John Wig (2022): A Quirky Comedy Short by Mark Mos

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John Wig (2022): A Quirky Comedy Short by Mark Mos

John Wig is a 2022 comedy short or web film—more accurately described as a comedic short-movie mini anthology—directed, written, and produced by Mark Mos. Clocking in at a runtime of around 44 minutes, it blends sketch-style shorts into a single narrative framework built around two characters on a date.

Premise & Structure

The core premise is simple yet unusual: a man named John Wig finally meets a woman he likes. During their date, they watch a series of short films on his laptop—essentially an anthology of comedic sketches. At some point, John gets drunk and laughs his way into unconsciousness.

This framing device—a date interrupted by anthology shorts—creates a playful, somewhat meta structure where the sketch format is embraced by the narrative context.

Creative Vision & Team

  • Director / Writer / Producer: Mark Mos

  • Cast:

    • Mark Mos – appears as “Driver”

    • Natalie Polisson – plays John Wig’s Inner Voice / Ex‑girlfriend

    • Carolyn Vasko – likely the date

    • Rich Volkening – portrays John Wig 

While limited in ensemble size, the cast brings diverse comedic flavors to each vignette as they cycle through various short films within the date setting.

Reception & Rating

On IMDb, John Wig holds a modest rating of 5.6/10, suggesting mixed reactions from viewers. Some audience feedback echoes that sentiment:

A review on Letterboxd calls it "a load of nonsense," though others found specific segments—like one involving a “bowling hitman”—unexpectedly funny.

Such comments capture the tone: it's offbeat, experimental, and evidently not for every comedy palate—but for some, that’s part of the charm.

Distribution & Availability

Originally released digitally on November 1, 2022 in the USA, John Wig has since appeared on a few platforms:

  • Available to stream for free on Plex (both in India and internationally), where it’s listed under its 44-minute feature.

  • Also accessible via Tubi, as listed on Apple TV’s metadata pages (likely as part of their catalog).

This wide availability on free streaming services makes it readily accessible to a curious comedy viewer.

Genre, Style & Tone

Classified as comedy, John Wig leans heavily into absurdist, sketch-driven storytelling. The anthology format allows for rapid shifts in humor and tone—from surreal to goofy to self-aware—all wrapped up in the somewhat blasé structure of a date that goes off the rails.

The film’s humor tends toward the weirdly charming rather than traditionally laugh-out-loud. It embraces the short-comedy ethos—small set pieces, quick punches, oddball characters—nested within the meta frame of the laptop screen.

Why It Stands Out

  • Hybrid Format: It’s not a sketch show, nor a conventional short film—it’s a bit of both. The date serves simply as a mechanism to deliver the sketches, giving it a unique flavor.

  • DIY Vibe: With Mos wearing multiple hats, it feels like an indie production—one driven by individual creativity rather than studio polish.

  • Accessible: At 44 minutes total, it’s the perfect length for a quirky, slightly offbeat viewing experience that doesn’t demand too much time but offers more than a simple skit.

  • Memorable Moments: Reviews cite certain segments—like the “bowling hitmen”—as being truly entertaining, indicating that while the whole may be uneven, standout scenes exist.

Potential Drawbacks

  • Inconsistency: As with many anthology formats, pacing or quality may vary across segments, which can be jarring.

  • Niche Appeal: The humor is experimental. Viewers expecting conventional comedic beats may find the abstract style or tone disjointed.

  • Limited Production Value: Being a low-budget venture, it may lack cinematic gloss—yet this can feel appropriate to its indie spirit.

Conclusion

In the landscape of indie comedy, John Wig (2022) is an intriguing experiment—a short anthology nested inside a dating vignette, crafted with minimal crew, a compact runtime, and plenty of oddball humor.

Whether you find it delightfully weird or just odd depends on your comedic leanings. At its best, standout segments may linger; at its worst, the format may feel scattered. But at under an hour and freely available on platforms Read more

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