Tribeca Film Festival Movie Short Review: ‘Last Minute’

by | Jun 5, 2026 | Featured Post, Movie Reviews, Movies | 0 comments


Greetings again from the darkness. Taking us back to the future of pre-internet 1989, this 15-minute short film from writer-director Michael Cusumano proves nostalgia can include the frustration of being a parent to a school-aged kid during that era.

Jackie (Charity Schubert) has picked up a bag of fast food for dinner so that she can relax after another hard day of work. Her 12-year-old son Jason (Espyn Doughty) informs her that a big science project is due tomorrow, and not only has he not started on it, the project counts “a lot” towards his final grade. Mom does what moms do. She kicks into problem-solving mode … which of course includes a lesson about procrastination.

Trivial Pursuit, “Jeopardy”, a friend of a friend, and “Uncle” Ken (Blayne Weaver) all make up the network Jackie utilizes to help Jason build his list of 5 facts on one of the more challenging elements (a nod to a particularly popular movie from the 1980’s) from the periodic table. That same network of support comes through with a big boost for the Visual Aid, and just like that, the mom we all count on has come through again. The phrase, “the parent that shows up”, is used in the film, and it couldn’t be more accurate in this fine short film that will surely resonate with parents as well as those kids who remember.

LAST MINUTE will screen at the 2026 Tribeca Festival in the Care Package short films block — premiering on June 6th

David Ferguson
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