Co-writer/co-director Em Genovese and co-director Johnny Reeves keep things quick, awkward, and painfully relatable in Margaret and Gracie. This short comedy understands how a simple outing can turn into a full-blown emotional rollercoaster.
Margaret (Em Genovese) and Gracie (Kaleisha Walker) are out shopping, but it’s never about shopping. It’s about bonding. Margaret confesses to Gracie that she’s frustrated with dating when a guy she was flirting with turns out to be married. This deserves a coffee break. So the pair pop into a nearby coffee shop, place their order, and continue their dating conversation.
“…Ross runs in and robs the place…Margaret and Gracie walk out of the bathroom…”
That is when Ross (Zach Hartman) runs in and robs the place. With a quiet hum of terror permeating the shop, Margaret and Gracie walk out of the bathroom, grab their drinks, and head for the door. Then Margaret and Ross’s eyes meet. Could he be the one? Just like that, Margaret goes back in to get his number.
Margaret and Gracie is a sweet little tale about dating in the modern age. It is also about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The tone is comedic, evident from the outset due to the soundtrack. Robbery aside, the short is about the relationship between Margaret and Gracie. Thankfully, Genovese and Walker have a nice, natural chemistry. Keeping their characters grounded and relatable allows us to buy into the wackiness that ensues.
