The title of this short is a good one because, although this specific short is about a character called Phil, really the story is bigger than him and he is just one example of Teens Like Phil. If this sounds like a worthy aim for a short film, then you are right, because it is a rather "important" subject and the weight of it does at times sit heavily on the shoulders of the film as a whole. However it mostly deals with this well because it not only merits the weight in the subject, but it also delivers it in a way that is fragmented but still complements the material.
In some ways the structure belies the longer running time, because it has a rather awkward narrative style that made me think that it belonged in a much shorter film – or that it would probably not be able to keep it up for the whole 20 minutes. It does though, and it is effective in the fragmented approach because of what it delivers in those fragments. The exploratory awkwardness is tangible, but so is the fallout from it, as well as the reasons for Adam's violent reaction towards Phil. I appreciated the film being this way, because it looks at both sides – not just to say the bullied are who they are, but also to reach out to the other side and see that often there is a background to why people feel/act a certain way – as there is with Adam and his family. This varied view works well with the approach and structure, and I was engaged throughout.
Technically well made, the film does struggle with some of the performances. Luckily the main actors of Donovan and Robbins are very good, but some supporting adult roles such as Shatto, Bartholomew, and Galati have clunkier moments – perhaps not all their fault. The use of a lecture from Alex Watts as a form of narration had the potential to be really obvious and preachy, but actually it fits very well indeed with the tone, content and structure of the film. All told it is very emotive, engaging, and natural; the broad view is informed by small details, which are picked out well by the structure of the film, and the longer running time is busy and well paced. It is a hard watch in many ways – but mainly because the film delivers a challenging story that is all too real and common.
