Call Register (2004)

Director:

Ed Roe

Writer:

Ed Roe (writer)

Genre:

Short | Drama

Plot:

A guy borrows his best friend's mobile phone in order to call a girl he recently met, but the phone recognizes the number being dialed, leading to a number of awkward and funny complications.

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Martin Freeman	...	Kevin
James Lance	...	Julian
Neve McIntosh	...	Amanda

Runtime:

13 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

White House Pictures

Soundtrack:

Snowed Under

Amusing short that plays well with an awkward and over-thought modern romance

Kevin uses a friends' phone to call a girl he just met and hangs up in confusion when the phone recognises the number. He knows he has to ring back and decides to use his own phone so he can deny all knowledge of the first call. However, the reason Julian's phone knew the number was that he also used to go out with Amanda. Kevin's second call goes well but the original mistake resurrects some old feelings.

Having watched 2007's Rubbish with Freeman and Lance, I moved along to this earlier film featuring them both. Free of political purpose, Call Register is a much smarter and enjoyable little film which, like another reviewer has already said is a little bit like a scenario out of modern relationship comedy Coupling. Fans of that show will enjoy this short film – I'm not a regular viewing of Coupling but the humour is fun and it is echoed here. The comedy is very much about misunderstandings and over-thinking, both staples of Coupling and similar modern situation comedies, and it does work pretty well. OK so you can see what is coming before it gets to the screen but it is still good enough for what it is trying to do.

The manner of delivery helps it by giving it a natural air with the cast delivering the lines well. Roe's direction is good, with confined locations being used with split screens to keep the characters tightly in focus without much to distract the viewer – thus holding the audience within the film and not giving room to question or debate. The actors are good but it is Lance and Freeman who are the strongest thanks to the material. Freeman is well practised at his awkward reality and he does it well again here, Lance plays off this well as a straighter of the two. McIntosh is more of a device than a character but she does what she needs to do to make the film work.

Overall then an amusing if unremarkable short film that plays well with the humour of the awkward and over-thought modern romance. Fans of Coupling will enjoy it for what it is.