Fireflies in the Dusk (2025) Movie Drinking Game & Review
Down some Sherry: every time sassy Cecil sasses someone
Down some Sherry: every time Edith exclaims ‘incorrigible’!
By: Vidal D’costa (Two Beers) –
Zachary, an ad exec and modern-day himbo who has been exchanging love letters with Charlotte, a Victorian-era widow, is in for a surprise when his aforementioned betrothed uses the filing cabinet that doubles as a portal to travel to his time period and escape her bossy match-making mother. But will this odd pair’s romance survive all those ancient hurdles that plague new lovers, especially once they remove their rose-tinted glasses?
A Toast
Filmmaker Jonathon Hammond’s short definitely comes across as the outcome of a throuple between Bridgerton, Enchanted, and Kate and Leopold. It is clever and often darkly comedic in its portrayal of how fairytale love differs from realistic expectations, and how relationships still remain unchanged across various time spans with regards to commitments to one’s spouse as well.
It also reels viewers into the lore, i.e. a marriage counsellor (played by Suzy Nakamura in a hilarious cameo) opening up about a raunchy affair with one of Jesus’ Apostles whom she chanced upon through a secret portal in her refrigerator which is similar to the lead pair’s filing cabinet. The production design (particularly the Victorian set pieces) deserves a special mention, too.
Emily Goss (Charlotte) and Nick Ballard (Zachary) are aptly cast in their over-the-top roles, with Amy Yasbeck and Jade Catta-Preta also offering ample support with their comic timing in brief roles as Charlotte’s foreboding mother Edith and a jealous co-worker, respectively.
Beer Two
While the arc of Charlotte’s closeted suitor Cecil (played by Hale Appleman) time-travelling to the future and finding acceptance in the year of our Lord 2025 serves as a rib-tickling jab at the sexual repression persistent in the Victorian era, the characterisation still feels rather stereotypical and often contradictory to the attempts at satire, too, leaving me with mixed feelings towards this particular character and subplot.
Verdict
If short-form time-travel comedies with bizarre twists that double as a modern-day fable on romance tickle your fancy, then Fireflies in the Dusk is worth a watch.
