Riff Raff

I honestly tend to have low expectations with star studded casts as if it means it's going to bomb. This film was obnoxiously amazing. 40 minutes in and there was zero plot. Every character felt so unnecessarily over dramatic with a stereotypical arch. It left me riveted, wanting to know what's next. I often felt beyond annoyed one minute, and the next feeling it was brilliant. The younger son's weird quirks felt unnecessary. The entire character and casting choice of Gabriel Union was cringy. I not once believed Harris and Union would ever be a couple and the one scene with the two was gag worthy. Pete and Bill were *chefs kiss* and I loved the Tarantinoesque dynamic of real world encounters with stupid people. Pete's monologue towards the end was hilarious. If the creators purposefully were making fun of these types of movies then it was spot on. This was honestly some of the best acting I've seen from Jennifer Coolidge. Give it a shot. A gummy helps!

After watching this movie I was left with a few questions. One of them being what kind of movie was this supposed to be? The bio says comedy/crime, but I thinks it fell short of that goal. Secondly, how could such a star studded cast come across as an average movie?

I'm not sure if was a script issue, casting issue, editing issue, or the director just didn't get the script, but I suppose my highest problem with the movie was that I had zero attachments to any one particular character. If anything Jennifer Coolidge stole the whole show, and gave it some semblance of a minor comedy.

It's almost as the movie was suffering from some type of identity crisis, in terms of not being one or the other. The trailer did its job enough for me to give it a watch, and the movie did have some great scenes, but I don't think the vision came out the way it was intended. It's an average movie at best, but given the cast, I was expecting something with a lot more to it. No meat, and all potatoes.

Long, drawn out and cringe.

I almost feel sorry for Pete Davidson, but he's a dope that does dope.

A bunch of non engaging characters are cruel to each other and most of the people that they encounter. This is just bad wanna be Tarantino and Bill Murray's schtick is old and so is he. Trying to figure out what the point was. And Ed Harris getting it on with gorgeous Gabrielle Union made the skin on my body want to crawl off. Lots of drawn out scenes and Harris's character is such a dried up jerk I don't get what his appeal was. The dough black kid had a few funny lines, and the Italian gal was stunning, but this thing was 20 minutes too long. And twist I figured out in the first 15 minutes.

I went into this movie blind, having only seen the cast list and description. No Trailer. But a dark comedy with a great ensemble cast? Yes Please!

But the movie is sparse with comedy. Some light chuckles here and there. Some characters are just sad, like Coolidge. Everyone portrayed their characters very well though.

The story does a lot flash backs and time jumps. Almost everything is a cut away. It's not a novel story, it's actually very familiar. Actors play their usual tropes. Ed Harris moves on from his troubled past until it catches up to him.

Good use of scenery and music.

It's all well acted, well shot, but meanders without comedy. It was an entertaining watch. But a better script would have given the great cast more to do.

6.5*/10*

More reviews on my YT --GremlinLord615.

This is a small film with a good story, great Direction, and a great cast. I watched it for Bill Murray. It is an unusual role for him, but he is really versatile. He plays a middle level mob boss out for the revenge of the murder of his son. Pete Davidson, Gabrielle Union, Ed Harris and Jennifer Coolidge are very good in co-starrring roles. Miles J. Harvey is a the best part of the movie and the cerebral son of Union and Harris. This is part mob movie, part comedy, part drama. It is unusual and good. The dialogue is very good and well executed by the cast. This is an unusual independent film worth supporting and seeing.