I can't help but think you'll be like me and fall a little bit in love with Kathryn Hanke as Professor Vanessa, the delightfully absurd and raging centerpiece for the immensely fun comedy short Reverse Darwinism, a short that Hanke co-wrote with the film's directors Dermot Daly and Ivan Mack. A former sketch comedian who spent nine years writing and performing with acclaimed comedy sketch troupe The Dog-Eared Collective, Hanke is spot-on perfection as a woman who knows that what she knows will save the world and she's darn well going to save the world even if it's one pathetic soul at a time. 

Is she mad? Is she a genius? Is she, well, something else?

Yes. Yes. Yes. 

It all adds up to a completely delightful 4-minute short film that is just getting set for its journey on the indie fest circuit where there's little doubt at all it'll enjoy quite the journey. 

Danny Marwood's lensing is perfectly sublime here, while the dialogue rings with such authenticity that you'd practically expect Hanke to say it should you ever cross her path. 

That is, unless, you were a little bit wise and crossed to the other side of the street. 

There's not much else to be said about a film that runs a mere four minutes other than to advise you to give Reverse Darwinism a view should you get the chance. It's the latest winning short from the production team at Chocolate Bear and it's the second film, after Excursion to the Mountains, to be reviewed by The Independent Critic. 

For more information on the film, visit the Chocolate Bear website linked to in the credits. 

© Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic