Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022) - SPOILER-FREE Review
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© Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Directed by: Cooper Raiff
Written by: Cooper Raiff
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Cooper Raiff, Vanessa Burghardt, Evan Assante, Brad Garrett, Leslie Mann
Runtime: 107 min
Synopsis: 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. But if there's one thing that belongs on his nonexistent résumé, 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. When Andrew befriends a local mom, Domino (Dakota Johnson), and her daughter, Lola (Vanessa Burghardt), he finally discovers a future he wants - even if it might not be his own.
© Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Editor's Note: Original review was written for Firstshowing. Full article can be found below.
REVIEW SUMMARY
Cha Cha Real Smooth holds incredible authenticity elevated by superb performances and an emotionally impactful story. Cooper Raiff builds extremely relatable protagonists who need each other to learn how to overcome their intricate, uncertain stages of life. Raiff and Dakota Johnson share remarkable chemistry, humbly indulging in their flawed human characters. Appreciating this type of film depends heavily on the life experiences of each viewer due to the genuinely real environment surrounding the entire narrative. Personally, the heartfelt approach to post-graduate life and the brilliant treatment of the autistic daughter touched my heartstrings. Despite being quite simple and even too sweet and naive in several more serious moments, I couldn't recommend this movie more. It deserved to be seen on the big screen.
