Will BF: Moon Team IIIV
After the success of 2023’s The Last Gun, Will BF is back to tackle another genre: sci-fi, this time in the 90s DVD era.
The much-loved DIY approach is still very much front and centre from the outset, as a front row audience member struggles with operating a DVD remote while Will guides him from the TV screen. Soon we’re back in the world of director’s commentary, hardcore film fan opinions and homemade costumes and props, as the mockumentary tackles the thorny issue of the underwhelming sequel.
There’s a new raft of characters, including the creative genius Willie B Bach and superfan Alvin Anderchip-Munx; but while it’s mostly light, there’s the odd sideswipe at harmful film tropes. The silent female character Flora who ‘chooses not to speak’ to our space hero did make me think of several blockbusters…
Audience interaction is a large part of Will BF’s appeal, and the front row are mercifully game for taking on the role of ‘ethical’ alien hacker or spaceship pilot in a delightfully lo-fi videogame. The little details in Moon Team are definitely my highlights: the giraffe-headed villain, Swimothy the sidekick, and the callbacks to the DVD ‘extras’ such as the ‘Orson Carte’ drunken advert that was in no way inspired by another famous debauched actor.
It’s a work-in-progress that’s had several iterations since coming to Edinburgh- we were the first to see Swimothy 2.0 – but nevertheless with Moon Team IIIV Will BF has crafted another brilliant hour of comedy the great Garth Marenghi would be proud of.
****
Will BF: Moon Team IIIV is at Hoots @ Apex Grassmarket, 2-26 Aug