Cinema Crazed

2009

Rated: Unrated

Genre: Fantasy Drama

Directed By: Mike Doto

Running Time: 12 Minutes

Review by: Felix Vasquez Jr.

Review Date: 11/14/09

THE LEGACY

As many of your readers may know by now, I am a hardcore Superman fan. I have been since I was old enough to read, before that I spent most of my time admiring the adventures Superman went on through pictures. So it came of no surprise to me when "The Legacy" knocked me flat on my butt and took the material to tell an all new story about the bond between fathers and sons and how fragile it can be. "The Legacy" takes a lot of risky moves in its telling of the short story as we explore the lore of main character Billy's father all set to the tune of the Superman mythos. It's so closely embedded in the Superman story that it almost risks copyright infringement.

Yet sometimes that is what makes the movie so watchable. Unaware that his dad Charlie was once an actor, Billy hears about his dad becoming the superhero Kryptoman. Unaware that it's a movie role and not his actual job, Billy watches as his dad starts exhibiting super heroic tendencies suddenly. As the film progresses, questions are asked that put us down in to Billy's shoes and we begin to wonder if he is on to something.

How else to explain Charlie's cat like reflexes all of which fade away when confronted with a glowing green rock? How else to explain his dad's ability to go from one city to another in a dash? As the question list grows the line between fantasy and reality are blurred and we're left wondering if Billy has a great imagination or perhaps his father is a real life superhero. Director Mike Doto perfectly balances the tone of the piece by keeping a fantastical whimsy that plays well to where the film eventually goes. Paul Butcher and Louis Iacoviello are a perfect match as father and son and thanks to the competence of the script their chemistry is very believable. Butcher is tasked with keeping us at the eye level of an awe struck child and it works while Iacoviello presents a sly mind set that keeps not only his son but the audience wondering if the suspicions are logical or just a child worshipping his father. Clearly this is one of the best short films I've seen all year.

Though veering dangerously close to copyright infringement, "The Legacy" is an excellent short film about the relationship between fathers and sons and how sometimes dad's don't need to be superheroes to act as heroes in their children's eyes. As a Superman fan I just couldn't help but love this.

Visit the official website of "The Legacy."

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