Riff Raff Review: Criminally Underwhelming Movie

When you’ve got a movie starring Jennifer Coolidge, Bill Murray, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, and Pete Davidson, you expect a bit more than a slow burning film that ultimately offers little reward for the viewer’s patience. The ensemble delivers as promised bringing their signature styles to the screen, so fans shouldn’t feel too bad that the plot is pretty one-note.

Riff Raff, is a dark crime comedy about a messy family reunion that spirals into chaos as the patriarch’s shady past catches up with him. In the snowy hills of a Maine vacation home during the holidays. Vincent (Ed Harris), a seemingly respectable contractor, is hosting his family when his estranged son Rocco (Lewis Pullman) arrives unannounced with his pregnant girlfriend Marina (Emanuela Postacchini) and his drunken mother Ruth (Jennifer Coolidge). The tension escalates with the arrival of Lefty (Bill Murray), a menacing mobster, and his associate Lonnie (Pete Davidson), who are on a mission to settle a score.

Riff Raff does have great characters and standout performances from its ensemble cast. Bill Murray brings his signature deadpan delivery; Jennifer Coolidge brings her bumbling earnestness; Ed Harris brings his stoic exasperation – and honestly, that’s all I needed.

Despite its strong cast Riff Raff wobbles awkwardly between the moments of the creeping mob menace and scrappy sitcom humour, never fully committing to either. Never really balancing comedy and thriller effectively, so the whole film falls a little flat. And sadly, the comedic moments often undermine the tension and stakes of the story. This just makes the movie feel lighter than it should with so many heavy hitters starring in it.

Sure, the film generates a few chuckles, and there is some twists and turns that set it apart from the average holiday film, but it’s hard to resolve a film that never fully takes advantage of its all star cast – which may be the only reason to tune in.

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Marie Nicola

Culture & Critiques

Before the Globe & Mail named Karmacake one of Toronto's hottest blogs in November 2009, Marie Nicola was the outspoken blogger from Summerside, P.E.I. After a close finish in the Miss Canada pageant, she leveraged her digital marketing and writing skills to create her online persona, “Karmacake.” This led to appearances on television and radio, numerous web series, and a role as a digital consultant for HumbleandFredRadio.com. Marie’s quirky conversational style has made her one of the Internet’s most dynamic personalities. Now, as a pop culture historian and the host of Alt.Pop.Repeat, Marie continues to inform audiences with her insightful commentary, history factoids and engaging presence.

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