landed but you are like what?

I will highly recommend this one; everyone can find some time to brighten up their day then The Gnome is the short film to do it.

Taj Mahal presents… A Short Film by David Dearlove

YES! YES! and more YES!

For the first ever in my reviews here, I have to say there is no plot. As described on the website this is aimed at people that do not like short films. It is certainly unique and truly stands out from the past amount of short on this list.

This one is so meta that is brilliant. The script for this is unique, clever and filled with incredible moments. There are not really any characters (other than the director's dad) or plot or any messages, it's a unique little thing. I have no other way of describing this one other than you have to watch this one unless you are thinking about producing your own short maybe wait it out. For something, so meta they have so much brilliance in cinematography, writing and acting.

Laugh: I got to confess this one made me laugh. Jokes did land and it's because of the brilliantly crafted script.

This one I would highly suggest everyone watches. As someone who watched so many shorts this one was a breath of fresh air and something special.

Bound by Joe Carter

Of course, the one Scottish short I have seen has to do with overdrinking.

After a wild night out two strangers find themselves handcuffed to each other. This sadly forces them to try to get about their day stuck together. With issues such as partners, angry characters and becoming late to work there is a lot to get through before they are eventually hopefully set free.

This story is just fun to watch as we see the traditional storyline of two opposite characters slowly becoming together. The writer made these two characters just enjoyable to watch as they try to maneuver around their horrendous situation. The comedy does lean into the dark approach and it was more my sense of humour. Seeing the struggle, the obstacles and the banter between them was fun to watch. I will say with it being tangled in some excellent shorts it does get lost as the premise is not really original and everything is passable but nothing truly stands out.

Laugh: I would say this one leaned into more of an awkward laugh. The jokes somewhat never landed but just the intentional awkward moments (well I hope they were) were funny to see them tackle obstacles and get along with each other.

Has these type of stories been done before? Yes. Though there is a reason behind it and is one is another one to keep these storylines alive.

Brunch by Marnik Loysen

Its the classic battle of the generations

The plot is a millennial attends a cafe bangs into the older generation. Which then kicks off a debate/argument between them. It an interesting concept looking at how we all stereotypically look at each other.

The animation on this one is gorgeous with the 3d animation popping creating a sense of a busy cafe but also showing the emotions the characters are feeling. That being said this was the only thing that stood out to me. The plot was uninteresting but does spark/highlight the debates between generations. We do all have stereotypes of each other and this one highlights it but also makes it funny. I think though maybe a cameo of a Gen Z would elevate this to another level? Though as a whole I never fully got invested in it but I did find it to be charming.

Lauph: No, I don't think I even got a chuckle out of this one. The start is the ‘funniest’ part but I have seen this joke so many times now soo…

mmm…maybe give this one a watch? There is so much better to watch it's hard when films like this are good but cannot compete with the rest.

Rough by Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson

Okay, anything to do with a dog gets me.

Now this one is supposed to be a comedy and there were glimmers of humour but I found it intense. As someone who loves my dog, it was horrific seeing if they would fulfill their duty and also towards the ending when the truth was told. As I am writing this I am struggling to find anything worth highlighting, I think if there was a spectrum of good/bad films this one would ideally fall in the middle. There is room to grow with the script and jokes but moments shined like the performances.

Lauph: It is a dark comedy so it did get to me but nothing again stood out…maybe there is something wrong with me?

If you are a dog lover prepare for a real horror if not then prepare to be disappointed. This is another great short film to add to the amazing strand.

Thank You So Much by Tomasz Frymorgen

Thank you so much Tomasz for producing a great short.

We follow a family as they head out to clap for heroes on their street. Though their is completion in the air as two houses battle it out to show the biggest amount of appreciation. I love the plot to this one and the ending took a route I never knew it would take (man reveal was obvious.)

This one for me took a while to notice what was going on but as soon as I got the plot I was on board for it all. This humour lands but right from the start, I figured the main reveal out but it is still great. I feel like such a bad person as someone who only went out in PJs… I never knew people made such a huge deal out of it. It felt like something that would belong on a classic BBC one family comedy which I would say is a compliment, it’s very well out together. From the moment I caught on, I felt like this one is special and it truly is.

Laugh: maybe there is not something wrong with me as this one got me. I just loved watching the family and revelry of it all.

Of course, I would recommend that one, it’s one the best of the strands. Cheer yourself if you are feeling down with this one.

The Dinner Party by Simon Neal

Well, we have it….

The plot follows a couple who are waiting for friends to turn up for a diner party. As they debate ways to try and make them leave the evening early time is ticking on. Will they turn up? Where are they?

The script was written by Simon Neal & Joshua Ferris truly shows how talented they are with this one. There was not a moment where I was bored, not liking the characters and the humour actually got me. Looking at the poster unlocked another concept the highlights the genius of the script. We see the relationship through different stages and thinking about their relationship is the main element of the entire short. Performances are great, the script I've already praised, the pacing is on-point…basically everything is here on what makes a really good short.

Laugh: Well we have it this one made me laugh out loud. I chuckled throughout but on two occasions I did cath myself out loud so it shows the humour is there.

It is obvious I will recommend this one as you a guaranteed to lauph. This short is one people can take notes on, on how to write a comedy short. I loved this.

BONUS SHORTS!

Lasagne by Hannah Hill (

So this one was different?

I read the description and it was vague which was confusing but now watching it, I can see why as there is something special about watching this one without any knowledge. I will say what the information I got was; we follow a couple who are going through a rough patch and well for dinner they are having lasagne again. That is all, watch and find out.

Hannah Hill I am so confused and have so many questions. My mind was loving the storyline but I kept thinking about how was this idea started as it certainly unique. What confused me was how many pots/lasagne sheets does one family has? I also loved the production on this one, something about it created the mood (the dimly lit lights or the messy rooms.) I do take issue in their hate of this fine Italian dish, it’s honestly my favourite but other than that I love that nothing was explained here and it’s the thing just happened to them.

Laugh: Not so much on this one. I don't believe there were that many jokes in this one. I think the comedy element comes from the insane idea.

YES! I will recommend giving this one a view for the experience on the story.

The longest day of the year by Lauren Hoover (International Mix Vol.2)

We have our first short that has to do with covid in some form… did it take awhile which is good.

This short film plays as more of a observation piece looking at 3 women at the time they announce lockdown. The comedy is mature, the more bored they get the wilder they become and it highlights a moment we can all relate to.

I did not want to deal with covid but this one I will allow as it certainly a adult comedy. The narrator is a whitty observer of the girls during lockdown. Reflecting back there are moments that scenes that stand out but the script written by Lauren Hooveris bonkers. From the first joke describing BC as before-covid, I was immediately bored. I will say as the short continued it was getting very samey but also very boring like the girls were during the lockdown. The comedy kept going and the script was going crazy but somehow I just felt like it was losing steam. There is only so much I can watch people in lockdown before I get sad and bored.

Laugh: Yes I indeed did, I think it’s the more mature nature so the jokes we out-there and they just went with it. Give this one a view I highly recommend it.

Honestly give this one a watch it’s just a clever adult comedy that will make you laugh but just try and hold onto it as to me it did loose steam.

Best/Least favourite

Best: Taj Mahal presents… A Short Film by David Dearlove

Least: The Gospel According to Gail by Florence Winter Hill