The Sperm Bank somehow makes the grim topic of cancer funny. At the same time, it hits at a few tough truths about dying. Oh, and the short has a wild premise about a 23-year-old just diagnosed with the c word who wants to donate his sperm.

Directed by Margaux Susi and written by Jeremy Culhane and Rob Scerbo, who also stars, the film begins with Rob at a sperm bank, knowing he has stage 4 testicular cancer. For whatever reason, maybe to ensure his future lives on, Rob faces the pressure of ejaculating into a cup, but he faces stage right. That’s essentially much of the premise of these 14 minutes. Yet, somehow, it’s both uncomfortable and amusing. He struggles to finish the task, and, at one point, asks for more women-friendly porn, specifically porn directed by women. He also fantasizes about various dates stopping by his pad and drooling over his Blu-ray collection.

Yes, this short is odd, but the comedic beats work. Scerbo is great in the lead role, but the rest of the cast offers additional doses of humor, especially one of Rob’s best friends, Andy, played by Culhane, and Nurse Kirby (Sophia Ali). Yet, for all the jokes, and there are plenty, the short addresses more serious truths about dying, especially after Rob encounters a friend also undergoing cancer treatments, lying bald in a hospital bed. The two commiserate and acknowledge that at the end of the day, dying is a very lonely process.

Despite that heavy truth, the short leans more into the comedy genre than drama. Sad subject matter aside, there’s lots of laughs here. The Sperm Box has likeable protagonist in Rob, a solid all-around cast, and creative way to address cancer and the dying process. Maybe Rob’s journey will continue in a feature-length film. Let’s hope.

7.5 Out of 10