Gunderson’s (Short)
Max is not having a good day. Not only is he having to substitute for a 7th grade Health class, but he has just learned that he has a rare venereal disease called Gunderson’s, which comes with a noticeable twitch. Awkward, right? More so when you consider that Gunderson’s is sexually transmitted. His doctor clears him for work, but when the issue comes up with his principal, things get a bit real, in both good (and some inappropriate) ways.
“Gunderson’s” is the second consecutive short I’m watching from director Matt Porter and actor Max Azulay, and is part of a larger feature called “Argyle.” I’ve never seen the feature, but Porter and Azulay work extremely well together, so I may very well have to search it out. The first short I saw from them was “More Perfect Union,” and that was a little more dramatic. Here, they’re cutting loose, and it’s a very funny effort, with the script by Porter, Azulay, Phil Primason and Mallory Westfall hitting some wicked comedic notes as Max tries to be honest about himself, and his condition with the kids. It’s a funny sight to see, and a fine showcase for a director and actor who are completely in sync with one another.
