★★★★

Cooper Raiff wears his heart proudly on his sleeve. With his second feature, Cha Cha Real Smooth, he writes, directs and stars in a story of a 22-year-old man who becomes a party starter for local bar/bat mitzvahs and becomes enamored with a single mother of an autistic daughter.

Though he has graduated from college, Raiff’s Andrew is back home with Mom (Leslie Mann) and stepdad Greg (Brad Garrett). He is tight with his younger brother (Evan Assante), and is reeling from a breakup from his long-time girlfriend who has chosen to study abroad. Aimless and latched onto a part-time gig at a food court, he is asked to take his brother to a bar mitzvah one night, ends up taking over the party and getting everyone to dance and have a good time. He also meets Domino (Dakota Johnson), attending the event with her teenage daughter Lola (Vanessa Burghardt).

Chemistry between the two is instantaneous with the immediate barrier being that Domino is engaged. Her boyfriend, Joseph (Raúl Castillo), is traveling for work and Domino can’t help but by intrigued by how Andrew can light up a room. As they continue to interact over a series of parties, Domino makes the rather bold step of asking Andrew to help watch Lola on nights when she cannot be home. As Andrew has bonded with Lola in ways Lola doesn’t often connect with people, Andrew agrees and a partnership is arranged.

Raiff’s first film, 2020’s Sh**house, saw Raiff play a college freshman who falls for a resident advisor at a fraternity get-together. The movie was wonderfully messy and showed the potential for Raiff to become something special in the future. Cha Cha Real Smooth builds nicely off his debut feature, though at times, he writes himself into more of a heroic/savior role than may be ultimately necessary.

Again, that heart is firmly tattooed on his sleeve.

Andrew is so kind and likable, it is not impossible that someone a decade or so older than him could fall for him. Johnson, continuing to emerge as an underrated and underappreciated talent, illuminates wonderfully when she is around Andrew. We see their connection and believe it. We also recognize the age difference, the relationship entanglements, and the problems awaiting Andrew falling for Domino, long before he ever does.

To Raiff’s credit, he frames his movie in such a kind and tender way, that everyone seemingly has the best of intentions in place. Some may bristle at where Raiff positions himself, but he also infuses a mature sensibility around much of the dialogue and situations presented within the film.

At the end of the day, just 24 years old, Raiff smartly and astutely doubles down on charm and embraces the messiness of Millennial angst and life decisions in a way that speaks to anyone facing those first real crossroad decisions of young adult life.

Cha Cha Real Smooth was screened as part of the 48th Seattle International Film Festival.