Taming Mr Champion

starring: JC ANN & LUCA PIETRO

Rita, a struggling actress, is betrayed by her boyfriend. Mrs Nelson is worried about Maggie — the manipulative woman cozying up to her son, a well-known racing driver. When Mrs Nelson hires Rita to act as Reginald’s fake fiancé and break Maggie’s hold, sparks fly.

REVIEW

⭐⭐⭐

I so wanted this to be great, it starts off so well with an original concept.

This vertland mother can see the scheming minx who has her claws in her son, and has the inspired idea to hire an actress to distract him.

And JC Ann nails the interview, so gets the job and has some great fun turning the tables on horrible Maggie.

Now this is billed as a racing vert featuring the ultra cool Luca Pietro - but there is barely any racing, or even race car attitude.

The character doesn't make sense. This is a career that is high stakes. You cast someone who can do swagger like Luca. And then the character is a bit of a damp cloth, as the 3 women in his life run circles round him. I so wish someone would let me work on this script and just tweak it slightly. Give Reggie (dreadful name) some awesome lines.

It's so annoying as there are some brilliant bits and visuals, the kill bill outfit, Reggie in his car, the fight early on.

But then the script just doesn't quite take off and let the leads ignite together.

Needed more romance, more race cars, and more attitude.

I feel like I am being mean here, I think it is just the concept is so good, and the cast have so much potential, it’s just that the story part of the equation doesn't quite deliver.

Don't get me wrong. It's a good fun watch, avoids a lot of the nastiness and vert cliches. A perfectly pleasant way to pass the time.

I think the challenge is the bar has been raised so much in verts this year as an audience we are now more demanding.

💖 Top swoonworthy moment:

It has to be the K Drama coded walk in the rain with an umbrella. This cannot be over used in verticals. It looks iconic. Well worth the efforts of all involved.

🦹🏼‍♂️ Top villain award:

t is Maggie, who has latched onto Reginald. However the reveal in the final part about who she is working with doesn’t work for me. I think it is another case of a villain being underwritten, and identikit.

😂 Comedy gold:

Not enough sadly, but it is amusing watching Rita turn the tables on Maggie.

🎺 Unsung hero:

Luca Pietro for managing to pull off that leatherette Miami Vice blouson thing.

And whoever found that Kill Bill coded biker outfit for Rita. Because it looks phenomenal.

✍🏼 DETAILS

2025

Available on Kalos and Minishorts