Mack and Rita – A Simple Charming Dramedy

When it comes to film, there’s nothing wrong about wanting lighter fare every once in a while. That being said, one’s definition of lighter fare may vary from person to person. Either way, sometimes one just wants to relax, decompress, and watch something requiring very little effort to enjoy. This subgenre has more or less been the same for the most part but nonetheless, when it hits, it really hits, and when it doesn’t, it really doesn’t. At the end of the day, lighter fare still finds decent audiences and Mack and Rita is a dramedy that is likely to have the same fate as it is sure to satisfy anyone looking for a change of pace. However, that change of pace could go too far in the wrong direction for some. Though the film brings absolutely nothing new to the table plot-wise, where it ultimately prevails is its cuteness factor and that solely lies with its star, Diane Keaton. While its premise is on the silly side, she fully commits and delivers an endearing performance with depth underneath that silliness. In the end, running at around the 90-minute mark, the film makes the most of it and doesn’t wear out its welcome.

Mack and Rita centers around Mack (Lail), a struggling 30-year-old writer who has always felt like an old lady trapped in a younger woman’s body. This problem had plagued her all her life as she never truly got along with people her own age. Struggling to relate to those her own age and make meaningful connections with others, Mack was forced to push those feelings down in order to function. Life was still a struggle, however, she still had her childhood friend Carla (Paige) there to support her. Attending a bachelorette party in Palm Springs with a group of friends for Carla’s wedding, Mack found herself waking up as her 70-year-old self for whom she named Rita (Keaton). Suffice it to say that this came with an immediate learning curve but she finally got to be the person she felt like on the inside. Despite getting everything she seemingly wanted, that life may not have been everything it was cracked out to be as over the course of the film, she found herself further drifting apart from those close to her.

Essentially living a double life until she figured out how to reverse her transformation, Rita meanwhile became enamored by her newfound popularity. This proved to be a test for that double life internally as she continued to live as a 30-year-old and a 70-year-old. While it took a physical toll on her, the emotional toll was worse. Nevertheless, Rita was a blast to watch through her many ups and downs. Her perspective made for plenty of fun moments as the film was basically her figuring out how to be a 70-year-old woman. Rita may have made some mistakes along the way but that just made her more relatable. Though fun, it would inevitably come to an end. Mack’s experience as Rita definitely offered her much needed perspective and served as a lesson for her that she should not be afraid of being herself and hiding who she really was. One need not skip their glory years as they are arguably the best years of one’s life. Growing up is an important part of that journey.

The best part of Mack and Rita was of course the aforementioned cute performance from Diane Keaton as Rita. Playing a role of an older woman trapped in a younger woman’s body trapped in an older woman’s body which is quite the mouthful, she does so with grace and a relatability that makes it easy to connect with her and become invested in her journey. The material nor humor are not new by any means but she was still a blast to watch. Her chemistry with Paige as Carla was also a highlight. It’s too bad that Lail’s Mack failed to get enough focus here, being the other half of the story.

Though there are already countless options out there, Mack and Rita is certainly not the worst one for anyone looking to take it easy. It just may be too easy for some.

still courtesy of Gravitas Premiere

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.