Rating 5/10
The children’s TV show at the center of Buddy is devoted to teaching life lessons. So it’s a bit ironic that the movie itself fails to understand an important one: a brilliant setup needs a satisfying payoff. The first act is so good that I initially thought I might be watching one of the great movies of 2026. Unfortunately, what follows is just a routine, one that keeps resetting without ever going anywhere.
It’s Buddy! is a cheerful preschool program set in Happy Town. There are the requisite songs, lively characters, and positive messages about overcoming fear. However, the young cast members begin to suspect that Buddy (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key) is hiding a violent side. Meanwhile, in everyday life, a troubled mother becomes convinced that someone is missing from her family and that the mysterious TV series may hold the answer.
The inspiration is easy to see. You’ve got a giant, fuzzy orange unicorn who stands on two feet, surrounded by an ethnically diverse group of youngsters and colorful furniture with googly eyes that come to life and talk. Barney & Friends and Pee-wee’s Playhouse are probably the most direct influences, but I could also see elements of Romper Room, The New Zoo Revue, and even Yo Gabba Gabba!
The first act is perfection. The imaginary world, songs, and teachable moments have the vibe of a real educational series. The young cast (Delaney Quinn, Caleb Williams, Tristan Broders, Luke Speakman) strikes the right balance: they are entirely believable as performers on a family program while still reacting like actual kids. Of course, there are also the adults: Mailman Miles (Bennie Taylor ), and Nurse Nancy (Phuong Kubacki) whenever somebody gets a boo-boo. The parody works because everyone plays it completely straight, even as things become more unsettling.
The production design is spectacular. The sets are brilliantly realized, the costumes are vivid, and the 4:3 aspect ratio effectively captures the appearance of a television show. I sat transfixed by the authenticity that director and co-writer Casper Kelly achieved. I couldn’t wait to see where he would take it.
When the story moves into the outside world, the aspect ratio changes and the performances become more grounded. Cristin Milioti is good as Grace, the mother convinced someone is missing from her family. Topher Grace is also credible as Ben, the husband who cannot understand what she is experiencing. Their arguments around the kitchen table are like a genuine married couple becoming increasingly frustrated with one another. Sadly, all that good acting and emotional tension never leads to a meaningful resolution.
The movie is nowhere near as extreme or disturbing as it could have been. Honestly, for me, that was actually a plus. I didn’t need excessive gore or vulgarity for this parody to work. What I craved were cleverly subversive twists. Instead, the second and third acts begin to feel like an endless loop of the same events. The characters don’t make any meaningful progress.
There are still flashes of brilliance. Freddy (Delaney Quinn) and the other children attempt to reach a place called Diamond City, believing it will provide an escape. The payoff to their journey is seriously hilarious. When Buddy suddenly uses adult language, it’s so out of place in this family show setting that it made me chuckle. But those isolated moments only highlight how the rest of the movie is lacking.
The ending is needlessly downbeat. I won’t give anything away, but the movie takes a supremely bleak turn. We’re essentially punished for caring about these characters. The conclusion leaves you feeling empty.
Buddy has a lot going for it. It’s wildly creative, visually impressive, and full of promise. The first act understands exactly how to turn a children’s television program into something creepy. Sadly, the second and third acts have nowhere to take an interesting idea. The setup had me prepared to sing Buddy’s praises. By the end, I was ready to change the channel.
09-03-26