Short Film Review: 'Dad Pals' (2021)

Not only is it visually impressive, but the theatrics of the repeating joke in a hyper-realized setting is just plain fun.

★★★★

NR - Comedy (5 minutes)

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dir. Kyle Kenyon

Starring: Nina Concepción, Hannah Garces, Geoff Ross, A.J. Salas

“Three friends are put to the test when they find out their childhoods were shockingly different.”

— Official Synopsis

Dad Pals pokes fun at a rather common experience amongst friends: the reality that some have supportive parents and others simply don’t. I know what you’re thinking: “But, that’s not funny?” Only, Kenyon and the rest of the cast completely sell the concept by stretching that dynamic to be much more than just an off-handed joke, making a flashy, gut-busting short film that packs a stylish punch. At just five minutes long, it doesn’t overstay its welcome, either.

When I was growing up most of my friends had a relatively healthy household (at least from what I could tell). Almost all of their parents were together and most of them lived well above the median household income. My mom and I didn't really mind that we lived our lives a little differently; rather, we celebrated that fact. Kenyon aims to celebrate those differences, as well, by elevating the dramatics of that situation between three friends in his film. And I must say, the whole crew absolutely laps the material up — making for a truly entertaining experience.

You can’t really ask for a better cast than this. Everyone commits to the playful, melodramatic tone of Kenyon’s script. Concepción and Salas perform at a level much higher than one would expect from a short. All the while, Geoff Ross’ grounded portrayal of an average guy is fascinating in the context of the film’s enthusiastic delivery. The chemistry between the cast, and in return, the characters, is undeniable and consistent for the way in which the characters seem to have been written.

Mauricio Jauregui’s cinematography accurately captures the madness of the devolving story. And paired with Cristobal Ruiz’s sound mixing and a unique editing design, Dad Pals might take you by surprise in the latter half of the film as it did with me. Not only is it visually impressive, but the theatrics of the repeating joke in a hyper-realized setting is just plain fun. I would highly recommend that you watch it for pure entertainment if nothing else.

Be sure to watch the full video below or at this link to Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/488370534