Couple Goals

Directed by Tom Bridger & Jonny Gillard

2025

A woman with an electronic ab stimulator plus other assorted exercise bands, and a man in a white vest clapping is the quirky beginning of a new comedy short from Tom Bridger and Jonny Gillard.

Bridger himself plays Dean, one half of a couple with Bethany Slater as Carol, both obsessed with self-improvement from their morning routines to the correct diet. Along for the journey is host Alayla (Della Theilamay), who guides the audience through this slice-of-life mock-umentary.

The presenter explains how she is going to explore their life and relationships as well as their jobs and online presence. Many of the aspects of lifestyle shows seen on daytime TV can be seen and the short uses sight and dialogue gags as well as slapstick and even some comedic wardrobe choices.

Della Theilamay (nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Midlands Movies Awards 2025) is a highlight. Her dead-pan delivery emphasises her role as the straight-person to this unusual couple, but with her added comments and surreptitious looks to the camera, she contributes to the comedy incredibly well in her side role.

A “couple” of improvements that could help audiences engage with the short better would be to push the techniques, and its cliches, of the fly-on-the wall documentary genre a little further. The addition of on-screen text, a TV-style intro sequence and perhaps more narration would go a long way.

Some more ambient music or even little musical stings would give the whole thing a further professional sheen. Especially as this is a format that is so familiar to many TV audiences. Think The Office or a real-life Homes Under The Hammer TV programme.

As it is, we get an insight into the private world of this (dys)functional couple with their strange habits and even psychopathic traits using a well thought-out satirical tone. A tightening up of the film’s technical aspects would definitely be something to focus on in the next short, but some dark ideas are delivered well using the style often known for its entertaining lightheartedness.

Couple Goals ends as a playful short, and is successful at poking fun at the often condescending and glib lifestyle vox-pops. And with an emphasis on absurd humour, it uses a deconstruction of a couple’s home-life to highlight the silliness of “that couple” we all know in our neighbourhood. The ones who (annoyingly) promote their weird personal development above all else. And aren't shy in sharing about it!

★★★

3 / 5

Michael Sales

X @midlandsmovies