Dakota Johnson's Best Movie Isn't 'Materialists', It's This 4-Year-Old Romantic Dramedy
It serves as a reminder that even in life's most challenging moments, there is room for warmth and hope.
The romantic dramedy Cha Cha Real Smooth premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, where Apple TV acquired the movie for $15 million – the festival's biggest deal.
Cooper Raiff wrote, directed, and starred in the film. Cha Cha Real Smooth is a profound exploration of coming of age, responsibility, and self-discovery and one of the year's warmest and most sincere projects.
What Is 'Cha Cha Real Smooth' About?
Andrew is a recent college graduate at a crossroads in his life. While working for a bar mitzvah planning company, he meets Domino, a young mother, and her daughter Lola, who is on the autism spectrum.
Andrew is an exemplary party entertainer and a genuinely kind person, so he draws the withdrawn child into the festivities and wins over her mother's heart in the process.
Andrew and Domino develop a romantic attraction, but their relationship faces seemingly insurmountable obstacles due to her fiancé and their nearly 15-year age gap.
Cooper Raiff and Dakota Johnson Are a Duo That Touches the Soul
At 25 years old, Cooper Raiff created a movie anchored by his incredible sincerity. His character, Andrew, wants to do good but often doesn't know how.
He makes mistakes, grapples with doubt, and ultimately learns what it means to be an adult – Raiff plays the role with such vulnerability and openness that the audience cannot help but empathize with him.
Dakota Johnson delivers one of her best performances here. Domino is a woman trying to be strong for her daughter. Beneath the surface, however, lies a deep weariness and a longing for something real.
'Cha Cha Real Smooth's Main Advantages Are Its Disarming Warmth and Sincerity
A distinctive feature of Raiff's films is their warmth. In them, everyone understands one another and the characters are among the most sensitive people imaginable and strive not to hurt each other's feelings.
Occasionally, they falter in balancing self-discovery with the emotional well-being of those around them, but therein lies the drama.
According to Raiff himself, the film is a tribute to his parents, partners, and everyone who supported him during his childhood and youth. Every relationship depicted, whether between mother and son, siblings, spouses, or lovers, is rooted in kindness, love, and genuine mutual understanding.
The finale, in which the characters finally make their choices, offers no easy answers yet leaves room for hope. Cha Cha Real Smooth is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates heartwarming dramedies and for those seeking true sincerity in cinema.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Cha Cha Real Smooth'?
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Cha Cha Real Smooth has 85% from critics and 61% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.3/10.
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On Letterboxd, Cha Cha Real Smooth scored 3.8/5.0.
Where to Watch 'Cha Cha Real Smooth'?
Cha Cha Real Smooth is available to stream on Apple TV+.
