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Phil Haney is one
sick fuck. And trust me, that’s an ode of respect and praise to the man
who created one of the best times I’ve had with an online short movie in
a while. “The Kegger” is a film that seems obvious and yet will pretty
much sweep the rug out from even the most cynical viewer who thinks
they’re watching an “Animal House” wannabe. Even as a darkly demented
frat house romp, “The Kegger” is rather hysterical with some great
acting, and hilarious gags that left me breathless. There’s the girl who
just can’t get out of the way of vomit, the idiotic frat brother jocks,
and the girl who works in a McDonald’s… in a Wal-Mart. Suffice it to say
that without the ace performances, this material wouldn’t be as sharp as
it is on-screen.
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Every
performer here is great, and Haney directs them into comedic
gold that entertained the heck out of me; Lindsay Wilson is
great as Danielle, the dreamy girl who got away that our two
main characters Eric and Richard are trying to scope out and
possible re-connect with, while Ben Fuller and Robert
Lambert are funny and memorable as the two inadvertent party
crashers who intend to “score” with the drunken chicks at
the party if it kills them. |
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The twist that Haney
hands us in the finale was surprisingly very well delivered and
thankfully never felt shoehorned or forced. The way that our characters
go from inept partiers to, well—you’ll see, really felt natural, and
Haney handles the change in tone and genre with utter perfection. I
laughed, and then upon this twist I gasped utterly taken aback and
pleased that Haney just didn’t want to give us another frat house romp,
however funny it was. The fact that Danielle leaving main character Eric
has such repercussions is an interesting direction Haney takes beyond
the typical comedic conventions of the man simply being heartbroken, and
there’s an innate psychology and observation at hand, along the
statement that these two guys are not who they appear to be. I raise my
Corona to you, Phil.
“The Kegger” is
an obviously low budget production with an apparent stripped down
budget, but damned if Haney doesn’t take it and make it in to something
original and worthwhile with tight performances, great comedic timing,
and a twist you won’t see coming. View it at
Funny or Die.com.
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