Mack & Rita Reviews

Katie Aselton (The Freebie) steps into the director's role for Mack & Rita, a comedy from Brooklyn Nine-Nine writers Madeline Walter and Paul Welsh. The film is entertaining and sometimes humorous but won't change anyone's opinion about life, aging, or knowing oneself as the authors seem to want.Mack (Elizabeth Lail) is caught in a life that never fits her, longing to do things more suited to her elders. While her friends want to party, she'd rather have a nice nap. So when her best friends want to attend a concert, Mack chooses regression therapy. But instead of coming out of it more in touch with her true self, she comes out as she sees herself - a 70-year-old woman. With commitments to her writing career and her best friend's wedding, Mack must pose as Rita (Diane Keaton) until she can change back while discovering what it's really like to be in the body she thinks fits her.The film is entertaining but light fare, and it relies more on Keaton's acting skills than on a consistent script from Walter and Welsh. All the situations feel like repeats; there are holes in the story and conversations and situations that never quite seem complete. The film's message - just be yourself - is delivered more like a hammer blow to the forehead than a growing realization. Aselton's direction is good but never seems to draw exceptional performances from any of the supporting cast. Fortunately, Keaton's ability keeps the film moving along, with all the other players revolving around her whenever she's on the screen. Her ability to transform an uncomfortable line into bearable and a good line into hysterical is terrific.The settings are unconvincing - everyone either lives in a multi-million-dollar mansion or right at the line of poverty with no in-between. The converted warehouse Mack and neighbor Jack (Dustin Milligan) live in looks like a warehouse hastily converted into a movie set to be a living space. The camera work is shaky at times, creating a dizzying effect. Unlike other technical aspects of the film, the soundtrack fits right in with the scenes. Whoever chose the songs knew precisely what to pick for each situation.Mack & Rita is light comedy popcorn fare that is sometimes endearing, with humorous and touching moments. Still, without Keaton, the film would quickly become forgettable because there is little to set it apart from similar stories or situations. It isn't regressive to the genre but won't age well, either.