If you are nostalgic for comedies with a goofy sensibility, you’ll find much to admire in Bladez. Running 18 minutes long, director Dustin Muenchow leans into the campiness of over exaggeration and satirical humor in his colorful short film. Bladez‘s style of humor may be polarizing, but its lack of pretentiousness, along with a whimsical nature proves to be a winning combination.

“Blading is the Juice of Life”

Trish (Alyssa Sabo) is a teen with a dream: winning tacos for life by competing in a local rollerblading competition. Sick of her dad’s pasta dishes and desperate for a change of cuisine, Trish bravely confronts the painful memories attached to her discarded rollerblades. She was on blades when her mother spontaneously left the family (for a cruise ship comedian, no less) and ever since, rollerblades have been a source of sensitivity.

Reconnecting with her past isn’t Trish’s only problem. She also faces competition from mean girl Sheila (also played by Sabo). Not only does Sheila also want to win the taco prize, she flirts with Trish’s crush, Kevin (Matt Catanzano). These distractions prove challenging to navigate, but guidance from an unexpected mentor reminds Trish that blading is in her blood. All she has to do is believe in herself.

The Best of the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s All at Once

Blending decades of comedic styles with flamboyant flair, Bladez is an amalgamation of creativity. Echoing the “adult plays a teen” style of Pen15 and mannerisms of Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein in Portlandia, Bladez offers audiences a shot of escapism by dishing out a joke a minute. It is a riotous good time for those who are into DIY humor. Playing multiple roles, Alyssa Sabo is–quite literally–the star of the show. Her strength as a multi-hyphenate (writer and performer) is on full display, and she elicits laughs with every move she makes.

Director’s Statement

“My parents are instrumental in my lifelong adoration of cinema, we watched a movie almost every night of the week… They love comedy and we’d watch SNL reruns and comedies that I would watch on repeat like Three Amigos, Airplane!, and Dumb and Dumber. I think the movie I can quote the most to this day is Kung Pow! Enter the Fist. Things like the Cartoon Network Toonami promos from the early 2000’s are burned into my brain and are something that’s influenced me more than most movies with their ability to capture a feeling. Editing informs my directing and they are eternally connected. I seek to find inspiration in all aspects of life and art.” – Dustin Muenchow

Takeaway

Akin to an old school SNL skit on a shoestring budget, Bladez gets funnier the longer you watch it. Comedies like this don’t seem to exist anymore, and Bladez is proof that there is still a market for this style of filmmaking. The film recently had its World Premiere at the 2026 LA Shorts International Film Festival, where it won “Best Series”.