Short of the Week

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Comedy Todd Sklar

'92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card

After Dad dies, two brothers reunite to continue their childish rivalry in this hilarious Sundance short that spawned the feature, Awful Nice.

Play
Comedy Todd Sklar

'92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card

After Dad dies, two brothers reunite to continue their childish rivalry in this hilarious Sundance short that spawned the feature, Awful Nice.

'92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card

Directed By Todd Sklar
Made In USA

Two grown brothers who’ve long since gone separate ways—one with a job and a family, the other an aimless wanderer—reunite after their father’s death. But time hasn’t dulled their animosity toward one another, and they pick up their childish rivalry right where it left off. ’92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card is a film that reminds us that blood both divides and binds all.

Alonzo is one of those rare films that’s funny on many levels. There’s improvisational dialog from Alex Rennie and James Pumphrey who you’ve likely never seen before yet seem instantly familiar. There’s physical comedy that ratchets up the absurdity. Even in the bizarre set details are funny—an enormous sandwich, a tarantula in a jar. This layered approach is the telling sign of a well-crafted film and one that can be watched over and over again.

This film is part of a growing genre of man-child comedies that’s much more loose, improvisational, and driven by talented acting in a style reminiscent of another SOTW favorite, Successful Alcoholics. It reflects a maturing generation of young adults who feel trapped between the world of adulthood and childhood searching for their own ceremonial entrance into the world.

Alonzo premiered at Sundance last year and had it’s first peek online as part of their short collection. Filmmaker, Todd Sklar, turned Alonzo into a feature Awful Nice premiering at SXSW this year in what looks to be an expansion of the story with the same cast and crew.