There’s nothing quite like a dark comedy to get the blood pumping. Add in some unique performances from all-time greats like Bill Murray and Ed Harris and you’ve got the makings for a very interesting time at the movies. Riff Raff is a story of family, consequences, and whether people truly change. I didn’t love the film (you can check out my review HERE) but it certainly has some performances that stand out. Whether it’s Bill Murray being a bad guy or Pete Davidson as his muscle, there are plenty of “against type” performances her that give it a unique identity.

I was fortunate enough to chat with Jennifer Coolidge and Gabrielle Union about the film, and it truly sounded like a unique experience. Jennifer broke down how often people approach her for roles they deem “perfect for her” only for her to not see where she fit in. Thankfully, that didn’t happen with Riff Raff, as she immediately took to the character of Ruth. The film also served as a reunion of sorts, as Gabrielle found out quickly that Bill Murray had remembered her from an Awards After Party. I’m pretty sure most of us would consider our lives to be a success if Bill Murray showed any sort of affection towards us. He’s just that guy. Check out these fun conversations in the video above!

RIFF RAFF plot synopsis: Vincent is an ex-criminal who more than anything, just wants a normal, peaceful life. He and his wife Sandy have built a loving family with their son DJ and are spending the winter break in a cabin before he goes off to college. Chaos ensues when Vincent’s disowned son Rocco, his girlfriend Marina and Vincent’s ex-wife Ruth abruptly show up to spoil the festivities with an ominous warning: the famed gangsters Leftie and Lonnie are coming for them.

RIFF RAFF IS PLAYING IN THEATERS ON FEBRUARY 28TH, 2025.

The post Interview: Jennifer Coolidge and Gabrielle Union Discuss Bill Murray’s Dark Turn In Riff Raff appeared first on JoBlo.

PLOT: Vincent is an ex-criminal who more than anything, just wants a normal, peaceful life. He and his wife Sandy have built a loving family with their son DJ and are spending the winter break in a cabin before he goes off to college. Chaos ensues when Vincent’s disowned son Rocco, his girlfriend Marina and Vincent’s ex-wife Ruth abruptly show up to spoil the festivities with an ominous warning: the famed gangsters Leftie and Lonnie are coming for them.

REVIEW:  Sometimes a film comes along and the cast is enough to convince you to take the leap. No plot or motivations uttered, just a poster featuring an intriguing cast of characters. And there are few lineups more intriguing than one that includes Bill Murray, Ed Harris, Jennifer Coolidge, Gabrielle Union, Pete Davidson, and Lewis Pullman. Add in some out of the box performances, and Riff Raff had all the makings for a great film. And what we get is good, but it feels like there was plenty left on the table.

Riff Raff is about Vincent, an ex-criminal who’s long since left the business and living a new life with a new family. But when his old family pays a visit, claiming Vincent’s former associates have beef with them, his life is turned upside down. Ed Harris does a good job as Vincent, even if I had a little trouble buying Gabrielle Union as his wife. Love both of them, but given the fact that their chemistry is practically non-existent, it feels more like filling out the cast with big names versus people who are right for the roles. Vincent never really won me over, and it mostly feels like: why are people fighting over THIS guy?

The criminals that are hunting them down, Lefty and Lonnie, are played by Bill Murray and Pete Davidson and they were easily the best part of Riff Raff. They have a very fun dynamic and it feels a bit outside of what we tend to see from these two. Murray is fantastic as Lefty, a mob boss who’s going through a bit of an existential crisis. The way he kills a dude, only to immediately talk about how he probably didn’t deserve it shows he’s not so black and white. Usually, he’s just playing a variation of the Bill Murray schtick that we’ve seen for years (and love) but he’s really doing something different here. I’d say this is easily the most unlikable he’s been in years, making for some intriguing casting.

Jennifer Coolidge is wonderful as Vincent’s ex-wife Ruth. I’ll never tire of her being gloriously crude to children. She brings a likeability to Ruth that I think would have otherwise been absent. She still has those classic Coolidge trademarks, but manages to feel different enough. Miles J Harvey takes the role of “young kid with a verbiage of a scholar and way too much emotional security.” I’m never a fan of this kind of character, and if anything, he clashes with the dark humor of the film a bit. I understand that it was necessary in order to show Vincent’s new life, but he feels very disconnected from the rest.

The film is pretty low energy and moves at a slower pace than most modern films. It’s almost presented like a stageplay, with long bits of dialogue and limited locations. All of the events just kind of happen and the context isn’t properly communicated. There are plenty of great performances, but all of the characters feel very surface level and not very lived in. There’s such a nonchalant quality to Riff Raff‘s narrative, that nothing ever really has much impact. Even the deaths just kind of happen without much pomp and circumstance.

Riff Raff winds up in a place of death and chaos, giving a bit of identity to what is an otherwise stale mob tale. The performances and characters really help to give this a bit of energy. But outside of Murray and Davidson, it can feel a bit old hat. Ultimately, I liked the film for its performances, but I feel like we’ve seen this story told before, and in a more interesting way.

RIFF RAFF RELEASES IN THEATERS ON FEBRUARY 28TH, 2025.

Riff Raff

AVERAGE

6

The post Riff Raff Review: A Dark Turn From Bill Murray But Little Else appeared first on JoBlo.

Two of the hottest tickets in Hollywood, Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus, American Pie) and Brian Cox (Succession), are about to be joined by Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man, Hook) and Gabrielle Union (Bad Boys II, Bring It On) for the crime comedy Riff Raff. Dito Montiel (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Fighting) directs from a script by John Pollono (Stronger).

The star-studded project revolves around the ordinary life of a former criminal whose world turns upside down when his old family shows up for a long-awaited reckoning. With cameras ready to roll in September, Riff Raff heads to the Cannes market this week for international sales, with Capstone organizing domestic rights with CAA Media Finance and WME Independent. Noah Rothman produces through Canopy Partners, with Marc Goldberg and Sarah Gabriel producing via Signature Films.

“We are thrilled to partner with the producers and Dito on this project; we’ve loved it ever since we’ve read it. It embodies the type of crime comedies we grew up with – witty and entertaining. Not to mention the perfect cast that will bring these colorful characters to life,” said Goldberg.

When Goldberg says, “the type of crime comedies we grew up with,” which films do you think he refers to? Is Riff Raff a send-up to movies like Beverly Hills Cop, Midnight Run, A Fish Called Wanda, Disorganized Crime, Cookie, or Who’s Harry Crumb? With an ensemble cast including Coolidge, Cox, Hoffman, and Union, anything can happen.

Coolidge and Cox are both Emmy Award winners, with Coolidge taking home the prize for her unforgettable performance in Mike White’s The White Lotus. Hoffman’s got multiple Oscars, including the Best Actor trophy for 1980’s Kramer vs Kramer and 1989’s Rain Man. Gabrielle Union is a BET Awards winner and multiple nods at other film and television celebrations.

What are your predictions for Riff Raff‘s tone? Which are your favorite crime comedies of the ’80s and ’90s? Mine include Fargo, Demolition Man, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Trapped in Paradise, Heathers, The Naked Gun, and My Cousin Vinny. Feel free to let us know in the comments below.

The post Riff Raff: Jennifer Coolidge, Brian Cox, Dustin Hoffman, and Gabrielle Union board Dito Montiel crime comedy appeared first on JoBlo.