David

TIFF 2020 short cuts 01

David

The feeling you see Will Ferrel sitting there as a dead serious shrink and know that he would explode at any second. You love to see it.

DAVID starts as a dark comedy and gradually grows as an exploration of an ordinary(-ish) father-and-son relationship that will questions about what we need in our life. In his first directorial debut, Zach Woods has proven himself to be a director to watch. And with strong performances from all cast, this is definitely a joy to watch.

Will Ferrell stays true to form finding humour from material he is given. Playing a therapist, his son David interrupts a life threatening session of one of his patients as work and home life comes to a head! Such a simple plot packed with stomach belching laughs, the cast (Fred Hechinger and William Jackson Harper) don't miss a beat in the delivery of this tales punchlines.

I am far to be a fan of Will Ferrel. But this film, in my case, change more about my opinion about him. Because not only he gives a beautiful job but it propose a brilliant portrait of the large halls of tension in fine silence moments. A shrink, his pacient, his boy , frustrated by the absence of the father from his significant wrestling match. Easy, you say the spoiled young man, the vulnerable pacient, the father in difficult/delicate situation. But you know be much more. At the end, you feel this short film being about yourself, from options to duties and the schedule defining you, priority by priority.

It's fun to see Will Ferrel go a little darker in this short film with a role custom built just for him. I love that there are two characters named David and they both need help. All in all, a memorable dramedy short.