Uber Ex
Directed by Matt Braunsdorf
Written by Jonathan Marballi
Starring Jonathan Marballi, Paige Lindsay Betts, Jeremy Michaels
Runtime: 16 minutes 30 seconds
Jonny Marbles Films
Release date: February 14, 2019 (Amazon Video Direct & Vimeo)

I first spoke with director Matt Braunsdorf a few years back when his short horror film John the Carpenter played at the New York City Horror Film Festival. I enjoyed the heck out of it and reviewed it for this site. Proving that he can excel in multiple genres, Braunsdorf’s latest short film is far from the monster-in-the-woods thriller of JtC, and rather a romance right in time for Valentine’s Day. Uber Ex is 16 minutes and makes for a good cuddle session with your significant other. It’s realistic, but ultimately charming, with three solid performances and an excellent score.

Uber Ex stars Jonathan Marballi and Paige Lindsay Betts as David and Kate, a couple leaving a family dinner party. They’re obviously very early in their relationship and still dealing with awkward conversations about marriage and potential future aspirations. Marballi, who wrote the film, is a big guy and you can feel David’s anxieties permeating through him. Meanwhile, Kate is pretty, but unsure and you could tell she bares the scars of past relationships. And then their Uber arrives.

The Uber driver is Lev, played by Jeremy Michaels, and wouldn’t you know it, coincidence of coincidences, he is Kate’s ex. Anyone who’s ever been in a scenario where your partner bumps into an ex in public knows exactly how painfully uncomfortable this is and poor David is along for the ride.

All three actors play their roles perfectly. As an audience member I bought in right away, openly cheering for David against the jerk Lev.

Like John the Carpenter, Braunsdorf’s short film features some super cool music. The score is done by Jared Dymbort, who scored and starred in John the Carpenter and Jeremy Michaels contributes two songs, one of which is particularly catchy.

Uber Ex is short, romantic, and realistically awkward. It’s a perfect appetizer to a Valentine’s Day meal.

The film is finishing a festival run, which saw it played at 18 filmfests, including Austin Revolution, and will be playing on Amazon Prime Video and Vimeo starting today. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Trailer

Follow me on Twitter.