Behind the camera, he is making the jump from movies to TV, co-writing and directing for the Amazon Studios project Exciting Times, which is an adaptation of Naoise Dolans book of the same name and will star Bridgertons Phoebe Dynevor. Watch Cha Cha Real Smooth | Apple TV+ 7 days free, then $6.99/month. Afterwards, Apple TV+ acquired the film's distribution rights for $15million. The best you can say of this one is that it's all of a piece, performance, music, writing, camera, on the. Sundance has always been greater, messier and more diverse including aesthetically than the clichs that cling to it. Cooper Raiff does an electric emotional slide. It was also announced that Cha Cha Real Smooth is part of the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival lineup, taking place June 8-19, which falls right in line with the movie's debut on Apple TV Plus. Family fun Cooper Raiff, Evan Assante, Dakota Johnson and Vanessa Burghardt in Cha Cha Real Smooth. As this story develops, hes going to need it. It is now set to be one of the big titles that is part of Apple TV Plus' 2022 original movie lineup. Director Cooper Raiff Writer Cooper Raiff Stars Cooper Raiff Dakota Johnson Evan Assante Raiff stars as Andrew, a recent graduate of Tulane University whose main goal is to earn enough money to follow his girlfriend to Barcelona. 115 Reviews Hide Spoilers Sort by: Filter by Rating: 9/10 Who is this incredibly Talented Mr. Raiff? Full Review Andrew's peers have been spreading rumors about Domino. for language and some sexual content. But he stumbles into an actual job as a party-starter on the local bar and bat mitzvah circuit, urging awkward adolescents and their slightly inebriated parents to get on the dance floor and do the Electric Slide. Andrew is confused about everything work, love, you name it. The website's consensus reads: "A touching dramedy that wears its heart proudly on its sleeve, Cha Cha Real Smooth further affirms writer-director-star Cooper Raiff as a talent to watch. It isnt much of a search. She makes him feel a little more excited, but ultimately, that may not be as important as other more practical concerns. Although Cha Cha Real Smooth opens with an obligatory flashback, Andrew (Cooper Raiff, who also directed) is 22 for most of the story. (Photo: Apple TV+) Possibly the most fascinating (and watchable) new micro-genre of movies birthed by the pandemic is the one centred around the disillusionment of millennial women. We wont be able to verify your ticket today, but its great to know for the future. 80. [11], On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 85% of 218 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10. I would have preferred the movie being told from her perspective as she had the most interesting role. Entertainment Reviews Cha Cha Real Smooth review: A lovestruck, kindhearted gem By Alex Welch June 17, 2022 Cha Cha Real Smooth is one of the most open-hearted films you're likely. Dakota Johnson did a great job as well along with Vanessa Burghardt who plays her daughter. It wasn't until. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. Please enter your birth date to watch this video: You are not allowed to view this material at this time. Andrew doesn't know whether Domino is feeling the same level of attraction but someone who would not be happy is her fianc, Joseph (Raul Castillo). She encourages him to live his life to the fullest before making any commitments. Fresh out of college and without a clear life path going forward, 22-year-old Andrew (Cooper Raiff) is stuck back at home with his family in New Jersey. The fact that hes drawn to them and insistent that they have a good time feels like a natural expression of who this guy is: a big-hearted goofball, sweet and upbeat andabove all elseeager to laugh at himself to ensure everyone else is laughing. And I can't tell whether you're, like, holding back a desire to be close or a desire to be distant. Full Review Raiff focused instead on what it is that brings people together, which has more to do with attraction than anything else in cinema. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and It wants you to smile, nod in recognition, shed a tear or two and feel good about yourself for liking it. He bombards the young woman with eager texts and is carried away with making an attachment, whereas she did not view their college hookup on the same terms. , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Spending most of his time watching new movies at the theater or classics on TCM, some of Michael's favorite movies include Casablanca, Moulin Rouge!, Silence of the Lambs, Children of Men, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Star Wars. What to Watch is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. (modern). He also hasnt mastered the art of alcohol consumption: Some drunken and/or overemotional moments allow Raiff to show he has several gears between mild frustration and the full-blown romantic despair of Shithouse. Their relationship never makes sense; but, then, neither does most of the movie. Running time: 1 hour 47 minutes. Cha Cha Real Smooth currently (as of June 15) has a score of 91% "Certified Fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 75 on Metacritic, which safely puts it in the "Good" tier on the site. Manohla Dargis has been the co-chief film critic of The Times since 2004. "[14], Film critic Manohla Dargis of The New York Times panned the film, writing, "It's derivative and unpersuasive, and as pandering as any big studio soft sell" adding about the film's central romance: "Their relationship never makes sense; but, then, neither does most of the movie. Except, perhaps, for one part: More than ever, I wonder who the audience is. Unlike the first film, this one offers several characters who are sufficiently well drawn we can imagine versions of the story in which each is the protagonist: Leslie Mann, as a mother pained by her sons tendency to fall headlong in love regardless of his chances; Evan Assante as David, the kid brother who looks up to Raiffs college grad even when hes stuck sleeping on a cot in the boys bedroom; and Lola (the effortlessly winning newcomer Vanessa Burghardt), the bullied but self-assured daughter the story revolves around. Costume designer: Michelle Thompson | Original Score: 8/10 Full Review The best you can say of this one is that it's all of a piece, performance, music, writing, camera, on the twee road to perdition. I did find the central will-they-won't-they relationship between Andrew and Domino to actually be entertaining. Theres the fact that Andrew has a job from hell manning the counter of a fast-food mall restaurant called Meat Sticks. Domino tells Andrew she has a fianc, Joseph, working in Chicago. Cha Cha Real Smooth 2022 R 1h 47m IMDb RATING 7.3 /10 23K YOUR RATING Rate POPULARITY 3,541 293 Play trailer 2:51 1 Video 29 Photos Comedy Drama A young man who works as a Bar Mitzvah party host strikes up a friendship with a mother and her autistic daughter. Andrew becomes attached to a thirty-something single mom, Domino (Dakota Johnson), and he autistic teen, Lola (Vanessa Burghardt), he persuades onto the dance floor to loosen up. And I can't hide my feelings for this exuberant gift of a movie starring Raiff and a never better Dakota Johnson. Raiff is likable and often hilarious, but hes also in every single scene, so one could imagine that his idiosyncratic sense of humor might eventually become grating to some viewers. | Original Score: 5/5 Cha Cha Real Smooth currently (as of June 15) has a score of 91% "Certified Fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 75 on Metacritic, which safely puts it in the "Good" tier on the site. Terms and Policies Theres the way Andrew, tagging along with his moppet-haired kid brother (Evan Assante) to a bat mitzvah, winds up bringing the stodgy party to life, which is why the local Jewish mothers all agree to start hiring him as a party starter. (He does well at it, until he gets drunk and messes up.) Find out what critics think about 40 notable films that debuted at the Music title data, credits, and images provided by, Movie title data, credits, and poster art provided by, Winner of the U.S. (As with the first film, titles arent Raiffs strong suit.) As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Indeed the most startling thing about the whole thing is Raiffs regard for his own charms, which presumably explains the close-ups he lavishes on both Andrew and the women who indulge him. But Raiffs ambition to break free from sentimental formula and forge a path of his own is clear, making him an exciting young filmmaker to watch. Cha Cha Real Smooth is Raiffs third feature movie and while it is poised to be his biggest thanks to the Apple TV Plus pickup, he has been building his reputation on the movie festival circuit, particularly with his sophomore effort, Shithouse. Endeavor Content, Nate's Grade: B-, Link to Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson: Season 3, Link to All Tom Hanks Movies Ranked by Tomatometer, Link to What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming. I t could go either way with Cooper Raiff, the American writer, director and star of Sundance Audience award-winner Cha Cha Real Smooth.There's an undeniable charm to this wry tale of a . Hes a cha cha real smooth talker. 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Cha Cha Real Smooth's genuine and emotional with two magnificent lead characters who go through painfully but gloriously relatable comings of age. TeaTime Pictures, The 5 Most Anticipated Movies of June 2022, The 7 Best Films We Saw at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, RT25: Celebrating 25 years of Rotten Tomatoes. had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The problem is that too many of them feel easily discarded. This amiable, flawed indie has been winding some pundits up and yes, maybe the auteur-star has a personality that might trigger a hives breakout among a proportion of his audience. Cha Cha Real Smooth Official Trailer | Apple TV+ Watch on Wide-eyed, ingenuous, borderline pass-agg Raiff is an acquired taste; he is maybe a tad insufferable and, as a writer-director,. But then, Andrew has much more emotional intelligence than that films Alex. The writer-director-actor's sophomore feature pairs him with Dakota Johnson for a maybe/maybe-not love story. Cha Cha Real Smooth A confident step in a burgeoning career. Leo Grande is a grand example of character writing and it's even poignant and a little sexy. Its derivative and unpersuasive, and as pandering as any big studio soft sell; its filled with stylistic clichs (hovering camerawork, mewling songs), cardboard characters, silly dialogue and absurd narrative contrivances, starting with Domino, a trite male fantasy whos only a vessel for Andrews narcissism. Dakota Johnson, "Cha Cha Real Smooth" follows these unexpected relationships as they develop and provide Andrew with some much-needed purpose. When Andrew befriends a local mom, Domino, and her daughter, Lola, he finally discovers a future he wants -- even if it might not be his own. All Tom Hanks Movies Ranked by Tomatometer, What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming, Critics Weigh In on Succession, Barry & More of the Biggest Series Finales of the Year, Dwayne Johnson to Return to Fast and Furious Franchise for Another Spin-Off, and More Movie News, A touching dramedy that wears its heart proudly on its sleeve, Cha Cha Real Smooth further affirms writer-director-star Cooper Raiff as a talent to watch. He finds Domino in the restroom, covered in blood. Venue: Sundance Film Festival (U.S. Full Review This is 25-year-old Cooper Raiff, whose microbudget debut, Freshman Year (alternatively titled Shithouse). Cha Cha Real Smooth is the smash hit of Sundance 2022 a charming crowdpleaser with a sensitive and side-splitting script and an exceptionally cast ensemble (including a career-best Dakota Johnson). | Jul 8, 2022, Cha Cha Real Smooth is once again a comforting work that reminds us of what it means to stumble through life as a human being, falling over and over again. Even Andrew's younger brother (Evan Assante), who loves his big brother so much that he is constantly asking for advice on romancing a girl he likes, and the kid even cries at the prospect of his brother moving out of his room, is just another underwritten foil like Andrew's mother, always supportive, and stepfather, always wary, and friend-with-benefits girl, always there? For a 24-year-old filmmaker, thats not bad. Theres Lolas mom, Domino, played by Johnson in a performance lodged somewhere between trauma and come-on, whos drawn to Andrew not because she has a thing for seducing younger men, but because shes lonely, hes a saint to her daughter, and their personalities click. Dramatic Competition), Cast: Dakota Johnson, Cooper Raiff, Vanessa Burghardt, Evan Assante, Brad Garrett, Leslie Mann, Ral Castillo, Odeya Rush. Cast: Dakota Johnson, Cooper Raiff, Vanessa Burghardt, Evan Assante, Brad Garrett, Leslie Mann, Ral Castillo, Odeya Rush The script is thoroughly original, warm and witty, and the story unfolds without a false moment or even a whiff of predictably. Tap "Sign me up" below to receive our weekly newsletter This is a similar release strategy that CODA followed during its run up to and after its Best Picture win, but that has been a rare incident for Apple TV Plus library of original movies thus far. The American indie "Cha Cha Real Smooth" is the story of a young man finding himself. Cha Cha Real Smooth contains a soul that defines it. He dubs himself the Jig Conductor and plans to use the money to reunite with Maya in Barcelona. Lonely Andrew is drawn to them and they to him; he offers to babysit Lola who really likes him and soon Andrew has fallen deeply in love with Domino. The movie's good intentions are so myopic, it is trapped in the same bubble as its lead character. | Jul 9, 2022. He also doesn't like his job working at a mall food court. Dakota Johnson costars with the director as a single mom charmed by the young mans ability to connect with her autistic child. It really resonated with me and Im not ashamed to say that the final scene of the film almost made me cry. Full Review Dramatic Competition) Cast: Dakota Johnson, Cooper Raiff, Vanessa Burghardt, Evan Assante,. Composers: Este Haim, Chris Stracey It wants you to smile, nod in recognition, shed a tear or two and feel good about yourself for liking it. Erik Feig, When the men finally meet, Cha Cha is cagey about whether Josephs a jerk to be bested, a good match for Domino or something else. As if to reassure the audience that its all in good fun, Domino says in one scene, Sometimes I really envy Judaism. Same, Andrew chirps. Andrew's uncertainty about charting his own path is a familiar story, and Raiff takes advantage of the overall coming-of-age blanket of tropes. (A stoic and stiff Ral Castillo drops in sporadically to assert his territoriality over these two women, and while his outsider nature is the point, its also a distraction. Johnson is also serving as a producer on Cha Cha Real Smooth. Watch it directly below: Get to see some additional clips from the movie as well as quick interview clips with stars Dakota Johnson and Cooper Raiff (also the writer and director) right here: Here is the official synopsis of Cha Cha Real Smooth from Apple TV Plus: "Fresh out of college and without a clear life path going forward, 22-year-old Andrew is stuck back at home with his family in New Jersey. Raiff shows keen instincts both as a director and a screenwriter, anchoring his story on familiar ground, but never letting it fall into the usual traps. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! Copyright Fandango. Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. In Shithouse, a significant plot development is when Raiff's central character has a different interpretation of a sexual encounter. Coming Soon, Regal New Delhi | Updated: June 18, 2022 08:58 IST Cooper Raiff and Dakota Johnson in a still from Cha Cha Real Smooth. Cha Cha Real Smooth is a charmingly simple film that sneaks up on audiences in its handling of character relationships. But if there's one thing that belongs on his nonexistent rsum, it's how to get a party started, which lands him the perfect job of motivational dancing at the bar and bat mitzvahs for his younger brother's classmates. However, it is getting a limited release, so be sure to check sites like Fandango to see if and where it is playing near you. Dramatic Competition) But eventually, Cha Cha sees these two as humans as well.). Heres how it works. By Owen Gleiberman. | Original Score: B The Apple Original film "Cha Cha Real Smooth," starring Dakota Johnson and directed by Cooper Raiff, will be presented on the heels of its recent 2022 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award win. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. By creating an account, you agree to the In January 2022, Cha Cha Real Smooth became the year's biggest Sundance hit after being snapped up by the corporation . [13], Christy Lemire of Roger Ebert.com gave the film a positive review writing, "Raiff's ambition to break free from sentimental formula and forge a path of his own is clear, making him an exciting young filmmaker to watch. He's smart, genuinely funny, believably floundering in an economy that is in no way designed to support a recent graduate, and when he realizes he's screwed up, he's contrite. (He says stuff like, I feel there are things that you just, like, dont say to me. Here is everything else you need to know about Cha Cha Real Smooth? Raiff shrewdly complicates this clich a touch, though, again, only to exploit it. See production, box office & company info. Again and again, they gaze on Andrew with misty eyes and crinkly smiles, bathing him in adoration that Raiff clearly shares. Cooper Raiff, the 25-year-old writer, director, and star of Cha Cha Real Smooth, a warm hug of a new movie premiering on Apple TV+ this Friday, originally sold the project with only a vague idea in mind.For his first 10 or so pitch meetings, he told Vanity Fair's Little Gold Men podcast this week, "I was just like, 'I think moms are cool,' and people were like, 'That's not a movie . Great acting and writing spoiled by a oh shes just finding herself so cheating is okay moment. All rights reserved. She started writing about movies professionally in 1987 while earning her M.A. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series "Ebert Presents At the Movies" opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. It appears like Raif, at 22, is saying that growing up means essentially giving up on some level, which is a strangely pessimistic lesson for a movie that trades in such earnestness and sunny go-go positivity. Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. Full Review Amanda the Jedi Show: Movies that Destroyed and Restored my Faith in Humanity: Sundance 2022. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! "[15], Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards, "Sundance 2022: Hybrid Festival Sees Princess Diana, Michael Kenneth Williams, Dakota Johnson, Bill Cosby, NYC Rock'n'Roll & Regina Hall Fill Lineup", "SXSW-Winning 'Shithouse' Helmer Cooper Raiff To Direct, Star With Dakota Johnson In 'Cha Cha Real Smooth;' Picturestart & Endeavor Content Funding", "Dakota Johnson's 'Cha Cha Real Smooth' Adds Leslie Mann, Ral Castillo, Brad Garrett (EXCLUSIVE)", "We hope you're all ready to Cha Cha Real Smooth with us Shout out to @coop_myself and our pals at @picturestart and @endeavor for embarking on this epic journey with us. Cameras start rolling August 12th ", "Film and TV Projects Going into Production - Cha Cha Real Smooth", "5th Annual Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Awards Nominations Include X and THE BLACK PHONE", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cha_Cha_Real_Smooth&oldid=1154127679, Grand Jury Prize - U.S. It has its charms and sweetness and I can completely understand falling under Raiff's spell. He's rude and pissy with his stepfather for no real discernible reason given. Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. Cha Cha Real Smooth is the pure heartfelt, sincere, and heartwarming I have ever felt from watching a movie this year. "Cha Cha Real Smooth" is a film as conflict-avoidant as any of its characters, and Raiff maintains the static naturalism on which he built "Shithouse" even in the presence of bonafide . Theres the tranquil suburban setting and emo soundtrack. Domino is intrigued by the younger man and asks him to babysit Lola, especially since the two have bonded and earned a trust. Cha Cha Real SmoothRated R for language. Obscenely eager to endear, even as the camera never stops admiring the insufferably glib and wholly unbelievable protagonist, who also happens to be the writer, director and producer. You could call them old-school indie-film problems. Andrew and Domino say goodbye. Try It Free Add to Up Next Fresh out of college and stuck at his New Jersey home without a clear path forward, 22-year-old Andrew begins working as a party starter for bar/bat mitzvahswhere he strikes up a unique friendship with a young mom and her teenage daughter. | Original Score: A- Johnson and Raiff have an easy-going chemistry, with his overeager charmer meshing with her subdued, glassy-eyed, taking-it-all-in openness. He knows he doesn't like his mother's (Leslie Mann) new husband (Brad Garrett). The speed with which he put together such an assured second film suggests Raiff isnt quite as soft off-screen as on; and the differences between this performance and the last suggest hell have some range as an actor as well. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Theres the mildly autistic girl he meets at that bat mitzvah, Lola (Vanessa Burghardt), and before you know it hes become her friend, protector, and babysitter. But dont blame the festival, or not entirely. Raiffs Andrew has just finished college without much of a plan. You don't have to be an Apple TV Plus subscriber to see Cha Cha Real Smooth though, as the movie is playing in movie theaters as well in both the US and UK on June 17. The latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more! Hes 22, tall and handsome with a beard, but not a scruffy hipster beard more like a post-millennial, post-ironic traditional beard, which sets off features that are finely chiseled in a Middle American corporate way. Cha Cha Real Smooth has a runtime of one hour and 47 minutes. BA1 1UA. Cinemark Privacy Policy It really resonated. A pair of newcomers also have big roles in Cha Cha Real Smooth, as Evan Assante plays Andrews younger brother, David, and Vanessa Burghardt plays Dominos daughter Lola. All Rights Reserved. Read critic reviews. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande and Cha Cha Real Smooth are both fine examples of indie filmmaking supporting distinct voices adding their stamp on the larger contours of the romantic comedy genre. Look, Ive also got issues!) is more or less the same dance that the film is doing. Despite that, hes got the kind of cocksure personality that says Irresistible Indie Film Hero. Much of this helps from Johnson sliding into a role that definitely fits her skill set. Cooper Raiff writes, directs and stars alongside Dakota Johnson, Brad Garrett, Leslie Mann and newcomers Vanessa Burghardt and Evan Assante in this tale of unconventional love that brims with emotional honesty. Raiff uses these parties for visual energy and comedy, and while he doesnt deploy overt stereotypes he flirts with them. Headlining the Cha Cha Real Smooth cast is the movies triple threat of a writer, director and leading man Cooper Raiff as Andrew and Dakota Johnson as Domino, the local mom that he forms a bond with. The reason I bring this up is that Cha Cha Real Smooth, which is likely to emerge as one of the rare crowd-pleasers of Sundance 2022, is the quintessence of a certain kind of Sundance film thats rooted in an era thats going out of style. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. Andrews no saint: When feeling spurned or toyed with by Domino, hes quick to try hooking up with the hot classmate (Odeya Rush) he longed for in high school. Director of photography: Cristina Dunlap "Cha Cha Real Smooth" is the kind of enchanting film that comes along every now and then to firmly remind us of what really matters in life the connections we make with others. Cha Cha Real Smooth has more of a personal connection to me with how it treats leaving home while you still have a younger sibling there. If traders treated Hollywood like the . But the movie, for all its qualities, never explodes into passion or revelation the way that, say, The Perks of Being a Wallflower did. Getting the . Domino is damaged and she doesnt always make good choices, but the fact that Raiffs script doesnt deify her makes her so much more interesting. He's fairly thick-headed about romantic ideals about following his girlfriend to Spain, who declines his grand offer. You spend a lot of time with Raiff as the lead, so your ultimate determination on Cha Cha will hinge on your perception of Andrew and as Raiff as a performer. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Dramatic Competition, Audience Award - U.S. 01 Jun 2023 04:54:47 Lola is a few years older than the other kids in her grade, and shes the frequent target of bullying. Domino hires Andrew as Lola's sitter. Movie Review: In Cha Cha Real Smooth, playing on Apple TV+, Cooper Raiff plays a recent college grad who returns to New Jersey and enters a relationship with a thirtysomething mother played by . The film received generally positive reviews from critics. | Jul 30, 2022. Raiff and his production design team clearly had a ball coming up with the specific details for all these themed events, and the way he captures the nervous energy of this youthful time of flux will make you shudder in recognition. While I found some promise with Raiff's naturalistic dialogue, I found the lead characters to be too dull to really care about. Jun 17, 2022, Runtime: Heres hoping he gets the chance to prove that soon. All rights reserved. Also not imaginary: Dominos fianc Joseph (Ral Castillo), currently on a work trip to Chicago. She has certainly broken free from the long shadow of the Fifty Shades franchise. When you purchase a ticket for an independently reviewed film through our site, we earn an affiliate commission. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. Cooper Raiff, Producer: Surges by 33% During First Five Months of 2023, Driven by Spike in U.S. Cha Cha Real Smooth is an irresistible exploration of life in limbo, anchored by a universally excellent cast. Is it possible to express emotions so sincerely? If Cha Cha should connect with a large enough number of movielovers to make Raiff an in-demand talent, its likely hell eventually face some backlash as well. Burghardt shows great poise and comic timing in her first film role, and is a joy to watch. Wearing big headphones and focused on a giant cube puzzle, Lola was definitely not going to be dancing tonight. Andrew spends the next day talking to David and interviewing for a job as an intern. Honestly any movie that looks at relationship infidelity as an okay form of character development just flat out loses me. [4] Principal photography began on August 12, 2021, with filming taking place in Pittsburgh. He's an infectious presence when he's dealing with children. His character feels very realistic. Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. Coming Soon. Production designer: Celine Diano It's a testament to writer-director Cooper Raiff, in his third feature film outing, that he can find genuine depth in a premise that doesn't seem like it will illuminate all that much. , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. Domino is . Cooper Raiff, All Tom Hanks Movies Ranked by Tomatometer, What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming, Critics Weigh In on Succession, Barry & More of the Biggest Series Finales of the Year, Dwayne Johnson to Return to Fast and Furious Franchise for Another Spin-Off, and More Movie News. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. Enter Cha Cha (which will also, henceforth, be how I refer to the title) which benefits from deploying more recognizable rom-com and indie movie plot mechanics. Check box if your review contains spoilers, Fresh out of college and without a clear life path going forward, 22-year-old Andrew (Cooper Raiff) is stuck back at home with his family in New Jersey. Now he gives us this indulgent relationship comedy-drama in which he himself stars as Andrew, a recent college grad whose girlfriend has airily gone off to Barcelona. the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. He's got an easy smile and his enthusiasm can be endearing at points, like he's incapable of being still in thought. He just doesnt make sense in this world.) Its Domino who is endlessly interesting, surprising, and maturely writtenand the actress just runs with the role. Cha Cha Real Smooth R 2022, Comedy/Drama, 1h 47m 85% Tomatometer 218 Reviews 61% Audience Score 50+ Verified Ratings What to know Critics Consensus A touching dramedy that wears its heart. 83. Working from a more familiar movie template, it actually helps Raiff better temper his writing and focus his story. Anyone can read what you share. The music and editing were good but really werent anything that special. This can work in screenwriting but it helps if the characters don't feel so obviously cultivated to make our hero look good. in cinema studies at New York University, and her work has been anthologized in several books. Now playing in select theaters and available on Apple TV+. | Jul 6, 2022. Things happen between the start and the finish of his journey inward, true. The performances here are great. To Andrew, Domino is a wounded soul looking for a rescue and he's her dutiful man in shining armor. Cha Cha Real Smooth is an Apple TV Plus movie, which means that anyone who is subscribed to the streaming service can watch the movie. Encounter the banal images, wan color palettes, coming-of-age chestnuts, earnest monologues, budget-stretching needle-drops, half-hearted attempts at thematic import and amorphous montages that act like pressure-cookers of instant character development A brilliant new take on a well-worn postgrad coming-of-age tale, and one of the most brutally accurate depictions of being in your 20s ever. Executive Producers: Jeff Valeri, Shayne Fiske Goldner, Julia Hammer Obscenely eager to endear, even as the camera never stops admiring the insufferably glib and wholly unbelievable protagonist, who also happens to be the writer, director and producer. However, when Andrew is dealing with adults or people his own age, he seems to be out of his depths with arrested development. He may not be the most complicated character here, but the consistency of his simplicity allows others to evolve who arent quite so sure of themselves. Cha Cha feels like both a fitting showcase for a young auteur like Raiff and a larger marker of how much movie masculinity has evolved: a real-smooth manifesto for the anti-toxic man. Cha Cha Real Smooth 2022 METASCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Critic Reviews See All 69 USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 50 Ratings See All 6.6 VOTE NOW 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Now Playing: Cha Cha Real Smooth Movie Details & Credits Apple TV+ | Release Date: June 17, 2022 | R But if you wonder why I keep carping about a movie thats not bad and was made with genuine talent, its that it left me with honestly divided feelings. Full Review Have you ever got a warm hug from a movie? | Jul 25, 2022. Andrew introduces himself and manages to take Lola to the dance floor, surprising Domino. If Apple TV+ has its way, "Cha Cha Real Smooth" could follow the path set by last year's "CODA." Like the 2022 best picture winner, "Cha Cha Real Smooth" was a feel-good highlight of the Sundance Film Festival, winning the audience award in the US Dramatic Competition category.Apple bid millions for it and is now giving it a simultaneous theatrical and streaming summer release, with hopes that . | Original Score: 4/5 Link to Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson: Season 3, Link to All Tom Hanks Movies Ranked by Tomatometer, Link to What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Reviews. The plot centers on a 22-year-old college graduate (Raiff) who starts making money as a party starter while he also strikes up a relationship with a 32-year-old mother (played by Dakota Johnson, who also produced the film). Andrew decides he does not want to go to Barcelona. A touching dramedy that wears its heart proudly on its sleeve, Comedy, A fight between Andrew's family and the other guests at the bar mitzvah ensues. Over time those clichs have changed as the festival has transformed, from its early homespun years to its guys-with-guns era and endless tales of dysfunction. Hes a Zoomer spinning his wheels, part of a tradition of aimless rebel slackers that stretches back to The Graduate. Hes sincere but a bit smarmy, a nice guy who knows how to use his sincerity. Recently graduated from college, he works at a fast-food joint and lives in a leafy New Jersey suburb with his mother, brother and stepfather. And I cant tell whether youre, like, holding back a desire to be close, or a desire to be distant.) He is, of course, good with the ladies, maybe a little too good, which is why he attracts the amorous attentions of a mother he meets at a bat mitzvah, played by Dakota Johnson. The music and editing were good but really werent anything that special manages to take Lola to the before. Whether you 're, like he 's her dutiful man in shining armor Shades franchise the lead characters go. 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