by Erik Sean McGiven on Jul 28, 2010

In Fidelity is a comedic cautionary tale about foibles of online dating especially for those that are married.  Brilliantly acted, this short film skillfully pulls us the rocky world of a marriage gone astray.

When Nicole's marriage grows stale and predictable she decides to check out Matchstick.com, a dating website for married people.  Her eccentric best friend Cindy recommended the site and uses it herself to have some cyber-fun and spice up her sex life at home.  Despite Cindy's warnings not to get too serious, Nicole ends up hitting it off with an online man named Peter.  Their online connection is so strong that they decide to meet in person.  However, the meeting ends up throwing Nicole for an unexpected loop. 

Melissa Sagemiller, best known for her roles in "The Guardian," and "Get Over It" plays the role of a frustrated wife seeking excitement.  She complains to her close friend Cindy played by Whitney Cummings ("Made of Honor") about lack of zing in her marriage.  While the two talk, they go through a series of yoga exercises that visually indicate the problem in their rote-like marriages -- no spontaneity.

Nicole and her online friend, Peter, are to meet at a restaurant where he will be wearing an orange scarf to identify himself.  Peter, played by Alex Nesic ("Say It in Russian" and "High Crimes") waits nervously at a table and decides to remove the orange scarf around his neck.  The waiter portrayed by Mike Batayeh ("American Dreamz") comes by and Peter reveals to him his second thoughts about this online dating scheme.  The waiter prods him to seek out this new love. 

Nicole enters and Peter sees her while Nicole recognizes him a second later.  She starts to leave then comes back.  They meet and we discover that they are man and wife.  Each makes awkward excuses for being at this place.  Nicole feigns going to the bathroom while Peter returns to his seat and reveals to the waiter his predicament.  The waiter consuls him while his wife waits outside the bathroom door pondering her next move.  She's about to leave the restaurant when she see Peter now sitting at the bar wearing the orange scarf.  He stops her departure.

It evolves into a big fight with each accusing the other of infidelity.  The waiter has to step in and supplying a more rational mind.  Then he tells them to leave because they are disturbing his patrons.  Outside, they express their complaints and what they want from each other, more zing, more spontaneity.  Finally, they see the error of their ways and start flirting like newly weds, then walking off hand in hand.

The performances are quite real in this comedy and nicely set up the joke, that of two people looking to spice up a stale marriage discover the remedy, is what they already have, each other.   The film also reveals that while the Internet can unleash our fantasies, when played out they can also lead to some embarrassing situations.    Tech credits are highly professional and help move the story along highlighting its humorous moments as well as its likeable and memorable characters.

CREDITS: Stars: Melissa Sagemiller, Whitney Cummings, Alez Nesic, and Mike Batayeh., Cinematographer: Ricky Fosheim, Editor: Zach Fine, Sound: Joel Steven, Boom: Mike Hostettler, Graphic Designer: Marcel Montemayor, Key Grip & Gaffer: David Cronin, Executive Producers: Alex Nesic & Brandon Zinn, Producers: Eric Raine & Melissa Sagemiller, Written By: Alex Nesic & Brandon Zinn, Directed by: Alex Nesic, A Haole Boy Film Production, Running Time: 15 Minutes.

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