CIVIC DUTY | Omeleto

A sheriff teams up with a car salesman.
CIVIC DUTY is used with permission from Sam Rubinoff. Learn more at / @samrubinoff
Neil is a down-on-his-luck sheriff arriving at a crime scene, where a woman is being held hostage by a criminal. He calls it in, insisting he can handle it alone, but the dispatcher decides to send in backup anyway.
The backup is on the unusual side: Jackie is a used car salesman who volunteers as the negotiator for their small town. He and Neil jostle for control of the situation, leading to more mishaps and mistakes. When Neil reveals the hostage is an ex-girlfriend engaged to be married to someone else, the situation becomes a lot trickier than it initially seemed.
Directed and written by Sam Rubinoff, this loose-limbed, amiable short comedy is a collision of personalities and motives in an increasingly ludicrous situation. Engaging with solid writing and sturdy directing, it's a fun narrative cocktail that throws some grounded yet eccentric characters together, mixes them up and lets them fizz and pop with wryly hilarious results.
The straightforward storytelling eschews flash and slickness, wasting no time putting viewers right into the dramatic situation -- though as Neil talks himself up in the patrol car, we know that he's not a typical tough guy. His insecurities get piqued when car salesman Jackie arrives as the volunteer negotiator. Their interactions are full of funny friction, part of which is from when Jackie sold Neil a lemon. But Neil also fears losing control of the situation, not just for his ego's sake, but because one of the hostages is his ex-girlfriend, who he is still hung up on.
Actor and comedian Joe List plays Neil, finding a fine balance between the emotional reality of an ineffectual man sincerely holding a torch for his ex and the more comedic moments when he tries to assert an authority he never quite had. As Jackie, actor Tommy Pope has a louder, flashier role, and watching him use his sales techniques and gimmicks as part of his negotiation process is one of the film's highlights. Glib, slick and manipulative, he shepherds the situation in the way he wants -- and almost sells a car in the process.
Entertaining, wily and great fun to watch, CIVIC DUTY ends with a series of reveals and zingers, showing things aren't quite what they seemed on the surface -- and that Neil is even more luckless than we thought. Just when you think he will get his comeuppance, another character gets theirs. Ultimately true to each of their characters, it's a clever ending for a shrewd comedy with a soft spot for sad sacks, just trying to make the sale or win the girl, to no avail.

[@mitchmccarron8337]

Very clever, highly enjoyable, excellent acting & plot and just the right duration :) Congratulations, well done, please make more!! Mitch, Australia.

[@gsurveil1]

Great premise.

[@guybrushtwood]

Tommy Pope (car dealer) has a funny pod called Stuff Island. Joe List (cop) has a pod called Tuesdays with Stories. Both are also probably coming to a city near you doing stand up. Worth checking out

[@clasencoach]

Thanks for the warning!

[@grumpymonkeyenterprises6413]

You son of a onion

[@clasencoach]

The only sort of funny line in the entire film.

[@Cartier_specialist]

Good one.

[@Neduous]

Hilarious

[@BrowncoatTrekky]

Ending was perfect. This really scratched an itch I didn’t know I had. Thanks!

[@unislayer50]

civic duty omg.... shut up dad

[@MsReeseCupp]

😂😂😂😂😂 hollering 🤣 I was not expecting it to end that way

[@blazingsaber2015]

I enjoy your vids in general, but this switch to something more lighthearted and funny is a welcome change.

[@YouTubeallowedmynametobestolen]

Excellent! Each actor over-played their part to perfection!

[@krissmgvlogs]

That was enjoyable but, considering it was his own set-up, why did he call it in to the cops at the beginning! Why did back-up never show up and how is he going to explain the disappearance of the criminal?

[@asynchronicity]

We have an overthinker here😅

[@RPRosen-ki2fk]

I LIKED it. The film totally held my attention ... CAPTIVE.

[@DeeDeeMudTV]

I really liked this one bravo

[@yl0000]

I thought it was John Oliver.

[@Tegres1]

Came directly here to say that. Even mumbled it out loud to myself.

[@tobbleboii5988]

really interesting story and great execution, loved every minute :D

[@craigjohnson4302]

The only duty I'd perform for the town is number 2!

[@myu4039]

NOPE!

[@maureenbergin3453]

And I’m glad the cars salesman’s car didn’t start!!!!

[@1neAdam12]

@10:12 what the heck is that bird calling in the background? Where i camp, those are the ones that wake me at 5AM 😡

[@northerners2828]

Noo

[@TeoTheLostBoy]

Oh my gosh!! Took me til almost the end to realize he was doing his CIVIC duty

[@rufusmacck3712]

Are writers so depleted of real talent that they are unable to write a script sans profanity?

[@user-McGiver]

lol, I remember that episode from the Dukes of Hazzard...

[@mushkilaman3513]

oof

[@kellyferguson6100]

Loved it!

[@justingary5322]

This was funny 🤣

[@durasaxon5131]

Unreal but funny! _____

[@lonestarparrot]

That was great!!!

[@maurawhelan3530]

That was great!!

[@daveparkes8539]

Good for a laugh

[@PamelaPower-pp1qp]

Very cute 😊

[@laurabenson1278]

That was great!

[@staceyestabrook5495]

😂😂😂

[@Twelve800]

Funny twist at the end 😂 Loved it

[@deadpool8340]

Joe List the cop we deserve

[@taunja7915]

Hahaha 😅

[@dan_vs_himself]

Love it! So good!

[@Patrick-jj5nh]

Best chin.

[@rgarlinyc]

Ha ha ha - very funny, twists all over the place, kudos to Sam Rubinoff!

[@matokaknox971]

That was so cute. I love when I don't see it coming! Oooops....that's what she said.

[@aarons7975]

Well that was different. Good video, lots of twists, and also, a sad tell on what passes for an 'adult' in today's world.

[@MrTwenty20video]

😊

[@justingary5322]

Joe List being cool 😎

[@cleantones]

Joe List!

[@GabiStreibl-Fuchs]

HOW FUNNY!!!!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@kerrib2568]

“Father of a 7…or 8 year old daughter.” 😅

[@leviefrauim1425]

Ok, that was a good one. Well done.

[@theq-ster7160]

Quite good. Thank you.

[@marylevin9262]

hit a person 😂

[@mz8755]

so good!

[@MisterG2323]

That was fun.

[@SharonNolfi]

Fun!

[@paulwright8378]

Good one

[@JonathanHassingerChannel]

Joe List in Omeleto!? Yes!!

[@Dayvit78]

He was in another one about a convenience store. But um, just to remind you, Omeleto is not the producer of these movies.

[@boots1256]

Five seconds in, I had a feeling this was going to be gold, and it was! ❤

[@a.r.1186]

Perfect casting!!

[@DaveKraft1]

That was a real hoot! Brilliant!! Keep on doing...

[@johnreid2837]

Typical American cop.

[@trey1792]

Damn is that Joe List?