PARK CITY, Utah — PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Despite its reputation for weighty dramas, the 2026 Sundance Film Festival is serving up a surprisingly robust helping of comedies, ranging from offbeat documentaries to outright raucous fare.
A Road Trip Gone Hilariously Wrong
Macon Blair’s new film, starring Dave Franco and O’Shea Jackson Jr., promises a darkly comedic journey.
Among the laugh-inducing offerings is “The S—heads,” from filmmaker Macon Blair, a Sundance veteran who previously won the grand jury prize for “I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore.” The film, which premiered Friday night in Park City, Utah, follows two hapless characters as a simple transport job spirals into chaos.
What kind of comedy can audiences expect from “The S—heads”? Blair describes it as a road movie gone wrong, a blend of humor and a growing undercurrent of darkness. “Over time it got a little darker, a little seedier, a little angrier,” he said. “But it’s still a comedy, it’s still meant to be fun and breezy and a good time.”
- Dave Franco and O’Shea Jackson Jr. star as two unlikely caregivers.
- The film centers around transporting a troubled teen, played by Mason Thames.
- “The S—heads” is currently seeking distribution at the festival.
The project has been a decade in the making for Blair and co-writer Alex Orr, nearly coming to fruition in 2017 before financing fell through. Franco ultimately played a pivotal role in getting the film completed, not only producing but also suggesting Jackson and Thames for their respective roles.
Blair was particularly impressed by Franco’s dedication. “Every single thing he does, you’re like, ‘Oh that could go in the movie,’” Blair remarked. “He’s so prepared, so dialed in. It was impressive to watch.”
Adding to the film’s appeal are supporting performances from Kiernan Shipka and Peter Dinklage, the latter of whom Blair befriended during a casual beer at a previous Sundance festival. Blair hopes to secure a distributor willing to give the film a theatrical release, pointing to the success of unconventional comedies like “Friendship” as a positive sign.
“I hope someone gets the vibe of the movie on its own terms,” Blair said. “You don’t name a movie this because you want it to be a Merchant Ivory thing. But there’s other things in it. I think about O’Shea’s performance and how vulnerable he gets in this. I’m hoping people laugh, I’m hoping people have a good time. But I’m also hoping people see that he’s a great actor too.”
___
For more coverage of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/sundance-film-festival
