'Cha Cha Real Smooth' A Review

Cha Cha Real Smooth is a coming-of-age dramedy about recent college grad Andrew(writer/director Cooper Raiff) who has moved back home and works at a fast food joint. Andrew goes to a Bar Mitzvah with his little brother David(Evan Assante) where he meets an engaged mother Domino(Dakota Johnson) of one of his brother's classmates Lola(Vanessa Burghardt) after which Andrew becomes a Bar and Bot Mitzvah 'party starter' and babysits Lola and develops a relationship with Domino.

Raiff has a natural aw-shucks dorky charm that works pretty well but here, whether because of the script or the limits of his acting ability, some of the nuisance and dimension of the pretty dark and complicated emotional dynamics at play are mostly glossed over. Johnson brings her typical wattage but is confined by the immature permeators of the narrative. Assante and Burghardt in particular stand out, whether because of their youth or otherwise, because there is an authenticity about their performances, a realism that isn't clouded by what can at times feel like a contrived sophomoric "relationship" focus that bogs down the two leads.

Shot with an indie/mumblecore grittiness that really works and overall Raiff's work as director is much more assured and interesting than his work as an actor or screenwriter. The big issue is the script and perhaps the demo the story is intended for. Raiff, at least rendered here, doesn't really have the time or perspective to comment about a time that he is either still going through or so recently did. The plot machinations which ultimately boil down to a wanna-be Mrs. Robinson type scenario glossed over with a faux sincerity that attempts to make the shallow reality emotionally complex. Andrew, the character, is kind of a self-involved, naïve, idiot, given that, what is the real value here. There is no real criticism leveled against him by the film, no actual investigation of what's happening, it's all too breezy, too camouflaged by a kind of Gen Z faux emotional intelligence to get at what's really happening. Which is Andrew is basically horny, has mommy issues and a thing for older women, and identifies Domino as susceptible to his particular brand of unthreatening charm and they emotionally exploit each other. The reality is kinda fucked up and gross but it's portrayed in a way as if it's an enlightening journey. It's bizarre.

An interesting if broadly unsuccessful from still promising filmmaker Raiff, perhaps appealing to 20 somethings but little to no appeal outside that demo.

Currently in theaters and streaming on Apple+.

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