I can’t say that “The Good, The Bad, and the Buggy” works as a short film, so much as a potential sketch for a web comedy. It’s a funny and cute sort of short film about parents being about as petty as humanly possible. One thing that hinders “The Good, The Bad and the Buggy” is that there isn’t any actual extrapolation as to why these parents are feuding with each other.
It is peaceful and quiet on the lonely playground where Steffen, a young and environmentally woke father takes his baby daughter for a stroll. Unfortunately, there are animals of prey on the prowl: the elitist Sebastian, with his perfect child in his perfect brand new luxury stroller. Like cowboys in the old west, the two know-it-all fathers face one another in the greatest “who done it better” parenthood battle no playground ever needed.
“The Good, The Bad, and the Buggy” works so much better within the confines of, say a web series (as I mentioned above). There’s no real exploration as to why these dads are feuding, only that they share drastically different methods in parenting. For some inexplicable reason they don’t so much hate each other, but are in a grudge match to see who is being a better parent. For what it’s worth the gag comes through fine (even if it’s not a gut buster), and the direction is very good. Director Ole Micha’s short comedy is perfectly fine as a one and done gag sketch, but I’m not too confident in it a short film, per se.
CINEJOY featuring CINEQUEST Artists is held from March 1st through March 12th.