Film: Riff Raff [2024] – Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Lewis Pullman

Riff Raff is a cute story full of twists, turns, heartfelt moments, and some old school shock and awe.

Starring Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, and others, this film by Dito Montiel is a cute throwback to the late 90s action comedies.

While the film had me at Jennifer Coolidge, I have mixed feelings about this film. Montiel tried to cram too much into its runtime with too many characters and didn’t give everyone their full showing. But something is off.

Being frank, a big why the film doesn’t click is the cast, full of big names who all appear hungover or exhausted or just not very engaged with their work. Aside from Coolidge and Pullman, most of the cast seemed to be there against their will.

Yes, kidnapping is part of the plot, but not in this case. While Montiel hides his cards all the way to the end, this decision added a layer of mystery and complexity to the story. The mystery worked in the film’s favor. As for the complexity? Not so much. Half the cast looked confused for more of the runtime not sure what to say or do.

Miraculously, despite the complexity it’s still a fun trip without growing overwhelming, while its sprinkling of Hollywood royalty adds a touch of class.

All in all, it feels almost criminal that this over-the-top dysfunctional comedy is so genuinely entertaining. Even when it’s cringe, it’s kind of funny.

Should You Watch It?

A light dark comedy held together by Cooldige’s signature performance. A nice watch on a cold evening.

Where Can I Watch It?

Riff Raff is streaming on Prime Video in Canada.