'Buddy' Review
- Steven Redgrave
- Aug 26
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 28
Release Date: 08/28/26 [Cinemas]
Genre: Comedy. Horror. SciFi.
MPAA: Rated R.
Distributor: Roadside Attractions. Saban Films.
The Verdict: A Must-See
Buddy is a new 2026 film, directed by Casper Kelly and co-written with Jamie King. It’s a fun, nostalgia-filled return to educational kids' shows of the 90s. Something along the lines of Barney, sprinkled in with the backdrop of a Nickelodeon set. Buddy teaches children about the importance of good behavior through song and dance, ending each episode with a loving hug.
Overall, I love Buddy. Yes, I do, and he loves each one of you.
We’re together happily. We’ll always be best buddies.sssss ss..s.s.ssss…ssssss..sss…wh.jehfjadshfsjka;hfjfgsa;jfgjsfsagj…..
Buddy, voiced by Keegan-Michael Key, is a magical unicorn that blurs the line between teaching children life lessons and traumatizing them for life. Despite its colorful reimaginings of the 90s, full of instantly likable characters like Mr. Mailbox and Strappy, Buddy is filled with eerie moments and constant tension, leaving the children feeling trapped in an unknown world they once felt was home.
Overall, I'm not sure I love Buddy. Yeah, I do…don’t know. Does he love each one of you? We’re stuck together, far from happily. We don’t feel like best buddies.sss..ssss.s.s.s.s.sss..s.s.dhidsahvjsd;aghdskghds;ghds;dsg;h….
Buddy is terrifying in many ways. The mannerisms are executed at the right moments. Key uses a mix of friendly caretaker and unpredictable chaos in the tone of Buddy, which raises a high level of concern for each of these children.
All of which is met with the same caliber of emotion from the young cast. Freddy, played by Delaney Quinn, and Hannah, played by Madison Skyy Polan, would be the standouts of the cast, joining Cristin Milioti, who plays Grace, an adult who also finds herself pulled into Buddy’s destructive path. It wasn’t simply the concern for these characters in this scenario; these actresses also gave compelling performances and subtle shifts of emotion. In a world plastered with unbelievably personified beings, it was hard not to worry about them, and it’s all a testament to their performances.
Overall, I hate Buddy. Yes, I do. I hate, I hate, I hate you.
Stab your heart and kick your knee. Buddy you’re my enemy.yyy…y.y..yyy...y.y.…dhfadshgjdshfjbhafjbfasfjkdfjslkgj…
Buddy is a homicidal psychopath hiding in plain sight of a 90s sitcom. Don’t let the vibrant, puppet-esque world deceive you. This world’s characters might be fun, likable, and full of life, with catchy songs (a highly impressive feat, given that many of them had minimal movement or voices). Still, the extent of Buddy’s powers and purpose within it are surprisingly vague, leaving viewers with enough to feel satisfied by the end, but leaving with more questions than answers. Kelly did an exceptional job at building this world and its lore in a manner that leaves it open for more stories to expand on Buddy or other monsters within it.
Overall, Buddy is a nostalgic nightmare in the best possible way, and that tension is somehow eased throughout with the clever drops of humor between audible gasps. Taking an already filled genre of killer mascots, Buddy delivers an enjoyable spin on it with heartfelt messages. Everything from the creatively designed sets to the lore-rich details shows that a lot of love went into this project, and everyone did their part to bring Buddy to life. Against my better judgment, I love Buddy, but I’m still not sure if he loves me.
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