On the face of it this short looks good. I mean technically it is very well made - great look, great sound, great use of locations. It also has some people in there who have some solid work behind them - most notably the lead actress is a Mr. Robot regular. It has a very quirky tone to it, and this goes through the characters, the interactions, and the content of it. Some of this engages because it has a natural feel - but really this is the minority of it. Instead the short mostly feels like it is being arch for the sake of it.
Neither Vegas nor Riley convince as characters, and the actors are not given much to go on. The longer running time is unnecessary too, and not enough happened of merit to keep the interest. The ending was the kicker for me, since the place it ends up feels so basic as an ending, and it annoyed me more because it feels tacked on without anything to really take the viewer (or Riley) to that place. Technically well made, and has moments, but mostly the film feels like it is chasing a tone or style or demographic, without working out what makes up its base content, or heart - and without this there is almost nothing to deliver.
Neither Vegas nor Riley convince as characters, and the actors are not given much to go on. The longer running time is unnecessary too, and not enough happened of merit to keep the interest. The ending was the kicker for me, since the place it ends up feels so basic as an ending, and it annoyed me more because it feels tacked on without anything to really take the viewer (or Riley) to that place. Technically well made, and has moments, but mostly the film feels like it is chasing a tone or style or demographic, without working out what makes up its base content, or heart - and without this there is almost nothing to deliver.
