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Casper Kelly's "Buddy": A Nightmarish Jump to the Big Screen
24 Jan
Summary
- Casper Kelly's highly anticipated feature debut "Buddy" struggles to expand its premise.
- The film disappoints with a baggy, meandering pace and a lack of genuine inventiveness.
- Despite a promising start, "Buddy" grinds to a halt in its real-world narrative.
Filmmaker Casper Kelly, known for the iconic 2014 horror-comedy short "Too Many Cooks," has ventured into feature filmmaking with his directorial debut, "Buddy." The film attempts to expand a similar conceit over 95 minutes but ultimately falters, coming apart at the seams with little new to offer. Despite a premise involving a children's show and a menacing mascot, the narrative struggles to sustain momentum beyond a stronger opener. The movie generates some laughs but rarely escapes its meandering path, feeling pulled in too many directions. The story centers on Freddy, a young girl trapped in a children's television program overseen by the volatile Buddy. When Buddy snaps, Freddy and her friends embark on an escape attempt. Concurrently, Grace navigates a mundane life until she senses something is wrong, hinting at a connection between the two worlds.
