When you put Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, Jennifer Coolidge, Bill Murray, Pete Davidson, and Lewis Pullman together in a movie, it’s bound to generate curiosity. In his WTF family crime comedy, Riff Raff, curiosity quickly turns into chaos thanks to dramatic storytelling with a thrilling script to match. Though a bit uneven and overly long, this film features an assortment of talent who do their best to commit to all the absurdity at hand. The end result of Riff Raff—an odd depiction of how messy familial relationships can get—doesn’t always work, but there’s some fun to be had along the way.
The story follows Vincent (Harris), a retiree who is seeking to put his past life behind him for good. With his younger, uptight wife Sandy (Union) and impressionable stepson DJ (Miles J. Harvey), they head up to their isolated family cabin to enjoy some peace and quiet for New Year’s Eve. Their serenity won’t last very long, however. His troubled son Rocco (Pullman) is on his way, unannounced, with his pregnant girlfriend Marina (Emanuela Postacchini), and they’ve got Ed’s drugged ex-wife (Coolidge) with them. What could they possibly want during their surprise visit?
In parallel, the film often cuts to Hannigan/Leftie (Murray) and his handyman Lonnie (Davidson). They seem to be on the hunt for someone, with revenge in mind. Right away, you can see where this is going: a tale of secrets, violence, and revenge. But something that Montiel works into his feature, along with screenwriter John Pollono, is the importance of family. Even when you may be at odds with family members, the moment they’re in trouble is often the moment that draws you closer together.
A reliable Jennifer Coolidge delivers the comedic chops and entertainment goods.
One of the best aspects of this raunchy family crime comedy is its reliance on the cast to deliver exactly what we’d expect. If there ever existed an award for best “type casting,” Riff Raff would certainly get the top prize. This is no insult by any means. Harris, Union, Davidson, and Coolidge deliver the comedic goods. And what we’re left with is some good fun and entertainment that lasts for 103 minutes.
This humor throughout the feature could be considered ‘hit or miss’ depending on your expectations. However, the deadpan line deliveries work so well, especially considering the characters actually say such farfetched things. Jennifer Coolidge, in particular, lends her classic comedic chops exactly when we need her to do so. Even when the more violent segments come into the picture, the playful tones remain, driving up the entertainment factor that a script like this requires.
Riff Raff often lacks focus with its storytelling.
Where the film does tend to take a hit is the convoluted way Montiel chose to present the various storylines. At some points, Harvey has voiceovers, while during other sequences, the story goes back and forth between linear storytelling and flashbacks. It doesn’t always work, especially when the tones/genres also must change as a result (comedy vs. romance vs. thriller). Mostly, it feels as if the film lacks focus even though there are actually emotional moments buried under all the chaos. And just when these moments become the focus, they’re interrupted by contrived comedy that doesn’t always seem appropriately timed.
I can’t lie… Even with its lack of focus and wonky storytelling, Riff Raff mostly worked for me. Members of this star-studded cast may have been type-cast in their respective roles, but they deliver exactly what we want and need. It doesn’t hurt that they seem to have enjoyed themselves as well. A laugh-out-loud exploration of family drama, revenge, and legacy, Riff Raff offers some thrilling moments within its absurdity, even if it doesn’t nail everything.
