Cocoa

This was a really enjoyable movie. Story centers around two sisters at the end of their rope financially who invent something that has never existed before: chocolate cake that makes you lose weight. This kicks off a crazy adventure with a colorful cast of supporting characters. You've got the wealthy socialite wife (investor), her bumbling underling, a mob boss interested in getting a piece of the action, one dead body, a sick dog, police, a news reporter hell-bent on making her mark, the list goes on. Kudos to writer/co-director and lead actress Jody Mortara and co-director Joe Gawalis for keeping the pace and the silliness happening at regular intervals. In the spirit of the British comedies of late. I really liked this one!

Jody Mortara's comedy Cocoa is designed and executed to be as light and free of heaviness as the miraculous calorie-free chocolate cake concocted by the movie's central buddy act: sisters Faith (Mortara) and Hope (Megan McGarvey), who team up after disaster hits both of them simultaneously. Just as Faith's world collapses in an acrimonious divorce, Hope, a brilliant chemist, loses her job, leaving them both penniless and in need of quick cash. When they combine their respective talents in baking and science to invent a a cake that helps people lose weight the world beats a path to their door led by benefactor Charles (John Bernieri) and Jacqueline (Marian Edmiston), a kind venture capitalist, but just as they are on the verge of success, the film's titular character, Cocoa, an adorable dog with a sweet tooth wrecks their plans and everything spins out of control. Soon the sisters are enmeshed in a complex web of high jinks involving a wacky vet, Dr. Dogwood (Pat Swearingen), a jealous husband, Mortimer (Joh Soresi), a duplicitous gigolo, Lucas (Cedric Gegel) a local mob boss, Carmine (Tony Cucci), the entire police department, and a ham-fisted local traffic reporter, Christina (Siena D'Addario). Writer/Star Mortara, who co-directs, produces and edits with Joe Gawalis, keeps the tone light and the pace rapid, while DP John Bianco lights high key with a palette of confectionery colors.

A story about two sisters who invent a chocolate cake that makes you lose weight? Get out the popcorn and sign me up! At the time of this review, this film is free on Amazon Prime. But even if it was a standard 3.99 rental on Amazon, it would be well worth it. Hell, I'd pay to see this in the theater! This movie was likeable, charming and wacky fun from beginning to end. It goes deliciously over the top in a way comedies used to back in the day, and I couldn't get enough of it. I loved the sisters, the story... the cake! Let's face it, these are not the easiest times in the world. Here's a film where for an hour and a half you can just forget about everything, sit back and have a really great time. What's not to love about that? Kudos to the filmmaker. Now let's eat some cake!

Jody Mortara hit a home run with this wacky, funny film Cocoa! Super job, writing, co-directing, co-starring, co-editing, music supervisor...this woman must wear a cape:)

I love the way all of the various story lines converged and one by one were resolved, quite an undertaking for a first-timer!

I have a tendency to steal lines from movies that I like and then incorporate them into my family conversation. One of my favorite lines that has become a rotating joke in my family is Hope's line about the coat on the train tracks: "Oh, that's so sad", I found her delivery and the line itself so funny that I use it in household conversation to the point that my kids roll their eyes and give me an "oh-no dad", stop.

This is a funny, family-friendly film that we have watched numerous times with friends and family! It is nice to watch a movie that isn't filled with expletives and violence. Truly a funny, wacky ride!!!

This one was definitely a different kind of comedy. After two sisters find their lives falling apart rather quickly, they try to start a company that will sell chocolate cake that makes you lose weight...qnd then it all goes off the rails.

Mistaken identities, mob bosses, a mad scientist/veterinarian and a dog that died but isn't really dead...this thing takes a LOT of twists along the way!

Jody Mortaro and Cedric Gegel put in the best performances of the film, and Mortaro's comedic timing was perfect. When you watch this film - and you should - pay attention to the background commentary. Some of the best one-liners might slip past you!