TIFF: RIFF RAFF

Debbie & Elizabeth at the Movies

Noticing a lot of major movie star and A-list actor names on a movie billing doesn’t always mean that the movie will turn out to be any good.  Case in point: Knives Out (as least in our opinion).  Actors can be a draw for sure, but wouldn’t you prefer the storyline to be as good as the talent?

RIFF RAFF has both a stellar cast and a fun story about blood ties.  The TIFF Special Presentation was a super enjoyable dark comedy, done extremely well.  Especially when you have actors like Jennifer Coolidge, Bill Murray, Ed Harris and Pete Davidson.  Except for Pete Davidson, they were all in town for the premiere.

Comedy is not easy to convey. Slapstick alone doesn’t cut it for us. We love a good laugh.  It’s healthy and it feels great – so this pitch-black family (of sorts) comedy was the perfect remedy.

As far as dysfunctional families go, I think this one wins the prize for “best of” dysfunctional family reunions.  We have Vince; a one-time criminal (Harris) who turned his life around when he met Sandy (Union).  The still-happy couple want to spend a quiet New Year’s Eve nearly 20 years later in their remote country home with their cheerful son, DJ (Miles J. Harvey).  Out of the blue, unexpectedly, Vince’s other son Rocco (Lewis Pullman), shows up with his very pregnant girlfriend, Marina (Emanuela Postacchini), along with Vince’s first wife, Ruth (Coolidge).  They appear to be escaping from something unclear and Rocco is hiding an ominous situation.  He never did divest himself from the family business. Then we have an aging Mafioso called Lefty (Bill Murray) who is trying to settle a score with Rocco. Pete Davidson plays Lefty’s quirky sidekick.

Directed by Dito Montiel (Festival selection Man Down in 2015). and written by John Pollono (TIFF ’17’s Stronger), Riff Raff is gloriously irreverent, taking a deadpan approach to both humour and violence, while inserting some hilarious surprises along the way. Every member of the film’s dream cast has fun with even the most grotesque moments, but special mention goes to Murray, who should be on everyone’s A-list for heavies, and Coolidge, whose singular way with words makes beautiful music of Ruth’s filthiest dialogue. 

We highly recommend this movie if you want something rather light, family-oriented (with a twist) and funny.

Sometimes all we need is just that.

This film is well executed.