Movie Review

Film Review: MACK & RITA (2022): There’s Something Endearing About Diane Keaton’s Latest Screwball Comedy

Diane Keaton Mack And Rita

Mack & Rita Review

Mack & Rita (2022) Film Review, a movie directed by Katie Aselton, written by Madeline Walter and Paul Welsh and starring Diane Keaton, Elizabeth Lail, Taylour Paige, Loretta Devine, Dustin Milligan, Aimee Carrero, Addie Weyrich, Simon Rex, Lauren Beveridge, Catherine Carlen, Annie Hamilton, Sara Amini, Nicole Byer, Patti Harrison, Amy Hill and Paige Locke.

Mack & Rita, directed by Katie Aselton, is a feel-good movie that features Martin Short’s voice playing a dog. Why do I mention that at the beginning of this review? Because that’s the type of goofy picture that the film is. It is totally zany and off-the-wall and everything that is quirky about the movie works to its advantage for the right kind of audience. The wrong kind of audience could hate the fact that the movie is all over the place running in a million different directions but at the center of the picture is Diane Keaton’s heartwarming lead performance. Keaton has, of course, seen better days but Mack & Rita isn’t trying to win any Academy Awards. It just wants to entertain and that it does.

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The movie opens with the story of Mack (Elizabeth Lail, super charming in her role) who feels like she belongs with older people. She always has felt older than her true age. In fact, she’s just 30ish years old when we meet her. She has written a book and her quirky agent, Stephanie (Patti Harrison, always a hoot) suggests it may be time for Mack to take her career in a different direction. Just as this is happening, Mack’s best friend Carla (the always full of energy Taylour Paige of Zola) is set to be married and a group of female friends gets together to celebrate. By the way, Mack’s neighbor is a handsome stud named Jack (Dustin Milligan) who seems too good to be true but that’s if Mack even bothers to pay him much mind. Jack basically just babysits her dog.

While Mack is visiting an offbeat guru of sorts named Luka (Simon Rex of Red Rocket in an odd turn), she wishes for her life to be different. She wants to have older friends and just live a peaceful and enjoyable existence free of complexity. Wish granted. Mack wakes up as an older woman who is 70-ish years old (played hilariously by Diane Keaton) and becomes known as “Rita.”

“Rita,” at first can’t believe she has morphed into an older woman and comes running to Carla to try to convince her she’s really Mack. There’s a lot of fun to be found here as Rita seeks to find Luka and rectify the situation but she cannot so she must live her life as she has come to discover herself–as an older woman. Hilarity ensues as Rita becomes successful on Instagram and Stephanie books gigs for her. Rita befriends a group of older women (headed by Sharon, played with grace by the always energetic Loretta Devine) and learns to adapt to a new, fun lifestyle.

In the interim, Rita and Jack start to bond and develop a special relationship. I loved the scene when they go to California Pizza Kitchen together and a younger woman thinks Jack is available and that Rita is his mother. Imagine the lady’s surprise when she learns that the two are actually hanging out together and aren’t related. There is some romance between the two characters of Rita and Jack, but it’s done tastefully and spares us any really distasteful plot development.

There is some heartwarming sincerity here. Mack (as Rita) learns some important lessons about life and comes to discover the many things about her own life that make it enjoyable. Mack learns that every minute of life is worth cherishing. It’s corny but it’s a good corny. Also important is how the film tests the friendship of Mack and Carla. Paige is well cast and has some precious line deliveries that help her character stand out.

Mack & Rita is easy to like if you adore Diane Keaton. This film oversimplifies the complexity of the publishing industry a bit and falters in spots (such as when Rita tries out new age exercise equipment) but it’s likable and has some touching scenes towards the end which may just leave a tear in your eye. And, for those, who like that sort of thing, Martin Short voices a dog in a quirky sequence that doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the movie but never mind.

Mack & Rita is a kindhearted movie that will make you realize that life is wonderful all the way through at any age and you don’t have to think too hard to enjoy the film. Is it great cinematic art? No way. The music is all over the place and doesn’t always work but Keaton is magical and makes the movie a happy place for audiences who like this sort of thing. Elizabeth Lail could be a star in the making as well and is heartfelt in her role in the movie. Imagine Big meets 13 Going on 30. If you liked those (admittedly a bit better) films, you would probably enjoy Mack & Rita.

Rating: 7/10

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Thomas Duffy

Thomas Duffy is a graduate of the Pace University New York City campus and has been an avid movie fan all of his life. In college, he interviewed film stars such as Minnie Driver and Richard Dreyfuss as well as directors such as Tom DiCillo and Mark Waters. He is the author of nine works of fiction available on Amazon. He's been reviewing movies since his childhood and posts his opinions on social media. You can follow him on Twitter. His user handle is @auctionguy28.
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