5.9
A teenage cartoonist rejects the comforts of his suburban life in a misguided quest for soul.
Daniel Zolghadri
Robert
Matthew Maher
Wallace
Miles Emanuel
Miles
Maria Dizzia
Jennifer
Josh Pais
Lewis
Stephen Adly Guirgis
Mr. Katano
Marcia DeBonis
Cheryl
Michael Townsend Wright
Barry
Cleveland Thomas Jr
Steven
Rob M. Anderson
Comic Shop Clerk
Ron Rifkin
Grandfather
Tony Hassini
Richard
Andy Milonakis
George
Mitchell Wenig
Jared
Sylvia Michael Martinez
Pharmacist
Shane Fleming
Gabe
Peter Lucibello
Santa
Constance Shulman
Mrs. Ochs
Charlie Judkins
Comics Expert
Robert Cribbie
Funeral Speaker
Randy Costanza
Funeral Speaker 2
Pamela Dunlap
Judge
Devon Reiff
The Family Lawyer
Michael Quinn
Pharmacy Punk
Tyrone Mitchell Henderson
District Attorney
Michael Citriniti
Pharmacy Customer
Buddy Duress
Ryan
Gore Jones
Card Player
Michael DiBartola
Card Wizard
Jedediah Joseph Smith
Janitor
Louise Lasser
Linda (Pharmacy Lady)
Lawrence S. O'Connell
Comedian (uncredited)
Charlie Chaspooley Robinson
Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
Booch O'Connell
Extra (uncredited)
Director, Writer
Owen Kline
September 17, 2022
7
Daniel Zolghadri ("Robert") is really quite good in this short drama. He is a budding cartoonist who is arrested breaking into the home of his recently deceased and inspirational art teacher. That all goes away, but the public defender who represented him takes a bit of a shine to his refreshingly candid style of drawing, and that is where he is introduced to another of her clients "Wallace" (Matthew Maher). Here is an interesting fellow. Eccentric to say the least, it transpires that he once worked on comic-book illustrations and so the young man determines to befriend and learn from this man. To be honest, some of the scenarios are a bit far fetched - especially the ones in the pharmacy and in his parents bathroom at Christmas, but for the most part this is an engagingly entertaining mix of the eclectic and the aspirational as seen through the eyes of a seventeen year old man. The production is pretty basic, but at times it is funny. Not laugh out loud, no - but in an observational way that might resonate with many a parent dealing with a teenage child who has all of the answers (but few of the questions). His basement flatmates "Barry" (Michael Townsend Wright) and his rather curious pal "Steven" (Cleveland Thomas Jr) add a quirky element to the already rather surreal plot that meanders all over the place before an ending that is both horrific and funny at the same time as his acne-ridden best mate "Miles" (Miles Emanuel) discovers a new use for a pen-nib! Will he find his soul? Well I'd recommend you watch and find out - it's well worth ninety minutes of your time.