Movie Reviews

‘The Disappearance of Toby Blackwood’ review: Lockdown comedy is fun but has same issue

As funny as it is surprising.

December 23, 2022

The Disappearance of Toby Blackwood is unlike many other pandemic movies. It is not a romantic comedy and it does not take itself too seriously. It is a lockdown story that leans into its silliness. Blackwood (Doug Mellard) is a YouTuber who has done well for himself thanks to his conspiracy theory laden videos. When he goes missing, two of his friends set out to find him – without ever leaving their homes.

There have been some comedies that were made during Covid-19. They are a mixed bag, but even the best of them have the same issue. Every single one feels like a series of individual sketches. Sure, there is usually a main idea that loosely ties things together, but they usually do little to service the overall plot. The Disappearance of Toby Blackwood is no different. Every scene feels like it is its own moment that pays lip service to the bigger story.

When done right, this can be very entertaining. And there are some funny characters in The Disappearance of Toby Blackwood. Appearances from Simon Pegg and Luiz Guzman are as entertaining as they are surprising. As fun as things get, the comedy leans into how wacky conspiracy theorists can get. Even at just over an hour, it can sometimes feel labored.

The script tries to provide more depth to the main characters. Wes (Joe Ahern, who also co-wrote and directed) is not only dealing with the pandemic, he is recently divorced. He is forced to sit around the house with only his thoughts to keep him company. For his part, Luke (Grant Harvey, Emancipation) is prone to researching conspiracy theories. This brings an air relatability to both, since the lockdown was frustrating to everyone, if not in the same ways.

The Disappearance of Toby Blackwood starts to lose steam very quickly. Quite simply, there is only so much that can be done with the premise. There are some fun cameos and it never gets actively bad, but it reaches a point where the audience just wants it to end. Just like the pandemic.