Old friends on different trajectories reunite in ‘Sacramento,' a comedy with wisdom
From the 'Road to' series through buddy action movies and bromances, male friendship as comic fodder has been a constant pull, one that has increasingly favored immaturity as the catharsis. Smart plus stupid became stupid hates smarts, until dumb felt ubiquitous.
It's been getting tiresome of late to watch grown men devolve for laughs, which makes actor-turned-writer-director Michael Angarano's old-pals-in-crisis comedy 'Sacramento' a bittersweet kick. The film explores what's funny — and terrifyingly truthful — about being wrenched into adulthood.
Angarano, who wrote the screenplay with actor Chris Smith, also stars as Rickey, a happy-go-lucky manchild who shows up at the Los Angeles house of onetime bestie Glenn, played by Michael Cera, to convince him it's time to hang out more deeply again. This unannounced visit occurs after we've just gotten a taste of who Glenn is: a loving but edgy, nervous and needy husband to his very pregnant wife, Rosie, played by Kristen Stewart with such deadpan spousal sobriety it's a masterclass in the everyday tolerance that undergirds genuine love. (With Glenn, she's clearly had chances to do some pre-mommying.)
Rickey would rather they retrench into a nostalgia tour of laughs and revelry — he's even found the tan Chrysler LeBaron they used to ride in. Glenn is loath to go backward, much less indulge in personality quirks he's outgrown because fatherhood awaits. Right away, the perfectly (mis)matched Angarano and Cera do a deft job with the undercurrent in their awkward reunion. Rickey's energy is harmless yet seems mysteriously pained by unmet expectations, as when he gently admonishes Glenn: 'Loosen up, you haven't said anything funny.' Meanwhile, Glenn's judgmental attitude is its own worrying mask. He likes to remind people that he keeps his phone on silent to 'stay present.'
The tension eases, though, when Rickey finally opens up about his father's recent death; he wants Glenn to road-trip with him to the title city for a spreading of ashes. Glenn acquiesces — a real adult supports someone in need, after all. But we know something's afoot when, away from Glenn's eyes, Rickey quickly empties a tennis-ball can and fills it with dirt from the side of the road.
For a good while, the breezy chuckles in 'Sacramento' stem from the eccentric clash of priorities and temperaments of a certain kind of limbo male whose sociability skills have soured. Whether fake-wrestling or barhopping with women or trying to psychologize each other, neither guy really knows what's fun or illuminating anymore. They're just papering over the crushing weight of impending responsibility. Rickey, all forced smiles and performative boyishness, wants to charm his way into blissful indecision, while Glenn, a classically Cera-esque misfit of unearned confidence, talks himself into an illusion of control over his destiny.
But when it's revealed what Rickey's true dilemma is — an abandoned relationship with an old fling (Maya Erskine) — the movie's sense of humor morphs, too, into an affectionate, even mildly scary study in self-delusion. Erskine's salt-and-vinegar comic timing and unforced soulfulness is a national treasure. Thankfully, her real-life husband (Angarano) appreciates this and is wonderfully dialed in to why her no-nonsense character's dose of third-act frankness should be the triggering sincerity needed to bring 'Sacramento' to a believably offbeat (but no less pleasurable) conclusion.
The movie is also smart enough to recognize that its women aren't there to save anyone, just to remind these well-intentioned men about getting over themselves. The prickly comedy of male-pattern personality collapse gives way to wisdom, something that 'Sacramento' has in abundance.
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Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
Her Korean father disappeared on vacation. Now Louisa is stuck in L.A.
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He'd distanced himself from his parents' communist sympathies, disapproving of their repatriation to North Korea, opting instead for an academic career in the U.S. He's betwixt and between, a country of one. It's a fraught moment for a move: stagflation stalks the globe; the marriage flounders; Anne's health flags (eventually leading to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis), and the precocious Louisa asks probing questions. There's also Tobias, Anne's son from a youthful fling, for whom she'd waived legal claims after his birth; he's caught wind of the family's plans and lives nearby, a 19-year-old vagabond eager to connect with his biological mother. The year abroad is a kind of homecoming for Serk, yet it's cut short one August evening as father and daughter stroll across a beach while on vacation. He's carrying a flashlight when he vanishes; his body is never found. Louisa is discovered face-down amid the shoreline's foam, almost drowned. 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'She was aware that Louisa regarded her as an unfeeling person, a sort of robot whose heart — if she even had one — must be made of the same dull aluminum, cold to the touch, as those hideous crutches all but fused to her arms.' Louisa heads east to an elite university (a thinly disguised Yale), putting a continent between her and her mother. The book's middle section is bulky with their dramas, which Choi approaches like a documentarian. She wants to get their story right, even if she risks a narrative doldrum. A European sequence drags on and on, overstaying its welcome, but it also underscores Louisa's divided self as well as Choi's deep ambivalence about status and privilege. The Ivy student finds herself friendless and franc-less in Paris, boarding a cheap bus to London: 'Beyond the station was a wide black trench of oily water that was somehow the Seine. It seemed to Louisa that there were two Parises, the famous and beautiful one to which Christiane held the keys, and the other, where the cigarette butts and empty eau gazeuse bottles and people like Louisa belonged.' Choi flirts with the conventions of political thriller, too, recalling the shadowy resistance groups in Ed Park's prize-winning 'Same Bed Different Dreams.' Chapter by chapter, 'Flashlight' inches back to its opening, scattering clues to the puzzle of Serk's disappearance. Is it random tragedy or something more? A stray orange cat; a séance in a hostel; a 'nearsighted galoot' who decodes cryptic messages from Radio Pyongyang; flashlights that aren't just flashlights — these bread crumbs guide us to the novel's denouement. Her prose occasionally shades purple: 'Not her fault, then, if her nerves could be considered not-her,' Anne reflects on her disease, 'and what else could they be, those shredded nebulae whose feeble glow reached Anne's imagination across light-years of the void of her ailing insides?' The author could have trimmed rhetorical flourishes and excessive explication, shaved off a few adjectives and adverbs; yet the power of 'Flashlight' derives from its exacting psychological portraits, Choi's reconnaissance through the tradition of social realism, the rich tension between her natural cynicism and a desire for empathy. As in Park's Pynchon-style satire and Angie Kim's affecting 'Happiness Falls,' 'Flashlight' explores the collective experiences of Korean Americans, agonies closeted away, the rage that screams inside. The term generational trauma may seem abstract to some, a cliché to others, but Choi makes it concrete, like Louisa's red backpack or Serk's electric torch. She brings her impressive literary toolbox to bear here, and the novel ranks among her best work, alongside 'American Woman' and the National Book Award laureate 'Trust Exercise.' Cain is a book critic and the author of a memoir, 'This Boy's Faith: Notes From a Southern Baptist Upbringing.' He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Sacramento Kings Earn Unflattering Comparison Amid NBA Playoffs
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Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Buzz Feed
45 Father's Day Gifts Everyone Will Wish They Bought
A ~dazzling~ decanter and glasses set if they're a big fan of whiskey and would love to make their bar cart look *extra* fabulous. It comes with a sleek decanter and two matching tumbler glasses so they can get their drink on in style! A foldable 3-in-1 wireless charging station that'll quickly juice up all their gadgets at the same time! And it just looks super cool, TBH. It's super lightweight so it's perfect for travel, especially if they wanna cut down on how many cords and chargers they have to lug around. A towel warmer because they deserve a hot towel waiting for them as soon as they step out of the shower. This thing is about to take the meaning of 'warm and fuzzy' to a whole new level. It can heat two oversized towels in under a minute and will automatically shut off after an hour. Lightsaber chopsticks — let's face it, we all have that one dad in our life who'd love to use ~The Force~ to master these utensils. They glow *and* grip onto sushi and noodles so well, they'll want to use them for every meal! A very cool and challenging 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle if they like to be kept on their toes. They'll also feel *very* accomplished when they step back to admire the finished Lego-esque creation. And this rotating puzzle table to ensure they have a solid surface to do puzzles on! It spins, so they won't have to strain and reach across the table to fill in that corner piece! There are six drawers where they can store unused puzzle pieces until the next time they work on it. A comfy pair of Bose wireless noise-canceling headphones with up to 24 hours of battery life if the audiophile in your life could use a break that involves some solo time and a soothing playlist or podcast of their choosing. It has three listening modes, a built-in mic, and touch controls on the ear cups for adjusting volume, skipping tracks, and answering calls. A Gillette heated razor kit so they no longer have to dread their grooming routine. It's fully waterproof with an adjustable temperature setting so it'll feel like they're being pampered with a hot towel shave. It also comes with a magnetic charging deck and two cartridge refills! A 44-piece Thor Hammer Tool Set they'll reach for just fun *and* when they need to fix something around the house. It includes a hammer (duh!), tape measure, screwdriver, wrench, utility knife, etc. This mighty Mjölnir tool set will put all other toolboxes to shame, that's for sure. Murdle, Volume 1 — a compilation of murder mystery–themed logic puzzles from the creator of Murdle, which is a daily puzzle site similar to Wordle but with a heaping side of murder mystery fun! They'll use deductive (and detective) skills to solve the puzzle with the provided clues and nab the perp. It has four levels of difficulty to keep 'em on their toes. A brilliant beer dispenser to transform their fave bottle or canned beverage into a nitro-style draft beer that's overflowing with a rich, creamy foam! If they're not already a beer snob, they're about to become one. A personalized serving tray for that special dad in your life who absolutely *loves* to entertain. This'll add a unique personal touch to all the goodies they make for parties. Prepare for all their guests to swoon over it and ask, "Where did you get that?!" An acrylic vinyl holder that'll help keep their extensive record collection nicely organized. Their fave album will always be within reach *and* they'll get tons of compliments on their impeccable music taste. A deep tissue massage gun so you can show 'em how much you care about their well-being. It has five massage heads and five speeds for targeting their arms, back, and legs to help reduce tightness. It can also help with recovery if they've been hitting the gym hard lately. Or a heated eye massager when they suffer from migraines and eye pain and would benefit from a lil' TLC. It has various modes for a personalized experience — they can combine heat, massage, and compression, or they can be used individually. It also has a 15-minute timer and can play music via Bluetooth. Relaxation mode: activated. A splurge-worthy Ooni outdoor pizza oven because wood-fired pizza heaven is a real place and Dad is about to teleport there. This portable, tabletop oven is perfect for backyard entertaining and cooks drool-worthy 'za in literally 60 seconds. What more could they need?? Good luck convincing them that no, it's not acceptable to eat pizza for all three meals. Or this restaurant-style pizza stone, aka a one-way ticket to a mouth-watering ~slice~ of heaven they'll never grow tired of. This baking stone absorbs moisture while it cooks so the crust comes out perfectly crispy! The Book of Unusual Knowledge — it's filled with a heap of random, interesting facts they'll be eager to impress all their guests with the next time they host a game night! Get ready to be fascinated with facts about peculiar sporting events, Hollywood urban legends, and even presidential pets. A Shea Moisture beard grooming kit perfect for dads who take immense pride in their facial hair. It's a four-piece set that'll help soften and condition their beard! Plus, it'll nourish and moisturize their skin with shea butter, argan oil, maracuja oil, and vitamins A, E, and F. A durable outdoor blanket if they're the outdoorsy type and would prefer to spend their night under the stars. Now they'll *actually* be comfy when doing so! It's way better than a flimsy sleeping bag. And this heavy-duty camping hammock because is any camping trip really complete without one? It comes with everything they need to set it up and can easily be attached to some trees or even their car, according to one reviewer! Shredder claws to save them a whooole lotta time and have their meat perfectly shredded in a matter of minutes. When they're done, it'll look like an Edward Scissorhands masterpiece that's ready to be devoured! A spacious Carhartt insulated lunch bag — this thing can keep their snacks and drinks cool for several hours. It's big enough to hold a six-pack of beer and has a separate top compartment that's insulated for extra storage! A HyperX gaming keyboard that has a customizable rainbow backlight so all other keyboards pale in comparison for the rest of eternity. If gaming is their favorite way to unwind, this gift will be an instant hit! A set of magnetic lights with flexible goosenecks because who said they can't indulge in burgers and hot dogs after dark? This will ~light up~ the grill so they can actually see what they're doing. No assembly required because magnets!!! A waterproof Bluetooth speaker so they don't have to pause their riveting true crime podcast just to take a shower. Store this gadget in the bathroom and they can listen while washing! It also offers up to 10 hours of battery life and has a built-in carabiner, which makes it the perfect outdoor companion. A miniature Stanley tape measurer keychain to ensure dad is always prepared to take important measurements, which will def come in handy the next time they're at Home Depot! This is suuuper tiny and will fit on their keychain without taking up a ton of space. An inflatable lounger because they deserve to kick back and relax wherever they feel like it — in the backyard, at their fave campsite, or on the beach. They don't even have to bother with a hand pump, it just has to be whisked in the air to inflate. Genius! It will stay inflated for up to five hours and comes with a convenient carrying bag. A fishing rod holder rack that'll bring some much-needed order to their massive rod collection. It attaches right to the back of the garage door and can hold up to six rods, so they'll stay organized *and* save room for other stuff. A rocks glass with a map of their favorite city if they'd love nothing more than to sip their fave beverage from a glass that also happens to remind them of their fave place in the world. They'll be talking about this gift for years to come! A PlayStation 5 wall mount, a dream come true for gamer dads who could benefit from some organization for their beloved console. You know the rectangular device that sits on the floor collecting dust under their TV? It'll look so much nicer displayed on the wall! LED flashlight gloves, which will truly make everyone say, "Why didn't I think of that?" as soon as dad opens it. If he's known for being Mr. Fix It, these gloves will come in ~handy~ time and time again. A collection of The Amazing Spider-Man comics by legends Stan Lee and Steve Ditko! It contains 12 key stories from the first two years of Spider-Man's published comics. You simply will not find a better gift for die-hard Marvel fans. A gorgeous wood-burning fire pit made of durable rust-resistant steel, which will bring an outdoor camping experience right to their backyard. They're bound to become the designated host for all future gatherings. Make sure everyone comes prepared to share their scariest ghost stories! OR! A tabletop s'mores firepit if they're dreaming of the day when they have enough outdoor space for a real fire pit to enjoy — until then, this is the next best thing. It'll make an eye-catching centerpiece on their table, and it even comes with marshmallow roasting sticks for a fun s'mores night. Plus, the burn time lasts for an hour! A History Channel trivia game when they live and breathe all things history *and* it happens to be their favorite channel to watch, too. It contains over 2,000 trivia question spanning a variety of categories, like arts and culture, science and technology, geography and landmarks, and more. Name a better gift for history buffs. I'll wait! Versace cologne, which smells like luxury in a 3.4-ounce bottle so they'll be ~hypnotized~ by their super smooth new scent. The woody, spicy aroma gives off expensive vibes that'll make them think you spent a fortune. A SipCaddy beer holder so they can redefine their go-to phrase, "hold my beer" forever. Plus, they won't have to worry about their drink falling into the tub! Crisis averted. An Adventure Challenge book if pops would prefer an experience over a tangible gift. The whole fam can join in on the fun, too. It includes 50 scratch-off activities so everyone can participate while making long-lasting memories. A fancy Nespresso Aeroccino milk frother that'll make their at-home coffee more appealing. This uses a simple one-touch operation to deliver the creamy milk foam of their dreams — even if they use non-dairy milk! It can quickly heat up milk to between 160 and 170 degrees and has an auto shut-off feature. The Sopranos Family Cookbook to help Dad commemorate their most re-watched show with some juicy Italian recipes that Tony Soprano himself would be impressed by. You may just get lucky and reap some of the scrumptious benefits of this gift, too. A racetrack T-shirt for dads who wanna take a load off while still technically spending some quality time playing with the little ones. This is one of those silly lil' gifts everyone in the house will be endlessly entertained by! A heavy-duty Yeti cooler so they never have to leave ice-cold beverages behind when heading out to explore. Whether they're a fan of camping, fishing, hiking, or all of the above, this will keep their drinks chilled all day long. Brightland's Duo olive oil set, which will magically upgrade any meal they make with high-quality oils. These are perfect for roasting, sautéing, soups, stews, bread, salads, hummus, and more. A portable espresso maker because they should be able to sip a fresh cup of the good stuff even when they're on the go. Travelers who hike, camp, and attend festivals will love this thing! No batteries or electricity needed — they just add ground coffee, add hot water, then unlock the piston and dispense their hot, delicious espresso into the cap.
