Work Trip (2026)

-Written by Kyle Bain.

Kelsey (Pavar Snipe) and Renee (Rachel Handler) find a strange man in their hotel room. Panic ensues, and the two friends must decide whether or not to help him. 

The idea of comedy through ineptitude is one that sometimes struggles to reach viewers. To lean so heavily on the idea of faux pas, rather than intellect can hinder a film’s ability to be meaningful and emotionally relevant. Work Trip suffers from this very thing. 

Work Trip is a unique situation in which it was born out of competition. With competition comes deadlines, and, in many ways, deadlines are the enemy of strong cinema, often pigeonholing filmmakers into less-than-ideal situations or preventing them from showing the world their fullest capabilities. Keeping those things in mind, some level of balance is ultimately achieved within this film. 

Furthermore, I feel that it’s nearly impossible to analyze and critique Work Trip as you would a typical studio production with funding and, more importantly, time. At the film’s core is a narrative that is compelling, one that is likely to force a laugh or two, but will also present the viewer an opportunity to look inward and question themselves and humanity. So, at the heart of this short film viewers will find something compelling that has the potential to hit some emotional notes that are carried throughout and have the opportunity to resonate with viewers. In order to be fair, however, I felt a strong disconnect from the content, as it failed to hit me with emotion like I had hoped. 

With so much potential, why didn’t Work Trip’s narrative resonate with me?

There are few reasons that the film doesn’t live up to its fullest potential. The primary reason is the comedic timing of both Handler and Snipe. While they certainly have a strong rapport with one another, I felt that the intended jolts of comedy weren’t fully expressed by these actors. The intentional overacting steals from the intended intensity meant to exist in this film. More sudden shifts in the tone of the film would have more effectively conveyed comedy and reeled viewers further into Work Trip. 

The film’s saving grace is the cinematography. Incredibly tight shots and the illusion that this scene takes place in a single shot is incredibly impressive. The filming locations are tight, giving this team very little space to maneuver and capture the best shot. Yet, they manage to tuck themselves into corners, get up close and personal with Kelsey and Renee, and ultimately develop an immersive experience. 

Work Trip is the product of no time and no money, and it’s only fair to take those things into consideration when judging its competency. The film won’t floor you, and I’m not sure that the comedy lands as intended. However, it’s clear the talent that this team possesses, as the cinematography is consistently top notch, allowing viewers access to a film that otherwise struggles in that regard. 

Written & Directed by Rachel Handler. 

Starring Pavar Snipe, Rachel Handler, & Dean Temple. 

6/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE