From Omeleto.
A house collapses on a man.
ROOM FOR ONE MORE is used with permission from Jesse Vogelaar. Learn more at https://jessevogelaar.com.
Bruno is making stuffed mushrooms for dinner when his best friend Alex calls. After some amiable chit-chat, Alex reveals something shocking: a house has collapsed on him, and he’s going to die soon. And now he’s calling Bruno and asking him to make his short film idea since Alex won’t be around much longer.
The film idea is about a man after a breakup, complete with a formerly happy relationship, subsequent "sadness montages" (complete with crying in the shower scenes) and a friendly bat who becomes the man’s best friend. But embedded in the short film idea is a deeper message from Alex to his best friend.
Directed by Jesse Vogelaar and written by Mario Hannah, this wry and whimsical short comedy has an absurdist premise, with a house collapsing on a man who chooses to spend his remaining time on earth in a unique way. Alex and his best friend accept this situation with a surprising (and very funny) sanguinity, except for one thing: Alex wants to use his remaining time alive to pitch his brilliant short film idea to Bruno, who agrees to make it. With its low-key visual naturalism and intelligent and self-aware wit, the film approaches the high-concept philosophical comedic ground traversed by filmmakers like Charlie Kaufman. But as it plays out, it reveals its own great depths, meditating on friendship, mortality and the purpose of life handled with a light, uniquely Aussie touch.
The film has a down-to-earth look and feel that belies its superb writing, with a tight structure that holds both the emotional arc and the plentiful jokes together. Told with just a voiceover of the phone call, the dialogue has a witty, wry tone that seems hilariously casual in the face of catastrophe. This tone builds as Alex pitches his idea to Bruno, which is relatable and ridiculous in equal measure as it’s visualized in the film. Alex and Bruno develop the narrative, riffing and building up jokes as they chart the course of their hapless protagonist. But what’s ingenuous is how the humor gets more absurd and goofier as Alex and Bruno get closer to the emotional heart of the story — both the one they’re brainstorming and the story of their own friendship.
That turn into the sincere and genuine is beautifully managed, thanks to throughlines like the funny but emotionally grounded performances by the cast and consistently excellent storytelling that never wastes a moment or a comedic opportunity. In the end, ROOM FOR ONE MORE reveals itself as uniquely wise in the way it portrays the role of humor in male friendship, as the comedy becomes a vehicle for Alex and Bruno to tackle their emotional regrets and appreciation. It makes for a roundly entertaining and sneakily touching story, one that surprises and resonates with its affectionate humor and unexpected sweetness.
