It’s not easy for a film to pull off being delightfully sweet and incredibly charming. The slightest misstep moves the needle into cloying territory. Fortunately, that line’s never crossed in the engaging dramedy Cha Cha Real Smooth.
Writer/director Cooper Raiff (Shithouse) takes the insecurities that come from entering your 20s without knowing what you’re meant to do and channels them into a playful tale of one man’s search for purpose. Raiff stars as the man without a plan, a 22-year-old named Andrew who winds up back at his parents’ house after college while trying to figure out his next step.
Andrew definitely doesn’t plan on earning a living in fast food for any longer than is necessary. He also doesn’t plan on growing old while sharing a room with his teenage brother, David (Evan Assante). Andrew loves the kid and he’s close with his mom (Leslie Mann) – not so much with his stepdad Greg (Brad Garrett) – but slinging wieners at Meat Sticks isn’t going to get him back together with his Fulbright scholar girlfriend who’s currently having a blast with some other guy in Barcelona.
Andrew doesn’t have many useful skills; however, he’s surprisingly good at getting people out of their chairs and onto the dance floor at parties. That particular skill set is put to good use when his little bro attends a bat mitzvah loaded with socially awkward teens. Could it be that Andrew’s born to be a party starter? Can he make a living persuading people to cut loose and have fun?
Apparently, the answer is yes.
A perk of the job is getting to spend time with single mom Domino (Dakota Johnson) and her daughter Lola (Vanessa Burghardt) who is autistic. Domino’s fiercely protective of her daughter but doesn’t smother the teen. Lola has her quirks and doesn’t connect to many people, but she and Andrew hit it off for some reason. And even though Domino has a fiancé, there’s undeniable chemistry between the party starter and the single mom.
So, Andrew’s got a sweet side gig, a burgeoning relationship with Domino, and a new friend in Lola. Is it possible nice guys can finish first?
Writer/director Raiff does a terrific job of fleshing out the key characters. These are flawed yet decent people, and Raiff avoided inserting an unnecessary protagonist just to spice things up. These are all authentic, complex people, and although Raiff’s Andrew is obviously who we’re rooting for, we’re not actively rooting against anyone. That’s both refreshing and unusual in a film that relies entirely on interpersonal relationships. Raiff resists the urge to toss in someone to stir the pot and trusts his impressive cast to pull in the audience through honest performances of relatable characters.
As for his cast, Dakota Johnson’s never been better. Johnson can play vulnerable and strong simultaneously, a tough combination to pull off. Raiff’s the perfect scene partner and has solid onscreen chemistry with Johnson. And Burghardt, who is on the autism spectrum, is a real scene-stealer in her first feature film role. Raiff’s script does an excellent job of addressing Lola’s feelings as someone with autism through natural conversations that allow Burghardt to show Lola is a three-dimensional character rather than the stereotypical representation of someone on the spectrum.
Cha Cha Real Smooth is uplifting and sincere. The characters aren’t just interesting; they’re actually likable. It’s not often you can root for an entire ensemble, but triple threat Raiff gives us plenty of reason to embrace the party starter, his supportive family, and assorted party people.
GRADE: A
MPAA Rating: R for language and some sexual content
Running Time: 1 hour 47 minutes
Release Date: June 17, 2022
Distributor: Apple TV+
