In ‘Too Late to Sing?’, writer/director James C. Velasquez delivers a heartwarming and quietly powerful short film about a man who decides it’s never too late to chase his dream – no matter how improbable it seems to everyone else. The story centers on Jimmy, played with remarkable vulnerability by Marcel Licera, a newly-turned 50-year-old who shocks his family at his birthday party by announcing he’s quitting his mundane office job to become a professional singer. Cue the laughter – and then the horror, especially from his wife (Evie Abat). But what begins as a mid-life crisis gag turns into something far more poignant and universal.
Jimmy’s journey to reclaim his long-buried dream is both touching and relatable, especially when we see him earn the support of his daughters (played with sincerity by Tawn Vo and Thythy Do). Initially met with confusion, their gradual backing of his plan feels authentic and adds a rich layer of family dynamics to the film. And while you could cynically chalk up Jimmy’s bold move as just another crisis-of-age moment, Velasquez and Licera craft a narrative that shifts that perspective. This isn’t about a man spiraling; it’s about a man finally putting himself first, after a lifetime of sacrifice for his family.
The production values, courtesy of Aditya Gupta’s cinematography, lend the film a professional sheen, with its polished visuals creating the perfect backdrop for Jimmy’s emotional arc. And that final, gut-punch moment? A home video of Velasquez’s real-life father reciting his own songs during the end credits. It’s an unexpected yet perfectly fitting conclusion that elevates the film from charming to genuinely moving. In the end, ‘Too Late to Sing?’ doesn’t just say it’s never too late to follow your dreams – it makes you believe it.
