The midterms are upon us, and in Paul Cuoco and Paul Kouri’s comedy short, Unstately, no politician ever wants to run against someone running a better campaign.
Ring Swisher (Paul Kouri) has been a politician for over a dozen years, and he’s never had to sweat a reelection until now. In comes campaign manager Max DeLai (J. Scott Shonka) with the bad news that Ring’s opponent, Alicia Kato (Mina Son), has caught up to him in the polling. Alongside her campaign manager, Micah (Cameron Ferguson), Alicia boasts a concrete plan and action steps she’ll take if elected. Ring has none of that, just a political pedigree from politician parents and a grand level of self-confidence. But can Ring come up with an actual platform in time to save his campaign?
An animated family tree shows the Swisher political dynasty in Unstately.
“Ring Swisher has been a politician for over a dozen years, and he’s never had to sweat a reelection until now.”
Unstately is a humorous look at the political sausage being made right before our eyes. Ring and Max are confident they will win because Ring is the incumbent, and the incumbent is entitled to the seat. When they’re forced to make any kind of campaign promise, it all ends in a hilarious result as our frat-boy politicians put their frat-boy minds to work to get frat-boy results.
Yes, our protagonists are a bit stereotypically inept, and our antagonists stereotypically goody-two-shoes, but director Paul Cuoco puts together a silly, satirical political short that honestly resembles a real political campaign, just without the millions of dollars actual politicians spend on a campaign ad.
Unstately reminds me once again that maybe the most competent people are not running for office…but then whatcha gonna do?
"…put their frat-boy minds to work to get frat-boy results."
