There's a rather delicious retro vibe that radiates throughout writer/director Thomas Davisson's universally recognizable On the Nose, a five-minute comedy short starring Alexis Presley and Mustapha Slack as a young couple obviously getting all prepped for a night out. We recognize right away that this is your traditional couple, a casual courtesy filled with more layers than one might expect in a five-minute short. 

The set-up is simple, really. She seeks outfit advice from her boyfriend. He dutifully serves up what he thinks to be the "right" answer. 

He's wrong. 

We've all done it. Haven't we? We've given the soft answer. The complimentary answer. The "keep the peace" answer. It's all too familiar how all we partnered up folks avoid conflict in long-term relationships partly out of self-preservation and partly out of the fear of the unknown. 

In this short span of five minutes, Davisson mines familiar territory with delightful results that are both familiar and funny. It helps to have two delightful players here like Presley and Slack, whose believable chemistry, with just a hint of an edge, draws us in and keeps us captivated. 

On the Nose is a visually appealing film with winning camera work by Noah Lamport that capitalizes on the film's comic potential yet also recognizes there's an underlying message here that audiences need to get. Presley is an absolute gem here, so dutifully traditional early on that her shift pops cinematically and yet still feels honest. Slack nicely captures the subtle nuances of a young man whose layers are slowly peeled back and revealed. 

This Atlanta produced short is simply enjoyable from beginning to end with effective storytelling amplifying our immersion in this familiar and recognizable scenario. 

On the Nose hits all the right relationship notes, a seemingly out of nowhere disagreement actually perfectly normal and resulting from words left unspoken and feelings left unshared. The closing is a delight, an entertaining and satisfying conclusion to short, sweet, and satisfying storytelling brought to life with imagination, humor, and heart. 

If you get a chance to check out On the Nose as it begins its festival journey, definitely do so. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic