The Shitheads, now renamed Idiots, was showcased during the 2026 SXSW festival and is scheduled for a theatrical release in August of this year. The film is directed by Macon Blair which he co-wrote with Alex Orr, starring Dave Franco, O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Mason Thames. The plot is driven by a couple of underachievers taking on what should be an effortless task of transporting an affluent teen to a rehab center, but this intellectually predatory teen throws them off course.

It didn’t quite reach the heights it aimed for. I was anticipating this dark comedy to be an exciting adventure, bursting with laughs, but it left much to be desired. The characters are defined by basic emotions-anger and confusion-but nothing beyond that. The movie never explores them, so it’s difficult to empathize. When faced with several misfortunes, they lack impact because the audience has no emotional connection.  The weak characters are just along for the ride, dictated by the script rather than the narrative cohesion, making that “road to nowhere” feel long and exhausting. It spends a lot of time lingering on repulsive comedy scenes that not even a jumbo roll of toilet paper could wipe up this mess. It can get sticky, icky and out of control.

Mason Thames, however, made chicken salad out of… well, you know. He impressed me with his performance, a revelation role of a charismatic irritant-sociopathic, spoiled, privileged brat. Thames could have elevated his character to higher levels and carry the film to the finish line. While critically acclaimed renowned actor Peter Dinklage had a brief cameo, it served as a tantalizing preview of the chemistry he might share with Mason Thames for a future team-up.

There is a much better movie buried somewhere inside the pile of Idiots. The underlying premise has potential, but the film eventually stalls under the coherent thematic arc and inconsistent pacing. It’s not a disaster by any means, but it is a disappointing work of inspired fragments rather than a cohesive narrative that falls short of being essential cinema.

A 1975 film by Enrico Januzzi The Seeing Eye Dog Who Saw Too Much has been exhumed by Eric Jackowitz who wrote, directed and stars as the Dog Scientist that brings a quirky invention to extract clues from the memory of the victim’s seeing eye dog to solve the mystery of the black-gloved killer at the Rome Symphony. The dog’s facial expression says it all… what the heck is happening here! It’s a short film that gives a fun experience to keep you guessing through the laughs and exaggerated slashing to the whodunit murder mystery.

Jackowitz used the limited time effectively giving it a similar resemblance to a grownup version of a Scooby Doo episode, but with classic cinematic style that blends sharp comedy with serious, dark themes, focusing on eccentric characters. This haunting film is all character driven with the intriguing, unusual suspects and victims compiling the pieces of the puzzle for the grand ruh-roh reveal.

The Seeing Eye Dog Who Saw Too Much had its world premiere at the 2026 SXSW Festival, and to no surprise it won the Audience Award. The small ensemble includes Ethan Edenburg (Maestro), Anna Garcia (Daria), Colton Eschief Mastro (Stelvio), Gabrielle Montes de Oca (Anne), Melissa Villaseñor (Cesar Salad Lady) and Tom Mcgovern (Angelo). Each actor was empowered to explore their roles freely, allowing them to immerse themselves in the joy of character creation making this an outrageously entertaining short film that I consider a fun hidden short mystery gem.

Directed by John Carney and co-written with Peter McDonald, Power Ballad has all the right notes that reaches star power greatness at the 2026 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival. Carney and McDonald created a rocking feel-good gem, combining perfect synchrony rhythmic music with the story of a gig-economy wedding singer, Rick (Paul Rudd), who befriends fading star, Danny (Nick Jonas), who decides to use Rick’s song and turn it into his next big hit without giving any acknowledgement to Rick.

There are plenty of comical moments between Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas. One of their most high-lighted scenes is when they share some brewskis and partake in some dubie-ous cloud of smoke during a jam session. I must say that I never imagined to see a Jonas brother party like a rock star with Rudd. The laughs keep rolling with Peter McDonald’s character Sandy – bandmate of Rick. This crew gave performances with bravado showing off their musical and acting talents, which both go hand in hand.

The 80s rock music adds flare to the script of comedy-drama and tenderhearted feelings. The entire cast were in sync and remained harmonized throughout. Having the film take place in Ireland gives a unique insight to the passion of Irish musicians, treating it as a central component of their culture and social life, rather than just entertainment.

Strong emotions hit hard on the topics on plagiarism and the pressures of staying on top of the charts in the music industry. However, consequences do come with a price for unethical, conniving behavior. Rick displays his fortitude to claim what is due from Danny. But, sometimes fighting for what is just can leave a sour note and make one lose sight of what matters most – family and true friendship. Despite the turmoil between musicians and their personal lives, Power Ballad does end on a high note that left me wanting an encore.

Power Ballad is set to release on June 5, 2026, in the United States.