Cocoa

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!

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.

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 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 movie does not take place in real life, and that's ok. It's a comedy full of cartoonish characters, unbelievable coincidences, and I was along for the ride the whole way. After two Bad luck prone sisters setup up a dinner to pitch their wonder product (a chocolate cake that helps you lose weight), things go awry in every way possible. Cue the mistaken identities, interconnecting motives, and a mad scientist, er, veterinarian.

The acting is spot on, these women don't realize they're in a farce. The music adds to the whimsical tone. The whole story builds to an ending you won't see coming.