Original Bob (2005) User Reviews (2)

Intriguing Premise With One Obvious Flaw

[Theo Robertson · 6/10 · 26 September 2005]

!!!! POSSIBLE SPOILERS !!!!!

Young Bob stands in front of the mirror wondering what he's going to look like twenty years from now as he goes to meet his girlfriend Mia . Later on he finds out what his future self will look like because he is introduced to himself in a cafe

Confused ? You should be and like a lot of short films there's no real explanations for the metaphysical happenings that take place on screen . You are just asked to sit back and take everything in your stride as the story unfolds , but like a lot of short films the premise is cleverer than the story itself and I was expecting one of those time paradox stories that were common in the new series of DOCTOR WHO but ORIGINAL BOB doesn't really play out like this

There is a central flaw to the story and that is writer/director Zam Salim has painted himself into a corner as to the unfolding love triangle between Mia and the two Bobs - Bob will end up with Mia no matter what Bob Mia falls in love with so Bob will experience love no matter what he does , he wins either way therefore there's little drama involved because everything is predestined for a happy ending in Bob's life either now or in the future

Not totally sure as to the point but still interesting

[bob the moo · 15 September 2005]

Bob has just split with his girlfriend after his total lack of effort finally got to her. However he is immediately confronted by his senior self who has travelled back in time to inform him the mistake he is making. Bob is not so sure that he wants to be with Mia again but his future self is adamant that it is for the best and begins to advise him on looks, dress, style and what to say to her to win her back.

Time is a strange thing. No matter what you do you'll probably have regrets and look back at things you did and wonder "what if". What if I hadn't messed up that relationship, lost that job, failed that exam etc. This appears to be the idea behind this short film where looking back too much causes problems and hurt for Bob. The story is simple and it is interesting but whenever it gets nearer the end and themes such as this start coming out, I must admit that I was struggling to follow what it was trying to say and the feelings and motivations it had given its characters. I was still interested in it but it wanted it to be clearer and to help me out some, where it really didn't.

The performances were mostly good but they couldn't bring out the reasons that were absent in the material. McKay and Comerford worked well together though and Vickers was spot on the type of "wholesome" and sexy girl that you went out with in school but then messed up. The director gives the film an air of dark tension which I didn't think it really needed and I would have liked more character and less of this. Overall though it is interesting enough to be worth a crack, but you might end up feeling that only half the job was done.