[Tribeca ’22] ‘Wes Schlagenhauf Is Dying’ review: No more pandemic movies

Wes Schlagenhauf is Dying is about the meeting between a selfless act of friendship and the potential for fame. Making its world premiere at Tribeca, Parker Seaman and Devin Das play themselves as two filmmakers who decide to go to Idaho to visit their friend after he informs them he has Covid-19. The pair see it as an opportunity to break away from commercials and make a great indie movie 

Parker and Devin are intentionally oblivious. It is played for laughs, but much of the humor often falls flat. The constant Covid jokes get less funny over time and often feel tone deaf. The script is regularly in an dreary area that is neither shocking or poignant. Even worse, the majority of it is unfunny. When Wes Schlagenhauf is Dying is not making jokes about the pandemic it relies on repetitive humor. There are some funny moments, but they are few and far between.

Wes Schlagenhauf is Dying also shoehorns commentary about current social issues. Random comments about All Lives Matter and Trump are made without context. Compounding matters is the fact that the same people who are forward thinking enough to be surprised to see a Black Lives Matter sign in Idaho are dishonest, conniving, and dismissive of any problem until it affects them. It is hard to take them serious. The final twist is silly at best and callous at worst. There is supposed to be a message about being selfish and friendship, but it just does not work.

It is common for films to cover for deficiencies by going meta. The scripted laughs do not have to be funny, because the actual joke is a not so subtle wink to the audience. It is the type of comedy that people who do not find funny are simply not “getting it”. It happens throughout Wes Schlagenhauf is Dying and is pivotal in the climax. In the end, nothing comes together as it should. 

Even though everyone knew there would be a slew of them, it did not take long for audiences to get tired of pandemic movies. This was to be expected as everyone wants to put the entire thing behind them.  Wes Schlagenhauf is Dying tries to do something different, but it does not work. There can be funny movies set during the lockdown; regrettably, this is not one of them.

The Tribeca Film Festival takes place from June 8 – June 19. Full lineup, passes, and tickets can be found HERE