Funny/Not Funny is the second screenplay for both star Jocelyne O’Toole and collaborating screenwriter Shawn Regruto. It is the first short Michelle Leung has directed. It follows O’Toole as Rosie, a struggling New York City stand-up. Just as she is about to start her open mic set, Rosie receives the news that her mom just died. Obviously and understandably, she bombs on stage. As if that’s not bad enough, the next day, Rosie receives a box in the mail from her now-deceased parent. Whether it is the grief or anger talking, either way, she decides that getting rid of the box will allow her to move forward. But first, she has to go teach a comedy class at the behest of a friend.
The official synopsis that can be found on sites like IMDb states, “It’s hard to get banned from an open mic in New York City. But on this particularly very bad day for Rosie, she also happens to find out her mother has died. While on stage. Getting banned.” The next few sentences are about the package and all that. The weird part is that nothing in the 18-minute film proper suggests, states, tells, shows, or explains that she was banned for her poor performance. The only set she does is the opening one, where the entire audience hears the tragic news.
Rosie (Jocelyne O’Toole), dressed as a clown, stops at a shipping store counter in Funny/Not Funny.
“Rosie, a struggling New York City stand-up. Just as she is about to start her open mic set, Rosie receives the news that her mom just died.”
Did the people who wrote the synopsis mean “bomb” instead of “ban?” Funny/Not Funny begins with Rosie’s name being the first pulled from the hat. She’s up on stage for a few seconds when she learns of the tragic passing. She says she needs a minute to process everything, and when her time is up asks for another shot. Smash cut to her sad on her couch in her apartment. So when exactly was the ban enforced or explained? This matters because Rosie’s motivation to teach the class for her friend (Mike, maybe?) was that he’d let her headline the open mic later that night. If she was banned, then this would unban her? But even without the “ban” that isn’t actually in the storyline, her agreeing to get a few moves ahead in the stand-up world makes sense. So the official synopsis is either incorrect, or the screenplay doesn’t give the audience necessary information, or those scenes were cut for time. No matter what, it is confusing going in expecting something the film itself is telling a viewer, only for it not to materialize one bit.
Aside from that confusion, the short is dramatic and engaging. All watching instantly feel for Rosie and understand why she feels like getting rid of this box would help her in some way. O’Toole is amusing yet heartbreaking as the lead. The NYC backdrop adds a hustle-and-bustle vibe that makes her clawing up the comic ladder feel authentic.
Inaccurate plot synopsis from the filmmakers aside, Funny/Not Funny works. Good acting tells a tender story in a relatable way. It moves well, and the ending is fantastic.
"…amusing yet heartbreaking..."
