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User Reviews for: Mack & Rita

caustic.wit@aol.com
4/10  2 years ago
Premise: 6/10 - There have been a ton of movies where a person has mysteriously turned younger and older and learned a life lesson, so it's not new. In this one, the person turned into a septuagenarian. That's different, so why not?
Cast: 6/10 - I was drawn into the movie by Diane Keaton's presence, and she's still got it. She was wasted on this role, though. Elizabeth Lail was much better in Countdown; in this one she was obviously outdone by others on the screen. Taylour Paige was new to me, but I enjoyed her as an actress. It was good to see Wendie Malick again, and Dustin Milligan as the love interest did a fair job. There were way too many additions to the cast that didn't show out well in this movie.
Characters: 2/10 - Rita wasn't much of a protagonist. I'm an introvert as well, but she's a spineless, awkward introvert that is difficult to watch on screen. Even once she became older, it took a long time to become invested in her, and I can't say I ever really did. Carla was a strong female supporting character, as were the old women friends. Her agent was a terrible character that was terribly acted. Rita and Carla's friends were failures as people and quite annoying. Jack was a decent character without being very well-developed. A lot of disappointment here.
Story: 3/10 - The first 30 minutes made me want to leave. I understand Rita identifies with the laid-back pace and individualistic nature of most elderly people, but unfolding events were nothing but cringeworthy. As the plot devices developed, the story was quite predictable as we watched her discover herself, lose herself, find herself...not much of a new take. Some movies are "show don't tell", this was "tell don't show" when it was actually getting to the point at all.
Dialogue: 1/10 - The failures were part in the repetitive and shallow dialogue and part in the overwrought delivery of it. Every time Rita opened her mouth it was a disaster. Some of the dialogue between older Rita and her older friends was partially redeeming, but we already knew what was about to be said.
World-building: 3/10 - The viewer has to take a leap of faith in a movie like this, but a "past lives regression" tanning bed was beyond a leap of faith. Her life wasn't particularly interesting before or after her switch, outside of her love interest. The world of social media influencing is as fake as she apparently didn't want her life to be, and that's what she chose to do? The end was a bit redeeming, but it was too late.

21/60 - 35/100 - 4/10 - 2/5 stars - I walked out of the movie feeling OK about having watched the movie, and my wife thought it was OK as well. Basically, it turned out fine but it was cringey as hell watching the characters go through their struggle and the plot devices were very bland. It was somewhat cute and Diane Keaton had a spectacular wardrobe. It was enough to enjoy a date night, but it doesn't have any rewatchability.
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