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Master Qi:
What we’re doing today is called
running, which I recently learned on the net, and have mastered.
Though it doesn’t
immediately start off on the right foot, I have to admit that Aguilar’s
short comedy revolving around an idiotic self defense coach who creates
an asinine form of martial arts eventually gets much better as it
progresses. It’s easy to fail on a short film, but rarely can I see a
short that redeems itself halfway through. Most of the film seems
incredibly improvised and while some kinks show here and there, Aguilar
places a lot of faith in his cast, and it pays through with enough
competence to warrant a good time. Particularly funny is G.R. Claveria
who is just outright spastic and over the top as Master Qi, an
egomaniacal blowhard who is certain that his martial arts (M.E.S.P.H.P.K.G.F.)
consisting of pulling hair and kicking is strong enough to garner a
following. And surely enough he tricks a bunch of women into joining the
class.
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Some of the
best moments in the film involve Claveria riffing on his
martial arts, forcing his students to basically take part in
a confusing scale, and then demonstrating the intricacy of
hair pulling. His reaction to their swings when they wince
in pain from the hair pulling is rather hilarious and
Claveria seems to have a clear grasp on this numbskull. This
is a man who really has accomplished nothing and is in a
state of delusion to the point where he spends his time
tormenting women who think they’re learning an actual form
of self-defense. |
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Aguilar’s film is
edited well enough to make the timing and pacing strong, and the closing
footage of his students fending off an actual mugger is pretty damn
hysterical. The entire cast of women are rather good and they’re a
veritable mixture of disgruntled, confused, and angry, and yet seem to
believe that if they quit the class, they’ll miss out on something life
affirming. I enjoyed the interplay between the women and the
demonstrations that made no clear sense but inspired a burst of laughter
here and there. The inevitable fate of Master Qi is also a bout of
raucous comedy. “Master Qi” is a satisfying little comedic short, and I
look forward to more from Aguilar and Claveria in the future.
It may not be a
win from the starting gates, but around the homestretch it manages to
really make up for potential short comings with great comedy, and a
hilarious slew of actors who sell the material.
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