Cha Cha Real Smooth

Directed by Cooper Raiff - 8/10

Cooper Raiff’s Cha Cha Real Smooth meanders through one summer, following Andrew (Cooper Raiff), a recent college grad stuck at a minimum wage job he hates in his hometown. He’s trying to save up to join his girlfriend in Barcelona, so he takes up another gig as a party organizer at the frequent bar and bat mitzvahs that his younger brother David (Evan Assante) attends. Through this job, he meets Domino (Dakota Johnson), the young mother of one of David’s classmates, Lola (Vanessa Burghardt). Cha Cha Real Smooth chronicles their endearingly awkward experiences as their lives become increasingly interconnected.  

The first scene of the movie is an adolescent flashback to Andrew’s youth, revealing a bat mitzvah, at which he falls in love with the adult party planner and confesses his feelings to her at the end of the night. Naturally, she kindly turns him down, and Andrew is heartbroken. The most crucial moment of the scene occurs when Andrew sneaks off to watch her take a serious phone call just outside the party. We don’t get to hear much of her conversation, but what we do see is that she promptly returns to the party unfazed, making her personal discomfort unrecognizable for the sake of others’ well-being.  

Watching Andrew as an adult learn to compartmentalize his pain and hardship for the sake of those around him is the most prominent theme of Cha Cha Real Smooth. Andrew feels trapped between childhood and real adulthood. He is relieved to have escaped the days of awkward adolescence that his brother is still navigating, but he dreads the reality of discarding youth entirely. Andrew simultaneously tries to establish himself as a guiding figure for both David and Domino. Andrew wants to steer David through his formative years, have him avoid the same mistakes he made, and help shape his younger brother’s experience growing up. Additionally, Andrew wants to guide Domino and Lola through the frequent obstacles they face and ensure that Lola’s experience with her mother’s fiancée doesn’t mirror Andrew’s with his own stepfather. 

As the story continues, our initially lighthearted observation of the characters transforms into a deep emotional journey. Each performance is carefully crafted yet reads as incredibly natural. Vanessa Burghardt delivers a refreshingly authentic portrayal of neurodivergence, and Cooper Raiff’s leading performance provides a comforting and guiding sincerity. 

Cha Cha Real Smooth is a small film with a big heart. The occasional awkward moments serve to embellish the far more frequent caring and earnest moments. The movie’s genuineness makes it incredibly challenging to dislike. This film is an instant comfort classic: casual, soothing, and unprovocative in the best way possible. 

Cha Cha Real Smooth was released on June 17 and is currently streaming on AppleTV+.