As a seasoned film aficionado with over three decades of movie-watching under my belt, I must say that “Riff Raff” left me feeling rather like the proverbial kid in a candy store who’s been given an entire bag of rocks to munch on. The film boasts an impressive cast, but their talents are left woefully underserved by a story that moves at a snail’s pace and fails to capitalize on its promising premise.
Despite running for only 1 hour and 43 minutes, Dito Montiel’s family crime comedy “Riff Raff” feels incredibly prolonged. The film’s stellar cast delivers solid performances, but the story moves slowly, revealing very little once it begins, and fails to capitalize on its plot twists or develop its themes. As a father and son grapple with secrets from their past that threaten their newly peaceful lives, the film’s explorations of love and family remain largely unexplored, merely lingering in the background, unutilized. Regrettably, they never get used.
Initially, a brief, standalone opening scene shows a powerfully tense moment where timid teenager DJ (Miles J. Harvey) points a gun at an older, wounded man, Vincent (Ed Harris). Later, DJ’s friendly narration takes us back several days, revealing that they are stepfather and stepson. At the start of the movie, they share a harmonious relationship, despite their target practice sessions in the countryside near their vacation home, leaving the audience curious about what causes the dramatic confrontation described earlier, while subtly offering clues throughout the story.
They share an open and playful relationship, often jokingly delving into personal romantic topics, which DJ’s mother Sandy (Gabrielle Union), who is also Vincent’s second wife, finds displeasing. However, their lively family atmosphere is disrupted when Vincent’s older, estranged son Rocco (Lewis Pullman), his pregnant girlfriend Marina (Emanuela Postacchini), and Rocco’s passed-out mother Ruth (Jennifer Coolidge), who happens to be Vincent’s vulgar and uncensored ex, unexpectedly arrive late at night. They claim it’s for a New Year’s celebration with the family, but Vincent immediately suspects that Rocco is in some sort of trouble.
In another setting, it seems as though events support this notion, although the specifics remain unclear, a seasoned, violent mobster named Leftie (played by Bill Murray) and his stylishly dressed sidekick Lonnie (Pete Davidson) set off on a journey to locate their target. It’s suggested that this individual is at a winter retreat, but the details trickle in slowly and sporadically. During this time, the contrasting halves of Leftie’s family life collide, leading to encounters that are humorously awkward, as they stem from overused stereotypes fueled by insecurity.
In a departure from his reserved “Top Gun: Maverick” persona, Pullman transforms into a rough-around-the-edges, leather-jacketed rebel with a short fuse and unresolved family issues, making him captivating to watch. Meanwhile, the fresh face of Harvey is equally intriguing as a small but ambitious boy on the brink of college life. He’s going through romantic turmoil in an unusual, almost methodical manner due to his scientific leanings. It seems like he could benefit from the wisdom of an older sibling, much like Rocco could use guidance as he prepares for parenthood – but old tensions overshadow their relationship, leading Rocco to lash out at DJ for his exuberance.
Regrettably, the film’s events rarely exceed ordinary excitement. Characters are typically defined in their initial appearances, thanks to the skill of the cast in interpreting John Pollono’s script, yet they seldom develop beyond this point. The running gag with Ruth is that she’s often drunk and sexually eager, a character type that Coolidge portrays vividly, but her character lacks depth beyond this trait.
In Postacchini’s Marina, life and love lessons are tossed at DJ, although they don’t seem to be useful in the narrative. Sandy from Union appears mainly as a straight-faced counterpart to some of the more unpredictable characters, but she lacks her own distinct personality. Vincent, played by Harris, is talkative and draws attention, but his character seems shallow with supposed depth that only surfaces as we learn about his past and the two men approaching his family. However, Montiel fails to capitalize on this potential complexity, revealing Vincent’s secrets to his family only towards the end when everything is wrapping up. The payoff arrives much too late in the story.
Although “Riff Raff” creates intriguing and intense interactions, the narrative unfolds slowly and meanders, often leading to dead ends. Michael Covino, who plays a ruthless, violent character, is arguably the film’s most captivating aspect. Interestingly, he appears only in flashbacks, serving as a ghostly symbol of meaning and conflict, while the movie struggles to generate similar intrigue in the current scenes, as its multiple storylines dangerously converge. Regrettably, the wait is not rewarding, as the film’s momentum swiftly levels off and fails to regain its initial pace.
Read More
- AAVE PREDICTION. AAVE cryptocurrency
- BONE PREDICTION. BONE cryptocurrency
- The Last Epoch Dilemma: Confronting the Gold Dupe Crisis
- Uncovering the Mystery of Red King Players in Clash Royale – What Reddit Users Have to Say
- Discovering the Infinite Power: The Abiotic Factor that Could Change Everything
- Skull and Bones: Navigating the Quest for Extra Teeth in the Game
- Finding Resources in Palworld: Tips from the Community
- UFO PREDICTION. UFO cryptocurrency
- The 10 Best Movies of 2024 (So Far)
- W PREDICTION. W cryptocurrency
2024-09-10 22:46