Bummer

directed by:
Barry Worthington
written by:
Barry Worthington
genre:
Comedy, Drama

It's finally come, the end of us - all of us. The President of the good ol' US of A has just made his final address - alerting the people of the world that in only a few hours, all life would be extinguished. It's a pretty big asteroid about ready to hit us after all, make whatever peace you need to. Two of the people listening in on the address are traveling to Florida, a mother and daughter that as luck would have it, are driving their way towards a better life. The mother has finally received a promotion at work, a big one that will change their lives for the better. The daughter is much less happy with the move, but it doesn't really matter in the end. As luck would have it the end of all life picked this otherwise joyous moment to occur, the promise of a better life eradicated by death. Irony can be a real bitch.
And yet... the near-immediate destruction of Earth is not the main story here, rather just a way to force a more dramatic narrative of a mother and daughter. A story of the frustration so many parents feel when it comes to raising children and providing a better life for them - or at least trying to provide one. The actual disaster is limited to a few random shots of a distant asteroid and a radio broadcast from the President. The real story is much more grounded in less comical reality, the family dynamic.

Barry Worthington has crafted a short film that although has a few funny moments, the laughs come more from the ridiculous nature of the situation - and the President's broadcast itself. "Bummer" as the name suggests really does embody the true nature of the film, the real irony of the situation. It's the dramatic elements that really steal the show here, and the way they're handled by the two starring ladies. Well done all around.
Worthington's film is definitely low budget, but my only real but smallish gripe was that I couldn't clearly hear a lot of the dialog in the first few minutes, and perhaps that the camera shook quite a bit. It all clears up quickly however, and the second half was excellent. Especially for a film with very little cash for production. There's more than enough here to satisfy most viewers - and the short length means there's no excuse not to watch. When it's all said and done? "Bummer" provides a quick diversion well worth the time. Pairing a ridiculous situation with some real dramatic chops worked like a charm, and allowed the more serious aspects to make their way to the surface. A solid three stars and easily recommended.