Carlton Taylor Has: Major Problems Review – Surprisingly Creative!

When a film is pitched to me as a genre-bending dramedy, I honestly don’t always know what to expect. But Carlton Taylor Has: Major Problems, directed by Thomas Ryan Ward, turned out to be quite a surprise. What initially appears to be a straightforward story about a middle-aged man losing his job gradually transforms into something far more creative, bizarre, and unpredictable. Despite some rough edges, the film takes an interesting premise and turns it into an unusual flick that I found myself appreciating more as it progressed.

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The film follows Carlton Taylor (Thomas Ryan Ward), a textbook editor who has spent 30 years working in traditional publishing. His carefully structured professional life comes crashing down when a new CEO decides to embrace an AI-driven future, leaving Carlton feeling increasingly irrelevant in an industry he has devoted decades to. Unable to accept the changes around him, Carlton begins spiralling as his professional and personal frustrations take over. However, a bizarre encounter with Major (Grayson Berry) takes him on a surreal journey through memories, and experiences that challenge his understanding of himself and the world around him.

The first thing I appreciated was how the film handles its relatively simple premise. The first 40 minutes or so primarily focus on Carlton losing his job and him struggling to come to terms with it. You get to spend time understanding his personality, and his rather dramatic reaction to a world that is moving forward without him.

There is some genuinely good comedy sprinkled throughout this section, with Carlton being the centre of most of it. He is an over-the-top, overly dramatic, funny yet serious individual who takes himself very seriously, and that contrast creates plenty of amusing moments. His stubbornness, old-fashioned outlook, and inability to gracefully accept his circumstances make him an entertaining character to follow. I liked how the film allows his personality to drive much of the humour rather than relying entirely on comedy setups.

 

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But then the film takes a rather sudden turn, and that’s when things get crazy. The narrative moves into a surreal realm where reality, memories, and fantasy begin blending together. This becomes a major part of the second act, and honestly, it is quite an experience. The sequences are odd, random, chaotic, and sometimes downright bizarre. However, I wouldn’t necessarily call that a negative because that’s clearly the intention. The film embraces the unpredictability of dreams, where one moment can lead to something completely unrelated the next, and events don’t always follow any logical structure. It almost feels like being pulled into someone else’s subconscious, where familiar faces, and fractured experiences coexist without necessarily making sense.

That said, this section does test your patience occasionally. The surreal sequences go on for a considerable amount of time, and there were moments when I wondered where exactly the film was heading. You have to remain invested and trust that all this madness is eventually going to lead somewhere meaningful. Thankfully, the film delivers a satisfying conclusion. Carlton gradually comes to terms with his experiences, finds some closure, understands his purpose, and emerges as a better person. More importantly, the ending gives the surreal journey a clearer emotional meaning. Looking back, I found myself becoming less critical of some of the seemingly random sequences because they contribute to Carlton’s personal transformation.

 

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Performance-wise, the film rests primarily on Thomas Ryan Ward’s shoulders, and he does a really good job as Carlton. He plays the character with an interesting combination of stubbornness, insecurity, theatricality, and vulnerability. Carlton can be hilariously dramatic one moment and genuinely troubled the next, and Ward handles both sides of the character well. His frustration at losing a career he has spent three decades building feels believable, even when his reactions become exaggerated for comedic effect. He also manages the more emotional portions effectively, giving the character enough depth to make his eventual growth feel earned.

Grayson Berry is another highlight as Major, particularly during the surreal portions of the film. He serves as Carlton’s companion through this strange journey, bringing additional humour and energy to the proceedings. The chemistry between Berry and Ward works really well, and their interactions provide some of the more entertaining moments in the film. I also enjoyed Raffaele Marchetta as Spencer, Carlton’s office mate. He brings a certain charm, and his presence adds another enjoyable dimension to the workplace portions.

On the technical front, the film does have a few rough edges. The audio recording and mixing could have been more consistent, with occasional background noise, variations in dialogue levels, and moments where the sound doesn’t feel as clean or balanced as it could. These issues are noticeable in certain scenes, although they aren’t particularly distracting throughout the entire film. The cinematography could also have been stronger, especially considering how visually imaginative the surreal sequences become. Still, these are relatively minor shortcomings in an otherwise ambitious independent production.

 

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Ultimately, Carlton Taylor Has: Major Problems is a surprisingly creative and unconventional dramedy that takes a simple workplace premise and turns it into something wonderfully strange. Its first act delivers some enjoyable character-driven comedy, while the surreal second act takes on an unpredictable journey that eventually finds its emotional purpose. Thomas Ryan Ward leads the film with an entertaining performance, supported by the chemistry he shares with Grayson Berry and Raffaele Marchetta.

Although the technical presentation has a few rough edges and the middle portion occasionally tests your patience, the film’s ambition and satisfying conclusion make the experience worthwhile. A film that I appreciated for its willingness to take creative risks rather than settle for a conventional story. You can now rent ‘Carlton Taylor Has: Major Problems (2026)’ on Amazon or Apple TV and follow the movie on Instagram for more updates.

‘Carlton Taylor Has: Major Problems (2026)’ Rating – 3.5/5

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