The newest instalment into Cooper Raiff’s filmography has secured him as one of my favourite up and coming directors. With both his cinematic outings there’s this rare quality that exists inside them that is so hard to put into words. It’s an unfathomable amount of charm and warmth that just nails the human experience, and in particular the struggles of transitional periods in one’s life.
Andrew, the film’s protagonist, might just be one of the most likeable leads ever. This is in part, due to the most charming and charismatic performance from Cooper Raiff. Andrew’s unwavering optimism and thirst for life emanates from every frame of the screen and it’s an absolute delight to watch. In both his films now, Raiff has had moments where his male leads break down and cry, and multiple times at that. It’s such a small detail but it’s genuinely so refreshing to see on screen, it’s truly a rare instance when we see male characters break down, not over the most dramatic things in the world, but just over things that happen in everyday life.
Not only does Raiff give a wonderful performance but the screenplay of the film is just delightful too. It’s hard to think of many other films that capture people and the way they talk like this. There’s no stylisation or over the top dialogue, the way characters interact feels raw and real, and it just makes it so easy to be invested in their lives as it feels so natural. It also makes it far easier for the film to pull on your heart strings as it allows the viewer to see themselves reflected on the screen.
The opposition to Andrew in this film, Domino, played by Dakota Johnson, is masterful and is an ingenious pairing to Raiff’s youthful and positive character. The way the film plays with the viewer’s expectations of what is expected to happen in the film and how it subverts that with something so real and refreshing was just beautiful. The dichotomy of Andrew and Domino and the different transitions they face in their lives is so smartly used and comes together wonderfully. Raiff has multiple relationships that help him explore this period in his life besides Johnson that are all just as brilliant. Cha Cha Real Smooth is just a lovely film that explores transitional periods in your life in the most genuine and sincere way
★★★★
