Maintenance Required (2025)
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A mechanic owner discovers her secret online confidant is actually her biggest real-life business rival.
The story
Charlotte, a mechanic who inherited her father's auto service shop in Oakland, spends her free time chatting with an online user named "Bullnose" about car issues. She is unaware that "Bullnose" is actually Beau, a manager for Miller Boys, a large car company that has just opened a competing location nearby. When Beau visits her shop to see a friend, he keeps his professional ties secret. As Charlie struggles to keep her all-female business afloat against the corporation's low prices, she continues to seek advice from her anonymous online friend, unaware of the conflict brewing in her own backyard.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Charlie runs an all-female mechanic shop in Oakland and chats online with "Bullnose" under the handle "GreaseMnky." She doesn't know "Bullnose" is Beau, a manager for Miller Boys, a nearby corporate competitor. After a series of chance encounters—including a pool wager and a meeting at a restaurant where Beau mistakes her for a blind date—Charlie discovers Beau's true identity and his connection to the corporation. Despite her frustration, she eventually agrees to meet "Bullnose" again. They connect at a classic car show, sharing a romantic moment after Beau's car overheats. However, Charlie eventually recognizes Bullnose's car in a forum photo and realizes Beau's identity, leading to a temporary rift. A month later, Beau quits Miller Boys due to a 'corporate conscience' and apologizes to Charlie. The two eventually team up to restore a '68 Dodger, with Charlie feeling her father's presence as they work together a year later.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 103
- Production countries
- United States; United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Lacey Uhlemeyer
- Writers
- Lacey Uhlemeyer · writer; Roo Berry · writer; Erin Falconer · writer
- Cast and characters
- Madelaine Petsch · Charlie; Jacob Scipio · Beau, an online confidant; Madison Bailey · Izzy; Katy O'Brian · Kam; Inanna Sarkis · Lola; Matteo Lane · Jordan; Rob Rausch · Himself; Jim Gaffigan · Mr. Miller
- Genres
- romantic comedy
- Themes
- Corporate vs. Small Business; Online Identity; Romance; Family Legacy
- Tone and mood
- Romantic; Comedic
- Setting
- Oakland, United States, present day
- Premise and plot tags
- Romantic Comedy; Small Business; Secret Identity
- Production trivia
- Madelaine Petsch also executive produced the film.; Filming took place in August and September 2024.; The film was released as an Amazon Prime Video original.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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