Cha Cha Real Smooth Review: Raiff's Dramedy Hits All The Right Notes [Sundance]
Cha Cha Real Smooth is a charmingly simple film that sneaks up on audiences in its handling of character relationships. 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. With a fantastic cast at the center, Cooper Raiff's Cha Cha Real Smooth is charming, tender, and incredibly sincere in its execution.
Andrew (Raiff, pulling triple duty here as the lead actor too) is a recent college graduate who is more than a little lost in life. Having a degree in hand doesn’t mean one has any of the answers to life or what’s next on the journey. Andrew moves back home and gets a job at a fast food restaurant. However, after attending a bar mitzvah and going to great lengths to ensure everyone has a good time, Andrew is recruited to become the community’s official party starter. It’s at the first bar mitzvah where he meets Domino (Dakota Johnson), the young mother of Lola (Vanessa Burghart), an autistic teenager. Andrew, who makes Lola feel comfortable in social settings, starts growing closer to her and Domino.
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Raiff portrays Andrew as a genuinely caring, sensitive guy. He offers advice to his younger brother David (Evan Assante) on first kisses, wants the best for his mother (Leslie Mann), and showers Domino and Lola with kindness. Even though it’s obvious Andrew feels something for Domino that goes beyond the help of a friend, Raiff’s writing and portrayal of their budding relationship is thoughtful and heartfelt, never veering into creepy or uncomfortable. His comedic timing is also wonderful and he
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