True. (1999) User Reviews

The genesis of "wazzup!"

[Nan00k · 9/10 · 21 May 2000]

This funny, well-conceived short film is not a second longer than it needs to be. An nth generation copy floated into the dub room of the commercial production company where I work. Everybody watched it and loved it. We all started saying "wazzup." Next thing you know, Charles Stone III has directed a Budwieser spot, and the whole country is saying the same catchphrase. I still think the film is the funniest...

Comedy as social commentary

[knlowney · 6 December 2004]

While this short film may be hilarious, it also serves as a poignant social commentary on the difficulty men have communicating with one another. Note that the men are unenthusiastic and express no real emotion until they are in a group setting. This suggests that men are uncomfortable relating to each other on a personal level, but their comfort level rises when they join together in a group. Plus, all of their communication is mediated by electronic devices, illustrating that men feel even more comfortable when their emotions are filtered and they do not have to endure face-to-face contact. In this social context, the fact that Budweiser based an ad campaign on this short film becomes very ironic. By adding alcohol into the picture, the suggestion becomes that men can only communicate comfortably in groups when their emotions cannot be seen directly, or when they are under the influence of alcohol. The film is great because it can be interpreted so many ways, this simply being one of them.

Excellent, concise and humorous piece of work

[BADS · 9/10 · 25 January 2000]

This short film, recently turned into a Budweiser commercial, is very funny and quite well done. Charles Stone captures, in about 3 minutes, a comical interchange between four or five friends on the phone. Basically, they just jump on the phone line to say "What's up?" but each character does so with a great deal of flavor. An enjoyable watch, for sure.

One word, people: Whassssuppppp?????

[jsamet5 · 14 January 2003]

This is cinematic gold, the short that inspired the hilarious Budweiser ad campaign. I nearly busted a gut laughing. I think my reaction to this film can be summed up in one word: WHASSSSUPPPP????