Anthony Saves the World

Comedy – Action | Buddy

Created by Mikey Neumann and Anthony Burch

Starring

• Mikey Neumann
• Anthony Burch

Synopsis: Mikey is sent back from the future to protect Anthony – who is going to save the world. Somehow. There are demons, KFC, and suits too.

Review:

Anthony Saves the World is a twenty-something man-boys fever dreams; dialogue as sharp as the actors crisp suits, katanas, dubstep, gunplay, and buckets of chicken and nerd-culture are all combine in a mishmash of science fiction, parody, and comedy. As far as how well it succeeds, the results are as varied as the content.

Mikey Neumann is the creative director of Borderlands, one of the most conceptually original games to come out in the last few years, and Anthony Burch is the creator of hit webseries Hey Ash Whatcha Playing. They’re both writers, and it shows; the dialogue is pristine, and though neither of them really act at any point (and moments of high tension are simply yelled loudly instead of with emotion), there are some truly stellar moments of comedy.

However, the action part of the equation really falters in the structure of a webseries. The entire series (as of episode 6) takes place in a house and backyard. The demons the men fight are simply given motocross helmets and turtlenecks. Whereas the comedy can be sharp, fast, and direct, the action scenes are bloated, clunky, repetitive. Swordfight in the living room, shootout in the den – it sounds more exciting than it is. Though technology has advanced stupendously for amateur filmmakers in recent years and allows for people to accomplish a lot more with a lot less, the series still suffers for its ambition in this regard.

There hasn’t been any narrative movement since episode one; a few rules of the world are fleshed out, there are a couple interesting reveals, but they all lack significance. Anthony continues to spend his time in the living room while Mikey continues to slaughter demons. It’s the same thing every episode, and though each episode opens with a countdown to the end of the world, there’s no tension because there aren’t any stakes as of yet.

However, Anthony Saves the World still manages to entertain. Mikey and Anthony seem to be having fun with the series, and it translates to an enjoyable experience for the viewer. The world seems thought out, and I’m most interested in seeing how these parts come together. The first season of a webseries is rarely indicative as to where the series will end up. Actors get more comfortable in their role, editors become more frugal, effects coordinators become more adept – really, a webseries is a chance for amateurs to become professionals. Though the series hasn’t found its groove yet, the foundation is there. All that remains is for it to fulfill its own ambition.

3/5

My Pal Satan

Comedy – Situational

Created by Dennis Heaton

Director: Vivieno Caldinelli

Starring:

• Jefferson Brown
• Rachel Wilson

Synopsis: Donna literally finds herself stuck with the roommate from hell.

Review:

My Pal Satan is a promising concept for a webseries. It takes place on a closed set (Donna’s apartment), it’s funded by the CFC , and it was created and written by Dennis Heaton, an established screenwriter and the man behind cult hit Fido. The show was nominated for a Leo Award in 2010 and boasts impressive production values, particularly in regards to cinematography.

Donna’s prim and soft outfits highlight the characters ideology and Satan succeeds with a simple coat of red makeup. A special kudos to the set designers on the show for making simple and subtle choices that accentuate their subjects.

However, when you look past the sheen of the series, the faults become apparent. The immature doesn’t  mesh with the cheesy situational comedy.  Cheap gags such as a date vomiting into another dates mouth and Satan using Donna’s diary as toilet paper are examples of comedic setups in the series, but they never evolve into punchlines or poignancy. Instead, the series drifts uncomfortably between morally driven sitcoms of the past and absurd comedic characters of the early 2000’s.

Within the series, the acting flits between passable to professional. Particularly, Jason Gautreau’s two-time appearance as Baxter is one of the acting highlights; when he’s possessed in Episode 5, Possession is 9/10ths the Fun, he gives a varied and interesting performance. Meanwhile, the stars of the series, Jefferson Brown and Rachel Wilson as Satan and Donna respectively, never really find a groove with their characters. They’re not lacking or weak in their performances, but their characters are so two-dimensional and void of meaningful conflict that the actors never have a chance to show off an emotion pass slight discomfort or mild annoyance.

My Pal Satan does a number of things right as a web-series; it boasts an easy to summarize premise, a unique (and short) intro sequence on each episode, a closed set, simple (yet effective) special effects, and a website that glows from polish. However, while the technical aspects are rounded smooth, the show’s jagged seams pop up in the form of intransient characters, meandering plots, and most confusingly, an out-of-order canon; in Episode 4, Miss Popular, Donna bemoans losing her love interest at work, but in Episode 5, the audience sees the beginning of that encounter (and a resurrected character who was killed in the previous one). With only six episodes and an otherwise stellar attention to detail, it’s a confusing misstep.

Overall, the series is an impressive-looking piece of portfolio for all involved, provided nobody cares to look for anything of substance.

2/5