‘On the Count of Three,’ Jerrod Carmichael’s Directorial Debut — Film Review
Jerrod Carmichael, one of the eight black filmmakers presenting feature-length films at Sundance 2021, kills in his directorial debut.
‘On the Count of Three’ examines friendship and death from a funny, nuanced and painfully honest lens. The delicate infusion of humor in an otherwise profoundly disturbing plot is commendable. How does one take a bomb apart without triggering an explosion? You call an expert, that’s how. The assertion that comedians are tortured souls serves itself well in this 84-minute dramatic film (credits included) about two friends who plot to shoot each other at the same time, in the alley of a strip club called– Good Time Charlie’s. It’s in this defining moment, when Val (Jerrod Carmichael) and Kevin (Christopher Abbott) engage in delusional yet persuasive dialogue, that the on-screen magic of a bond breakable only by death comes to life with subtle gravity.
Their plan takes an unexpected detour when Kevin backs out on the count of three and matter-of-factly says to Val, “you have to admit, it’s a lot to spring on someone at the last minute.” To which Val’s incredulous response is, “I didn’t know I had to send a save the date for a f****** double suicide.” Kevin convinces Val to wait until the end of the day and Val reluctantly agrees. The life-long friends decide to do something they’ve never done before with their “bonus” day, which takes them down a path of what they believe to be reconciliation but eventually leads to inevitable destruction.
Jerrod Carmichael’s delivery of deadpan drama is notable and so is his commitment to his character, Valentino Watson. Christopher Abbott is brilliant, and brings an endearing quality to his role as Kevin. Their characters couldn’t be any more different yet it’s those differences coupled with childhood trauma that bring them together. The real life friendship between Carmichael and Abbott most definitely informs their on-screen chemistry, which makes it fun to watch these two tortured souls make poor choices and decisions until the very end.
The power of pathos reflects beautifully in this dark comedy and leaves the audience with conflicting impulses that resonate in ways that may be difficult to articulate. There’s something very familiar about grimly satiric humor that makes it relatable, which is why ‘On the Count of Three’ is a stand-out film.
On the Count of Three played in the U.S. Dramatic category of the Sundance Film Festival. World Premiere.
Cast: Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, Tiffany Haddish, JB Smoove, Lavell Crawford, Henry Winkler
Director: Jerrod Carmichael
Screenwriters: Ari Katcher, Ryan Welch
Producers: David Carrico, Adam Paulsen, Tom Werner, Jake Densen, Jerrod Carmichael, Ari Katcher, Jimmy Price
Director of photography: Marshall Adams
Production designer: Garren Dunbar
Costume designer: Jennifer Stroud
Editor: Tom Eagles
Composer: Owen Pallett
Casting directors: Marisol Roncali, Chelsea Bloch
