Title:  Manhood

Date saw the show:  August 12 2007
Place saw the show:  Alberta, Calgary, Fringe Festival (www.calgaryfringe.ca)
Director:  Melanie Jones

Short Film

5 stars

Reviewed By: Emily Axelson

Manhood - PG Mature Theme (Canada-12:00 Comedy, Melanie Jones - Director) Forced to flee to the woods when war strikes their cozy suburban neighbourhood, Midge continues her quest to turn her husband Harold into a paragon of manliness with surprising results.

Harold is the farthest thing from a brave, macho man, and his wife Midge is fed up. She forces him to listen to a “Manhood” tape every morning, in hopes of transforming him into a courageous man. Their neighbor Stan helps out, and does all the manly housework around the house for Harold, but Midge is humiliated by this. When a war forces everyone from the neighborhood to escape to the woods, Midge is forced to do all the hunting, and all the providing. Stan continues to help out, but Midge forces Harold to go hunting himself one day. I’m sure you’ll be as surprised as I was at the hilarious twist ending.

This film fits perfectly into the category ‘All is not as it appears;’ the twist at the end is brilliant. The acting from all three actors is hysterical and the actor of Harold received a well deserved nomination for ‘best lead actor’ in a short film for it. I don’t think there was more than 2 seconds for the duration of the show when someone wasn’t laughing. The humor is wonderfully spread out. The jokes aren’t crammed in right after another; there are just enough jokes to leave the audience amused.

Although this film is only twelve minutes long, I’d say it’s easily just as humorous as two hour long movies. My favorite film of the festival… so far.