In Gene Blalock’s holiday short, The Tax Claus, two IRS agents are on the road about to surprise a particular North Pole immigrant citizen with an overdue audit. This taxpayer has attempted to claim over 200 dependents with extensive write-offs of holiday items, such as wrapping paper and reindeer feed.
On their way to the excessively festive home, as always, the two agents are at odds with one another. The male agent drones on about various theories, specifically the Illuminati, while the female agent dismisses her partner’s ideas as fairy tales. All that changes when they meet their jovial and bearded examinee.
“…two IRS agents are on the road about to surprise a particular North Pole immigrant citizen with an overdue audit.”
The Tax Claus is a humorous short film starring Nick Somers, Kristin Walker, and Nicholas Jaqua. Jhan Harp’s story serves as a blueprint for the actors’ improvised dialogue. Though improvised, their banter feels natural for a comedy short. Much of the humor swirls around the agents’ obliviousness to the true identity of their examinee. The story is a heartfelt tale of two very different partners bonding over shared traits rather than focusing on their differences.
I like my comedy to push the boundaries of decency (if not wholly cross over them). This is where scripted joke writing often succeeds over improvised performances. That said, The Tax Claus is heartwarming and offers 18 minutes of fun for the holidays.
"…Over 200 dependents with extensive write-offs of holiday items..."
