Pockets (2011) User Reviews

I Wasn't Expecting That

[Theo Robertson · 8/10 · 5 March 2014]

A man phones his girlfriend and being desperate for money decides to mug a passer-by

A three minute short and what sort of threadbare story is it possible to tell within that period of time ? It's a one trick pony but boy oh boy is this pony a thorough bred . Like so many other films I watch I came in to it without any prejudice , hopes or knowledge as to what it was about with is a lot different from going to watch a film you've been looking forward to see at the cinema . I don't want to give anything away but when the plot turn was revealed I literally mouthed " WTF " ? In some ways it's a bit like the " I'm crushing your head " character from the Canadian sketch show KIDS IN THE HALL , except this short is genuinely amusing . Yeah there's no explanation why this is happening or how it's happening but that is not the point . My only negative comment is that the protagonist is a mugger and may be it's a pity we no longer have Charles Bronson and Robert Ginty with us who could given the audience a surreal twist on DEATH WISH or THE EXTERMINATOR

Wow--you gotta see this one!

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 22 April 2014]

"Pockets" is an almost cartoon-like short film--one that is really funny, well made and the special effects are amazing!

It begins with some poor guy planning on robbing someone in order to buy a nice meal for his woman. However, he ends up picking the wrong guy, as this guy seems to have magic pockets! You really, really have to see what I mean by this--and I don't want to say more, as it might spoil the picture.

In many ways, this film is a descendant of cartoons by Tex Avery and other wild and wacky cartoon makers of long ago. But it manages to take one gag that you might see in a cartoon and make an entire cartoon around it--and yet it never becomes dull! Very funny and very surreal.

Inventive and funny which builds into an apocalyptic Hollywood movie in the space of 3 minutes (SPOILERS)

[bob the moo · 5 March 2014]

Pockets sees a man down on his luck deciding to rob someone in an underpass. When he reaches into the man's pocket to grab his wallet though, he discovers much more than he bargained for.

This is a very short, short film but yet it manages to go from the story of one man and get to an apocalyptic scenario in about 3 minutes. Oh, and it is pretty great while it does it. If you haven't seen the short then go and do so now because I will give you everything in the next few lines. The film works on many levels. Firstly is the idea; when I read the plot summary I assumed the guy would have bottomless pockets like Mary Poppins' handbag but instead his pockets link to other pockets, so the robber ends up reaching into his own shirt. From here we have a fight where the two men fight via these pocket portals and it works really well despite being silly. It doesn't quite reach "The Matrix" levels, but it is well done and it is engaging with the possibilities. The involving of the girlfriend takes it to the next level and, although the Hot Pockets thing is a weak joke, it somehow still works. Following this we get a great series of lines ("I'll keep your hands warm") and the short somehow has become an epic sci-fi action film with a (disappointing) sequel surely coming within 2 years.

I have no idea how it does this but it works. The special effects are just about good enough because the idea and where (and how) it goes from there is really well done and I found it very funny and inventive. The build of the film from a gimmick to a conflict to a big-picture story is very well done and as silly as it is, I really enjoyed it. It also looks great as a film and the two directors (Daniels) have done a really impressive job. The only obviously weak point is in the performances as these are not quite as convincing as I would have liked, with some of their lines a bit stiff and unconvincing. This is a minor quibble though because this 3-minute short is just a lot of great fun and takes an inventive idea and runs with it to an extent I did not expect. Well worth seeing.