Cha Cha Real Smooth
Theatrical release poster
Directed byCooper Raiff
Written byCooper Raiff
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyCristina Dunlap
Edited byHenry Hayes
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed byApple TV+
Release dates
  • January 23, 2022 (2022-01-23) (Sundance)
  • June 17, 2022 (2022-06-17) (United States)
Running time
107 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Cha Cha Real Smooth is a 2022 American romantic comedy-drama film written, produced, and directed by Cooper Raiff. The plot centers on a 22-year-old college graduate (Raiff) who starts making money as a party starter while he also strikes up a relationship with a 32-year-old mother (played by Dakota Johnson, who also produced the film). The cast also includes Raúl Castillo, Odeya Rush, Evan Assante, Vanessa Burghardt, Brad Garrett, and Leslie Mann.

It premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2022,[2] and was released in limited theaters and streaming on Apple TV+ on June 17, 2022. The film received generally positive reviews from critics.

Plot

Twelve-year-old New Jersey resident Andrew asks a party host out on a date; she rejects him due to their age difference. Ten years later, Andrew's girlfriend, Maya, moves to Barcelona to finish her Fulbright. Andrew is asked to take his twelve-year-old brother David to a bat mitzvah, where Andrew encourages the kids to dance. He meets Domino and her autistic daughter, Lola. Andrew's peers have been spreading rumors about Domino. Andrew introduces himself and manages to take Lola to the dance floor, surprising Domino. The mothers at the party take notice of his charisma and agree to hire Andrew as a party starter at upcoming bar and bat mitzvahs. He dubs himself the Jig Conductor and plans to use the money to reunite with Maya in Barcelona.

Andrew is removed as DJ from his next party for confronting a child who bullied Lola. He finds Domino in the restroom, covered in blood. He and Lola find her a change of clothes; Andrew drives them home. Domino tells Andrew she has a fiancé, Joseph, working in Chicago. She reveals the blood was not from her period but caused by a recent miscarriage. Domino hires Andrew as Lola's sitter. They kiss. Andrew later has sex with his friend, Macy. Andrew spends the next day talking to David and interviewing for a job as an intern. Andrew meets Joseph at a party and later spends time with Domino and Lola. Andrew starts to think Maya is dating someone in Barcelona; his mother comforts him. Andrew helps Lola go to sleep by scratching her back, an activity she had previously only allowed Domino to do. Andrew sees Domino and Joseph in a bad mood before he leaves.

Andrew gets the intern job. He and Domino talk about her engagement with Joseph and they kiss. Back home, Andrew and David have an argument. Joseph fires Andrew from his job as Lola's sitter. David almost experiences his first kiss but leaves to stop some kids bullying Lola. A fight between Andrew's family and the other guests at the bar mitzvah ensues. Andrew tells Domino he loves her. She rejects his advances, telling him that she is in love with Joseph, even when it does not appear she is. Joseph thanks Andrew for taking care of his family. Andrew decides he does not want to go to Barcelona. Instead, he plans to move out. Andrew and Domino say goodbye. She encourages him to live his life to the fullest before making any commitments. David tells Andrew he had his first kiss at school. Six months later, Domino and Joseph are married, while Andrew has fun dancing at a bar with his friends.

Cast

Production

The film was announced in March 2021, with Dakota Johnson and Cooper Raiff set to star.[3] In August, Leslie Mann, Brad Garrett, Raúl Castillo, Odeya Rush, Vanessa Burghardt, Evan Assante and Colton Osorio joined the cast.[4] Principal photography began on August 12, 2021, with filming taking place in Pittsburgh.[5][6][7]

Release

It premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2022. Afterwards, Apple TV+ acquired the film's distribution rights for $15 million, beating out studios and streamers including Netflix, Sony Pictures and Amazon Studios.[8][9] The film showed at SXSW on March 18, 2022.[10] The film also screened at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2022.[11] It was released on June 17, 2022, simultaneously in limited theaters and on Apple TV+.[12]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 85% of 218 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "A touching dramedy that wears its heart proudly on its sleeve, Cha Cha Real Smooth further affirms writer-director-star Cooper Raiff as a talent to watch."[13] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 69 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[14]

Christy Lemire of Roger Ebert.com gave the film a positive review writing, "Raiff's ambition to break free from sentimental formula and forge a path of his own is clear, making him an exciting young filmmaker to watch."[15]

Film critic Manohla Dargis of The New York Times panned the film, writing, "It's derivative and unpersuasive, and as pandering as any big studio soft sell" adding about the film's central romance: "Their relationship never makes sense; but, then, neither does most of the movie."[16]

Awards and nominations

Award Date of Ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Sundance Film Festival January 2022 Grand Jury Prize - U.S. Dramatic Competition Cha Cha Real Smooth Nominated [17]
Audience Award - U.S. Dramatic Competition Cha Cha Real Smooth Won
Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Awards July 1, 2022 Best Picture Cha Cha Real Smooth Nominated [18]
Best Supporting Actress Dakota Johnson Nominated
Best Screenplay Cooper Raiff Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Cha Cha Real Smooth". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  2. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 9, 2021). "Sundance 2022: Hybrid Festival Sees Princess Diana, Michael Kenneth Williams, Dakota Johnson, Bill Cosby, NYC Rock'n'Roll & Regina Hall Fill Lineup". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  3. ^ Kit, Borys (March 12, 2021). "SXSW-Winning 'Shithouse' Helmer Cooper Raiff To Direct, Star With Dakota Johnson In 'Cha Cha Real Smooth;' Picturestart & Endeavor Content Funding". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  4. ^ Donnelly, Matt (August 12, 2021). "Dakota Johnson's 'Cha Cha Real Smooth' Adds Leslie Mann, Raúl Castillo, Brad Garrett (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  5. ^ Axelrod, Joshua (July 26, 2021). "'Cha Cha Real Smooth' with Dakota Johnson to film in Pittsburgh, seeks extras". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  6. ^ "We hope you're all ready to Cha Cha Real Smooth with us 💃⁠⁠ Shout out to @coop_myself and our pals at @picturestart and @endeavor for embarking on this epic journey with us.⁠⁠ Cameras start rolling August 12th 🎥". Instagram. August 7, 2021. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  7. ^ "Film and TV Projects Going into Production - Cha Cha Real Smooth". Variety Insight. Archived from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  8. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 27, 2022). "Apple Lands Cooper Raiff-Directed Cha Cha Real Smooth In $15M World Rights Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  9. ^ Donnelly, Matt (January 26, 2022). "Apple Nabs Cooper Raiff's 'Cha Cha Real Smooth' for $15 Million Out of Sundance". Variety. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  10. ^ "Cha Cha Real Smooth". SXSW. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  11. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (April 19, 2022). "Tribeca Festival Lineup Includes Corner Office With Jon Hamm, Ray Romano's Somewhere in Queens, More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  12. ^ Grobar, Matt (March 8, 2022). "Apple Sets Premiere Dates For Cha Cha Real Smooth & Skydance's Luck; Unveils Images From Argylle, The Greatest Beer Run Ever & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  13. ^ "Cha Cha Real Smooth". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  14. ^ "Cha Cha Real Smooth". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  15. ^ "Cha Cha Real Smooth". Rogerebert.com. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  16. ^ Dargis, Manohla (June 16, 2022). "'Cha Cha Real Smooth' Review: The Boy in the Bubble". The New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  17. ^ Galuppo, Mia (January 28, 2022). "Sundance: Nanny and The Exiles Take Top Prizes at 2022 Fest". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  18. ^ "5th Annual Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Awards Nominations Include X and THE BLACK PHONE". Daily Dead. June 29, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.

External links

Apple TV+ original programming
Sundance Film Festival Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic
Categories