Every year the Sundance Film Festival has that one film that stands out as the ultimate crowd-pleaser of the festival. Last year, it was Coda.
I was pretty excited to see what film, or if there would be a film that would take the mantle of the show-stopper of the festival. But then, five days into the festival, as the opening sound of Lupe Fiasco’s The Show Goes On hit my screen, I knew I found it in the form of Cooper Raiff’s Cha Cha Real Smooth. It’s a film that warmed every inch of my heart with a life-affirming coming-of-age tale that is set to stay with me all year.
Cha Cha Real Smooth follows Andrew (Raiff), a recent college graduate middling at a dead-end job at a sandwich shop. While helping out as a party starter at a bat mitzvah attended by his younger brother David, Andrew meets Domino (Dakota Johnson), mother to autistic teen Lola. After winning over Lola, he begins to gain the attention of Domino for his kind-hearted spirit and nature.
Cooper Raiff’s direction is not flashy but incredibly effective. What I loved most about Raiff’s direction and the screenplay was his ability to let us breathe within a scene. Moments between Andrew and Domino and Lola kept a permanent grin on my face as I watched. The tenderness of their bond is undeniable, and that’s a credit to Raiff’s direction. Because of this choice, Raiff makes cinephiles long to live in this world longer, and when the credit rolls, you truly can’t help but want to continue spending time in their lives.
Brad Garrett and Leslie Mann make the best of their minor supporting roles, while Evan Assante is excellent as Andrew’s little brother David. The brother dynamic between Andrew and David is on full display and effectively shows the bond these two brothers share despite their age difference. However, Vanessa Burghardt’s performance as Lola is a supporting performance that stands above the rest. Burghardt shines in every scene throughout the film; it’s hard to imagine not seeing Burghardt land more roles after her turn in this movie.
The connection between Lola, Domino, and Andrew would not be there without Cooper Raiff and Dakota Johnson transferring his words to the screen in an impeccable fashion. Raiff and Johnson have such natural chemistry with each other, and because of this, they can add layers to their nuanced characters. There is little not to love about these two’s performances, especially Johnson. She’s put together such outstanding performances over the past few years, and her take in Cha Cha Real Smooth feels like Johnson solidifying herself as one of the best actresses working today.
Cha Cha Real Smooth feels like one of those “can’t miss films of 2022.” It’s not just one of the best films at the Sundance Film Festival this year; it may be one of the best coming-of-age stories once the year comes to an end. It’s further confirmation that Cooper Raiff’s first film, Shithouse, was not a fluke, and Raiff has the makings of one of becoming a great director in Hollywood.
