Courtesy Everett Collection
Cha Cha Real Smooth by Cooper Raiff (2022)
Ah, romantic comedies… They rarely fail to provide this comforting effect – and we even forgive them for their not always very well-crafted storylines and romance scenes. And for once, we were surprised by Cha Cha Real Smooth. After passing through the Sundance independent film festival, the film was released on the Apple TV+ platform. Written and directed by Cooper Raiffthe American even plays the leading role in the role ofAndrew, a 22-year-old young man a little lost in the face of the demands of adult life. Host of evenings in his spare time, we follow him falling madly in love with Domino (Dakota Johnson), a woman 10 years his senior. Under the cover of a comic tone, Cha Cha Real Smooth narrates scenes of intimate exchanges, under the kindness of subdued lighting. In a sequence of remarkable tenderness, Domino opens about being a young mother suffering from depression, resonating with the real-life experience of Dakota Johnson which is also affected. A commentary on growing older and self-acceptance that resonated with us more than we expected.