You know that time when you’re finally left alone and all you want to do is sit back, relax and knock one off? Unfortunately it’s not quite as simple for Bobby, the hapless main character in Matteo J. Mosterts’ Afternoon Delight. The 9 min short is centered around a porn parody, which ticks all the boxes on the ‘most stereotypical porn’ list, without actually featuring any nudity, and with an extra layer of sweetness added in, just to put out any lingering sexual thoughts.

The wife and kids have gone out. The curtains are drawn. Armed with a box of tissues and what he believes to be a raunchy DVD, Bobby is determined to get some much needed ‘me time’. After a promising start the film takes a rather unexpected plot turn, which opens up a whole new, softer side of Bobby. Afternoon Delight recycles all our favourite ‘bad porn’ lines and scenarios, and does so to the smooth lounge jazz soundtrack you’d expect, ensuring plenty of laughs along the way.

I have to admit, I am a sucker for a good spoof and it doesn’t get much better than a porn parody, so I instantly loved Afternoon Delight. Particularly noteworthy is the brilliant performances of all the actors, both in the film and in the film within the film. The overblown sexual tension between the porn actors, transforming into sympathy and affection, creates surprisingly endearing moments, resulting in the biggest laughs. Bobby’s character, played by Travis Owens, is undeniably lovable as his frustration turns to hope for sexual satisfaction, just to be crushed over and over again. I can’t remember ever rooting for someone to successfully manage to masturbate before, but there’s a first time for everything!

‘Wouldn’t it be hilarious if…’ is my favourite question – Mosterts explains. That is exactly what sparked the idea for Afternoon Delight. The director asked himself ‘wouldn’t it be hilarious if uber-stereotypical porn characters snapped out of their crappy storylines, and had a real, wholesome and charming connection?’ I certainly think so! The script is witty, the direction is tight, the performances are spot on, and for me the short does exactly what it says on the tin.