Who knew you could spin a web series into a short movie? It’s kind of like spinning a movie off a tv show… Kind of. But the web series doesn’t matter for The Key because it’s all about build up and punch line. Oddly, writer-director Shilati doesn’t thank Kevin Smith, which he definitely should do since his script for this short mimics Smith’s joke structure almost exactly.

It’s funny. It’s a funny short, with a vaguely original (but not really, again, see Kevin Smith) joke turned into a short with a pair of actors who work well together.

John Forest is the wacky one, Neil Hopkins is the straight laced one. Forest is good in the short. He’s got a lot more to do. Hopkins doesn’t get a single decent moment. Shilati uses slow motion instead.

The Key is funny, but never feels original at all… quite the opposite.

Not Recommended

CREDITS

Written, edited and directed by Sherwin Shilati; director of photography, Jean-Paul Bonneau; produced by Adam Hendricks.

Starring Neil Hopkins (Neil), John Forest (John) and Saba Homayoon (Saba).