Riff Raff is price it to see Invoice Murray enjoying a foul man, however the gradual pacing and drained narrative are onerous to beat.
PLOT: Vincent is an ex-criminal who greater than something, simply desires a standard, peaceable life. He and his spouse Sandy have constructed a loving household with their son DJ and are spending the winter break in a cabin earlier than he goes off to varsity. Chaos ensues when Vincent’s disowned son Rocco, his girlfriend Marina and Vincent’s ex-wife Ruth abruptly present as much as spoil the festivities with an ominous warning: the famed gangsters Leftie and Lonnie are coming for them.
REVIEW: Typically a movie comes alongside and the solid is sufficient to persuade you to take the leap. No plot or motivations uttered, only a poster that includes an intriguing solid of characters. And there are few lineups extra intriguing than one that features Invoice Murray, Ed Harris, Jennifer Coolidge, Gabrielle Union, Pete Davidson, and Lewis Pullman. Add in some out of the field performances, and Riff Raff had all of the makings for an excellent movie. And what we get is sweet, but it surely appears like there was lots left on the desk.
Riff Raff is about Vincent, an ex-criminal who’s lengthy since left the enterprise and residing a brand new life with a brand new household. However when his outdated household pays a go to, claiming Vincent’s former associates have beef with them, his life is turned the other way up. Ed Harris does a great job as Vincent, even when I had just a little hassle shopping for Gabrielle Union as his spouse. Love each of them, however given the truth that their chemistry is virtually non-existent, it feels extra like filling out the solid with massive names versus people who find themselves proper for the roles. Vincent by no means actually gained me over, and it largely appears like: why are individuals combating over THIS man?
The criminals which might be looking them down, Lefty and Lonnie, are performed by Invoice Murray and Pete Davidson and so they had been simply the most effective a part of Riff Raff. They’ve a really enjoyable dynamic and it feels a bit exterior of what we are inclined to see from these two. Murray is unbelievable as Lefty, a mob boss who’s going via a little bit of an existential disaster. The best way he kills a dude, solely to instantly discuss how he most likely didn’t deserve it reveals he’s not so black and white. Normally, he’s simply enjoying a variation of the Invoice Murray schtick that we’ve seen for years (and love) however he’s actually doing one thing totally different right here. I’d say that is simply essentially the most unlikable he’s been in years, making for some intriguing casting.
Jennifer Coolidge is fantastic as Vincent’s ex-wife Ruth. I’ll by no means tire of her being gloriously crude to youngsters. She brings a likeability to Ruth that I feel would have in any other case been absent. She nonetheless has these basic Coolidge emblems, however manages to really feel totally different sufficient. Miles J Harvey takes the position of “young kid with a verbiage of a scholar and way too much emotional security.” I’m by no means a fan of this sort of character, and if something, he clashes with the darkish humor of the movie a bit. I perceive that it was mandatory to be able to present Vincent’s new life, however he feels very disconnected from the remaining.
The movie is fairly low vitality and strikes at a slower tempo than most trendy movies. It’s nearly offered like a stageplay, with lengthy bits of dialogue and restricted areas. The entire occasions simply sort of occur and the context isn’t correctly communicated. There are many nice performances, however the entire characters really feel very floor degree and never very lived in. There’s such a nonchalant high quality to Riff Raff‘s narrative, that nothing ever actually has a lot impression. Even the deaths simply sort of occur with out a lot pomp and circumstance.
Riff Raff winds up in a spot of dying and chaos, giving a little bit of id to what’s an in any other case stale mob story. The performances and characters actually assist to present this a little bit of vitality. However exterior of Murray and Davidson, it may possibly really feel a bit outdated hat. In the end, I preferred the movie for its performances, however I really feel like we’ve seen this story advised earlier than, and in a extra attention-grabbing manner.
RIFF RAFF RELEASES IN THEATERS ON FEBRUARY 28TH, 2025.
