Five Stars - Award Winning Comedy Short-Film by Marvin Zana

Summary

Two bumbling robbers take over an Uber, apparently unaware that passengers are already in the back: a young couple returning from a date and an elderly Korean woman.

Before the robbery, the crooks bicker over a trashed phone, an ill-timed bathroom break, and their bargain-bin masks. Meanwhile, the couple’s date is already going poorly. She’s vegan and unhappy with their choice of barbecue restaurant, while he dismisses her concerns about walking alone as paranoia.

When the robbers reveal themselves, the passengers try to stay calm—but the crooks are hardly in control. One robber fumbles through a call with his boss, and the man from the date improvises a terrible performance as “Marvin” to cover for him. He insists he can become any character just by telling himself a name. The robber is unimpressed, though a fan recognizes him from a bacon commercial. When the boss calls back, it becomes clear that “taking care of” the hostages means something much worse than getting them home safely.

As the danger grows, the couple’s polite façade falls apart. They confess that she went on the date for a free meal and that he was mainly hoping to sleep with her. Then they argue about his acting and who should pay for dinner.

The elderly woman, who seemed unable to understand English, eventually reveals that she has understood everything. She calls out the robbers’ racism, misogyny, and selfishness, then takes control of the situation and leaves with the money and her belongings. The shaken couple apologize to each other and decide to go get something to eat.

Personalities in the Video

• Two inept robbers, including one who fancies himself a talented actor
• A young couple whose awkward date turns into an even messier hostage situation
• An elderly Korean woman who has been far more aware—and capable—than she let on
• The robbers’ unseen boss