Sundance Film Festival 2025 – Writer/director Chelsea Christer’s short film, Out for Delivery, manages to make the concept of dying funny. The film’s protagonist, Joanna (Deanna Rooney), opts for assisted death when she finds out she has a terminal illness. However, it turns out that dying isn’t so easy after all.

Christer’s film is set in an unnamed state that has a law called the Death with Dignity Act. In the opening minutes, Joanna receives the grim news about her health. Almost immediately, she chooses assisted death, instead of prolonged illness. In what should be the final hours of her life, Joanna faces one set back after another, many of them relatable. For instance, the package containing the pill to kill herself is late arriving. When she contacts customer survive, they’re unable to really track the package. Who can’t relate to that?

Most of the cast has background in comedy. Rooney appeared in the Mystery Science Theater 3000 reboot, for example. DeMorge Brown, who makes a cameo as one of Joanna’s neighbors, performed on Jimmey Kimmel Live and with Upright Citizens Brigade. Dying is a heavy subject matter, but the cast and Christer’s clever script play for lots of laughs. Meanwhile, Martin Starr (Freaks and Geeks) plays Mark. His character gets in a few snappy lines and jokes, too. That’s contrasted, though, with a rather deep conversation that he and Joanna have about their lives and their parents. It’s a nice counterbalance to a film that leans into comedy. The conversation they have in Mark’s van works well as dramatic counterweight, causing each character to reflect upon their own lives, as well as Joanna’s decision of assisted death.

Out for Delivery has a heck of a cast and creative concept. While the short film contains plenty of jokes and entertains, it’s not without its contemplative, dramatic moments. Though the ending feels definitive, I wouldn’t mind watching a feature-length film.