Tag: Maria Rusche

ROOMMATES (2026)

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Directed By: Chandler Levack

Written By: Jimmy Fowlie and Ceara Jane O’Sullivan 

Cinematography: Maria Rusche 

Editor: Tim Constain and Brian Robinson

Cast: Sadie Sandler, Chloe East, Billy Bryk, Aidan Langford, Sarah Sherman, Nick Kroll, Natasha Lyonne, Janeane Garofolo 

When a hopeful, naive college freshman, Devon, asks the cool and confident Celeste to be her roommate, a blossoming friendship spirals into a war of passive aggression.

This is one of those almost films. It has everything mostly going for it and then just falls short. It’s Slightly Silly but stayed entertaining and really Manages to make you care about the characters. Then the third act happens and it’s like they just want to end the film. As after that no subtlety. Just straightforward hostility.

The third act the film falls apart. As feels like it goes for the easy out.  instead of doing something original and different. It goes safe and just settles to villainize certain characters.

I know looking for some kind of realism or three dimensional characters in an Adam Sandler, HAPPY MADISON production is a lot to ask but it could amhave been something new or different.

As with This film anytime it approach’s depth, It runs far and wide away from it. 

Some will look at this as a vanity project for Adam  Sandler’s daughter Sadie Sandler and they would be correct, but she holds her own surrounded by other talents. Not to mention this film is better then the original comedies he has been offering lately. At least this is better then YOU ARE SO NOT INVITED TO MY BAH MITZVAH.

Chloe East impresses, as far as showing range and being totally different then the last performance I remember her from HERETIC. She again defintely makes her presence felt. As the antagonist.

This can be seen as its own kind of relationship comedy. Only Without some homoerotica, yet never leaning heavily on it. Happy to see a fun female centered comedy that is mostly successful. 

Director Chandler Levack does the best she can. As her original movies such as I LIKE MOVIES are much more character-driven. Especially as far as the action goes, but are as breezy and caring. Here working from a script that is not her own. She manages to still bring her style and skill. Showing range and that she is a director who can rise to the occasion. 

Grade: C 

SUMMER OF 69 (2025)

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Directed By: Jillian Bell

Written By: Jillian Bell, Jules Byrne and Liz Nico

Cinematography: Maria Rusche

Editor: Casey Brooks 

Cast: Sam Morelos, Chloe Fineman, Nicole Byer, Liza Koshy, Paula Pell, Natalie Morales, Matt Cornett, Alex Moffat, Charlie Day, Jillian Bell, Fernando Carsa

Abby seeks to impress her crush by learning a specific sexual position, enlisting a stripper’s help. However, she realizes true self-discovery and lasting friendship are more valuable.

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This film is the directorial debut of actress Jillian Bell. It’s more of age film than I can say a teen film, as it’s a little too raunchy and risqué for family viewing or for parents to allow their teens to watch, even as strangely the humor is more sophomoric. Though the film also has an earnest heart and charm

Which then makes the film very confusing as to who exactly it’s aimed that or which audience, as it’s too raunchy for teens, but might be a little too silly for adults. 

The wet one can appreciate about the film. Is that instead of it usually being guys with gross out or juvenile humor, now it’s more of the women, and it doesn’t have so much gross out humor as just sillier, stupid humor, but there’s a point to it all. 

Luckily, the cast is filled with comedic supporting players like Nicole Byer, Liza Koshy, the hilarious Paula Pell, who is funny and everything I’ve ever seen her in, and is a comedy writer herself,. when only wishes there was more of them or a spinoff movie for their characters. Director Jillian appears in a small role herself and Chloe Fineman of Saturday Night Live as one of the leading ladies in this film .

She is attractive, funny, tough, yet stays believable throughout the film, and can see a big screen career, though would have loved it if the film played a little bit more with what was expected and had either Eliza Koshy or Nicole Byer in the Chloe Fineman, typical beautiful blonde in the lead

Newcomer Sam Morelos is quite a find, quick and she can play the heartbreaking parts of her character as well as the funnier scenes. She comes across as the character as genuine makes you root for her. She’s a burst of sunshine.

Not to mention why this film deals with some more adult and a little dark subject matter. It’s surprisingly just stays light and keeps a smile on your face, as it just kind of has this cheer about it that you and it don’t have any cynicism to it, that you would think this film would be filled with. Also it also pays on March teen films of the past.

One has to give it to Hulu they seem to fund an honor, female, driven comedies, and dramas that are more coming of age, but find way to make their mark and be quiet not only charming but noteworthy they’re not necessarily going to change the world cinematically, but they’re good comfort entertainment. Films like PROM DATES and PLAN B

Which is why, though this film even from its title is more of a double entendre, and has plenty of sexual material. It’s still plays it pretty clean and safe as this is a tail that involves strippers that has no nudity and we never see them quite now for some, who might feel that’s a cop out this is not the film for you and it never was gonna be but those just looking for almost like comfort movie that has stakes, but aren’t that high give this film a chance. You might surprise yourself with how much you enjoy it.

Grade: C+

SHIVA BABY (2021)

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Written & Directed By: Emma Seligman
Cinematography: Maria Rusche
Editor: Hanna Park 

Cast: Rachel Sennot, Polly Draper, Molly Gordon, Fred Melamed, Dianna Agron, Jackie Hoffman, Danny Deferrari, Glynis Bell, 

At a Jewish funeral service with her parents, a college student runs into her sugar daddy.

The film works as a character piece. Even though it takes place mostly in one location and is full of colorful characters who add comedy and point of view to the story. It all centers around the main character played by Rachel Sennot in a subtle and ultimately powerful performance. As she is out under high pressure unknowingly in a continuous situation. She begins to unravel in all sorts of ways.

What makes the film so strong is that while there is comedy it plays almost like a horror film or thriller. As the score seems to help tighten the rope around the character and set in such a crowded space there are fewer and fewer places to turn.

Even as she is struggling to keep her sugar daddy who is far from a Prince Charming and the longer he stays at the party. The more his farm diminishes, but he is the only thing she had control over and loses him. She will feel like she has nothing. So she keeps trying harder and harder to lessen herself to keep and seduce him. 

As it seems scene to scene she is running out of places to hide or things to distract her as she gets more worried and more people to talk about her and the danger of her secrets being revealed. As she tries to make things seem normal.

Even as she tries to seduce a guy who is her sugar daddy back and you begin to wonder is it more about the power and strength as he isn’t all that appealing or beating the competition for him in his successful wife who seems to know more than she lets on. Or did she actually fall for him as something more than just a client?

Is she just desperate to keep the status quo as anything different would force her to grow up? As the man ends up not being all that appealing. Which one can tell early on before any revelations are brought to the table 

The whole cast is eye-opening, they are funny and emotional. Though Polly Draper as the roads mother has the right amount of emotions and judgment to be frustrating and sweet

Rachel Sennot as the lead is a revelation as she plays so many emotions and feelings all at once. Even though it is mostly through facial expressions and actions more than dialogue. Not to mention her natural beauty comes through when being plain but also wants to be looked upon with desire.

The film also offers us a bi-sexual lead where the film does have sex and sexual language the film doesn’t become all about or into about the character’s sexuality as their defining trait 

This film could have easily been more of a simple dramedy that would Feel more staged or at least stage-bound the way it is shown and protested here is short but keeps the audience on their toes as each revelation or emotion feels like a jump scare or is looked upon with dread. 

Though it offers up a few surprises, by the end it leaves the characters uncomfortable but in it’s own way a happy ending. 

Thankfully for all the awkwardness and Cringe-worthy conversations and situations that play like horror the film still has its fair share of laughs and humor.

Grade: B+