Gata – Cut To The Chase

Written & Directed By: Lije Sarki

Story By: Eric Gross

Cinematography: Sing Howe Yam

Editor: Ken O’Keefe

Cast: Johnny Knoxville, Mohammed Amer, Gata, Bobby Lee, Brian Van Holt, Theo Von, Jay Mohr, Kate Upton, Beth Grant, Jon Park, Anderson Paak

The film Follows Morris, who must coach a misfit softball team of his fellow housemates during his mandatory stay at Sweet Dreams sober living in order to get his life back on track.

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This is one of those films where you love the message and the characters more than the film or the filmmaking

There isn’t much to this film. It’s pretty straightforward. It’s a film about a man was reach the end of his rope who has gone to rehab many times before and this is truly his last chance. The only difference is that the character is played by Johnny Knoxville (which truth be told is what attracted me to watching this film as I do have a soft spot for him as an actor and otherwise)

Meanwhile, this film is a comedy drama. This is so far the most dramatic. I have seen him in a film and he is believable.

Though most of the rest of the cast that seem to be his roommates at this halfway house, rehab are mostly played by stand-up comedians in podcasts who have very few dramatic moments and are more there to lean into the quirks of their characters that makes them lovable losers.

It feels like a film that was made with a bunch of friends on weekends and trying to tackle a serious subject with humor and more of a homespun philosophy. As the cast seems more made up by someone signing onto the film and slowly recruiting comedians and their friends to appear in the film.While filming at what looks to be the same house, they filmed the television show 6 FEET UNDER in.

The film is predictable yet. It’s fun. He tries to take a hard look at addiction and really, the aftermath the high, the lows the pains of recovery, especially freshly recovered. Also shows you that it’s a small world. We’re all trying to get over something. There is no ultimate answer . All you can do is just like in life take a day by day. See you where it takes you and deal with it as it comes.

The only difference here with this film is that as an activity they all focus on a softball tournament that will give them prize money that will of course help save the house so while the story rings of convenience, it is an interesting character study as far as the lead goes It has a 3 act structure is kind of a crowd pleaser and more focuses on the lead.

It’s watchable and it’s fun and affecting while you’re watching it. It’s not great filmmaking but it’s table filmmaking and it’s a cute little film. No, it’s not anything you haven’t seen before. It’s worth a watch, though. I can’t really say there’s anything special about it.

Grade: C

Directed By: Will Gluck

Written By: Will Gluck and Ilana Wolpert

Story By: Ilana Wolpert

Cinematography: Danny Ruhlmann

Editor: Kim Boritz-Brehm and Tia Nolan

Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Glenn Powell, Gata, Alexandra Shipp, Charlee Fraser, Bryan Brown, Dermont Mulroney, Rachel Griffiths, Hadley Robinson, Michelle Hurd, Joe Davidson, Darren Barnet

After an amazing first date, Bea and Ben’s fiery attraction turns ice-cold–until they find themselves unexpectedly reunited at a wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.

A sexier romantic comedy that plays like a sex comedy. Only lacking any truly carnal action, but flirts around with it, In a more innocent manner.

The whole movie is of course a will they or won’t they. Where they feel like they are fooling their friends and their friends feel like they have the upper hand over them.

The film tries to breathe life into a tired staple or genre. The results aren’t terrible. As the film stays entertaining fluff. That you will forget about soon after watching.

It is a bunch of beautiful people in impossibly lush locations and privilege-loving fantasy lives. So it plays like a fantasy for the audience.

the film keeps trying to make Sydney Sweeney into a more physical comedian and less an object of desire but never goes fully into quite embarrassing humor or anything truly juvenile.

Luckily the movie focuses more on the comedy and less on the romance until it is needed.

Hollywood keeps moving Glen Powell into being a star for good reason. As he is a movie star handsome and charming. Though you might find yourself obsessing about his hair throughout as it is usually perfect and never movies but doesn’t look stiff.

It’s an across-the-board film as it is diverse and includes every kind of demographic a mainstream film could aim for.

It’s nice to see Bryan Brown and Rachel Griffiths on the screen again and clearly having fun Even if the movie casting seems all over the place. Though definitely filming in Australia as most of the supporting cast seem to be natives and we see all the popular sights.

Not to mention while you can understand Powell’s character being tempted by his ex. Played by Charlee Fraser, As she is gorgeous and it’s flattering she needed such a good-looking guy to replace him and get over him. Sydney Sweeney’s ex in the film played by Darren Barnet is there in appearance but gets nothing to do or any real character Arc. Really he’s the only character who really has nothing to do but is just there.

This seems like the movie the Justin Timberlake movie FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS was supposed to be, only here the leads are likable and insistent like it is chasing any trends or trying to be cool. Instead, this movie just remembers to be sexy.

This seems a starter movie for both the stars here, trying to see how much box office power they have with them as the main stars.

Grade: C

Tag: Gata

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