User reviews

After watching this movie I was left with a few questions. One of them being what kind of movie was this supposed to be? The bio says comedy/crime, but I thinks it fell short of that goal. Secondly, how could such a star studded cast come across as an average movie?

I'm not sure if was a script issue, casting issue, editing issue, or the director just didn't get the script, but I suppose my highest problem with the movie was that I had zero attachments to any one particular character. If anything Jennifer Coolidge stole the whole show, and gave it some semblance of a minor comedy.

It's almost as the movie was suffering from some type of identity crisis, in terms of not being one or the other. The trailer did its job enough for me to give it a watch, and the movie did have some great scenes, but I don't think the vision came out the way it was intended. It's an average movie at best, but given the cast, I was expecting something with a lot more to it. No meat, and all potatoes.

I went into this movie blind, having only seen the cast list and description. No Trailer. But a dark comedy with a great ensemble cast? Yes Please!

But the movie is sparse with comedy. Some light chuckles here and there. Some characters are just sad, like Coolidge. Everyone portrayed their characters very well though.

The story does a lot flash backs and time jumps. Almost everything is a cut away. It's not a novel story, it's actually very familiar. Actors play their usual tropes. Ed Harris moves on from his troubled past until it catches up to him.

Good use of scenery and music.

It's all well acted, well shot, but meanders without comedy. It was an entertaining watch. But a better script would have given the great cast more to do.

6.5*/10*

More reviews on my YT --GremlinLord615.

Vincent's New Year's Eve is turned upside down when his ex-wife, son, and pregnant girlfriend stop by unannounced. Suspicious of their motives, Vincent attempts to prevent his past from catching up with his second family. Unfortunately, as they ring in the new year, Vincent's past also shows up.

Based on the cast, this movie had the potential to be funnier. The story has potential, but there is insufficient backstory to captivate and engage the audience. With one hour and forty-three minutes of runtime, more of the time could have been spent setting up more punchlines. Fans of any of the cast members might find this movie worth a stream.

RIFF RAFF (2025) *** Ed Harris, Jennifer Coolidge, Lewis Pullman, Gabrielle Union, Miles J. Harvey, Emanuela Postacchini, Pete Davidson, Bill Murray. Quasi-Tarantino lite crime dramedy with Harris as a shady family man whose reunion with his estranged son (Pullman channeling his old man's role in RUTHLESS PEOPLE), who is knee-deep in dire straits with an old frienemy (low-key energy at its best Murray) out for vengeance during the holiday season. John Pollono's screenplay has its moments in balancing black comedy with director Dito Montiel's display of greatest hits crime tropes blending into a miasma of been-there-done-that but with a tongue-in-cheek demeanor.

I don't typically write reviews, but I felt compelled to after spending $10 to rent this on Xfinity-a transaction that really pisses me off as I hate giving them money. While listening to Joe Rogan, Bill Murray discussed his three upcoming movies, saying Riff Raff stood out as a banger. I strongly disagree - it's anything but a banger. In fact, it's among the most worst films I've seen in a while. With a solid cast, I'm at a loss for how trash it turned out. If you're inclined to spend your time on it, go for it, but wait until it's free to watch - the storyline and overall execution was tired.

This is a small film with a good story, great Direction, and a great cast. I watched it for Bill Murray. It is an unusual role for him, but he is really versatile. He plays a middle level mob boss out for the revenge of the murder of his son. Pete Davidson, Gabrielle Union, Ed Harris and Jennifer Coolidge are very good in co-starrring roles. Miles J. Harvey is a the best part of the movie and the cerebral son of Union and Harris. This is part mob movie, part comedy, part drama. It is unusual and good. The dialogue is very good and well executed by the cast. This is an unusual independent film worth supporting and seeing.

Riff Raff (2024) has many good qualities, but also a few gaps. Acting is solid, with credible performances by Ed Harris, Bill Murray, Pete Davidson, and other less familiar actors. The plot offers layers of complexity. Production values are adequate for a mid-budget film. It's watchable, but not thoroughly enjoyable. I liked Ed Harris's Vincent, but couldn't identify with him. It was nice to see Bill Murray playing against type. However, I never truly identified with or cared about any of the characters.

Some scenes seemed familiar and predictable. There was possibly an overreliance on flashbacks. It seemed a bit awkwardly politically correct with an interracial romance that laced passion. The ending was a bit noir, but spoiled by a Hollywood denouement and a climatic scene that seemed contrived and improbable. The filmmakers offer exposition on family that doesn't quite fit the action, but leave the viewer wondering what it all meant.

Long, drawn out and cringe.

I almost feel sorry for Pete Davidson, but he's a dope that does dope.

A bunch of non engaging characters are cruel to each other and most of the people that they encounter. This is just bad wanna be Tarantino and Bill Murray's schtick is old and so is he. Trying to figure out what the point was. And Ed Harris getting it on with gorgeous Gabrielle Union made the skin on my body want to crawl off. Lots of drawn out scenes and Harris's character is such a dried up jerk I don't get what his appeal was. The dough black kid had a few funny lines, and the Italian gal was stunning, but this thing was 20 minutes too long. And twist I figured out in the first 15 minutes.

In terrific character-driven small-time crime dramedy "Riff Raff" Italian-American New York tough-guy Lewis Pullman (rising star) shows up (with mum Jennifer Coolidge & pregnant girlfriend Emanuela Postacchini) at the rural holiday home of his dad Ed Harris & HIS new family (of 18yrs) Gabrielle Union & Miles J Harvey... and trouble's following him, in the shape of ruthless hoods Bill Murray & Pete Davidson. That's a great cast, under notable director Dito Monteil and fine writer John Pollono. With all that talent it's no wonder it's as good as it is, though particular props go to Pollono, Monteil, Murray, Harris & Coolidge. For fans of "Fargo" and similar, it is a must.

Nothing funny about it. Violent and awkward yes. Dripping with f bombs at every turn yes. But Coolidge's character Ruth isn't funny she's just vulgar. Murray's Lefty isn't funny, he just has dialogue that is mundane set against shock violence. Davidson's Lonnie has no depth, just a bumbling prop as a sidekick. Even the background scene showing how the wealthy socialite Union and the former badguy Harris are together makes them as a couple *less* believable. The side characters who get blown away are so clueless they're not just not believable, they are the un funny caricatures that you might see in a B grade teen comedy. It's better than "Not another church movie" that was a zero. This had believable acting by Pullman, Harris, and the kid who played DJ. But all in all an unpleasant watch Acting 6. Story 0. Marketing that lured me in 0.

In order to create tension and suspense, Riff Raff skillfully builds to its climax sequence and then makes good use of that encounter. Before a 30-minute sail to the finish line, everything falls into place. The grand conclusion is expertly timed, edited, and staged. There are a lot of things that the shoddy first sixty minutes aren't. The movie's opening teaser sequence, which piqued our attention, is explained, along with disclosures, broken relationships, and attempts at forgiveness.

Regarding the conclusion, I am unsure of my thoughts. At first glance, it appears uncomfortable and difficult to swallow. However, there is something about one character's last statement that makes me question if it is really that straightforward. Perhaps I am thinking too much. In any event, this is a film that, unlike many others nowadays, saves the best until last. Therefore, Riff Raff provides for those who persevere long enough. I only wish there had been more interest in the buildup.

LIKES: Good Cinematography Filters The Acting Dark Comedy Is Timed Well/Dynamic Liked the Piecing Of Events Together Good Effects Pace At times Is Fantastic Good Dialogue Musical Selection Works Unique In Some Ways Summary: An independent film is not often the most spectacular show of special effects, over-the-top worlds, and top-billed actors for the awards. Riff Raff, though, feels a bit like a hybrid of popular and independent coming together, the qualities of both blending well into a movie that felt surprisingly elevated and entertaining. Montiel's direction coordinates cinematography with beautiful yet simple techniques that bring this story to an engaging level, capturing their emotions to some of the best details. It uses the right filters and good angles to capture the emotion of the moment to peak perfection. A smart script loaded with witty dialogue helps to guide the story, realistic conversations coming together with that Hollywood finesse that I love to marinate the words with to add that sparkle. Riff Raff's words are loaded to the nines with a great collection of quips, one-liners, and personalized insults that, again, are balanced, fun, and full of life. Even the music had a part in the comedy, a fun '70s-'80s style that almost seemed to have a personality of its own when executed. Of course, the acting brought much of this to life, solid performances from the merry band of actors to make much of this dark comedy to life. The cast feels authentically in tune with their characters, naturally having these qualities with few treading too far into overacting territory. I loved their delivery, their commitment, and the manners they brought, somehow telling more of their life with their non-verbal acting than their delivery. And when things heat up, the movie does a nice job bringing effects to life, but it does not rely too much on the new-age tricks to bring them to life, choosing instead practical effects to make them come to life. Alongside an authentic-looking baby bump, several tricks with hair, and several realistic wounds, the effects accomplish much despite not being the investment other films have.

As for the story, it's an odd tale of family, a set of choice events falling in a row to bring a very disgruntled family around the end of the holiday season. Riff Raff does a good job of explaining these events, taking the central tale of a tense family reunion and finding natural places to launch back into the past. The elements are long enough to be necessary but not too long to bloat the time and are presented articulately, with no complex telling or retelling like some movies try for in an attempt to keep a mystery going. Each tale adds a little more to the story while also adding some subplots and character development moments that utilize the time well. What I appreciated is that the stories almost match the personality of the person telling it, each tale having a visual style and writing to match the recanter's mind. An added bonus is that they are all naturally baked into the present with great transitions that build on those interactions I mentioned earlier. Sometimes in the form of answering a question, other times a means of sage wisdom to the impressionable DJ who is trying to comprehend everything. It all works well, and such blending of comedy and drama accomplishes much for me to make a unique storytelling adventure I didn't quite expect.

DISLIKES: The Language At Times Is Overbearing Coolidge And Davidson Still Are Their Acting It's Bloated In Pace At Times The Twist Comes A Tad Too Late The Dark Comedy Crosses Some Lines I Felt There Was A Little More Character Development Needed The Ending is Funny, But Rushed And Odd Summary The movie does have some of the drawbacks I don't like in independent films/film festival films. For one thing, the dialogue does get a bit heavy and lazy with expletives, dropping certain curses with no strategy to execution. Sensitive ears will hate this aspect, while others might become bored from the excess. The dark comedy will also cross boundaries, and several of the moments are a tad too morbid or inhumane for sensitive viewers to be aware of, a few too savage for myself and those involved. Past these moments, Davidson and Coolidge still aren't my favorites to invest in, and I feel that they were the two characters who added little more than pure comedy into the movie. If you like their styles and tricks, then you'll love their usage, but I felt there could have been a little more to even out the one-note comedy they've become accustomed to in most of their roles. In regards to the story and pacing, Riff Raff is a tad inconsistent and feels incomplete or rushed, depending on the part of the movie. The story gets a tad lost in itself, beating some of the points to a pulp to slow the momentum, while other times skipping past moments that could have built up a little more tension. The major flop was the twist of the movie, a good punch, but coming a tad too late and feeling a tad too rushed and changing the face of the game. It leads to an ending I don't quite appreciate- a rushed, vague, and open end that closes things down, but perhaps in the most unoriginal finish that felt a bit too metaphorical after all the buildup. It is this ending that I felt was the weakest part of the film, and I can't help but wonder what could have come if we had twenty more minutes to flesh out that finale.

The VERDICT: Riff Raff is a movie that doesn't really push much in terms of visuals, world-building, or unique flair that we audience members seem to crave. Where it does succeed is that its simple execution is very intelligent, an efficient tale that balances past and present within a short time frame, tying the story together in a more unique way. I enjoyed the dark comedy at times and found the character development realistic, fun, and reflected through the whole journey for most of the characters, craving a few more minutes and pieces into this complex tale. Between the smart dialogue and the acting that brought it to life, I was entranced by this visual essay told through a narration on the concepts of family. However, the film's independent vibes also do get in the way at times with the time limit perhaps condensing things a tad too far to not let us have that time needed for just a tad more character development. There are a few other moments that go in excess, but the movie's main limitation for me was the ending, which feels a tad too vague and hasty after all the wonderful things Montiel and Pollono did in this piece, with just a little more completeness needed for me to enjoy. Still, with all this in mind, Riff Raff is one of those films I think many will enjoy and could recommend for a theater visit in the balanced fun I had with it. Is it necessary for the theater? No, the movie feels like an Apple+ worthy franchise to optimize. My scores of Riff Raff are: Comedy/Crime: 7.0-7.5 (not so much a crime, but a drama) Movie Overall: 7.0.

I kept waiting for the movie to improve and get funny because of the potential from the cast, about halfways through the movie when Murray and Davidson go into the store I gave up on it. The scene was rediculous and a forecast of what the remainder of the movie was going to be like. To mitigate my loss and check it off the list I fast forwarded through the remainder of movie.

The best part of the movie was Lucinda William's opening song.

If racial diversity was incorporated in the plot in hopes of winning Oscars there are going to be some dissapointed people.

Dustin Hoffman must of bailed after he read the script, the other actors read the script but showed up for the pay check anyway.

6.2 for this trash? Please.

Story is all over the place. Characters don't fit together well. It has a badly written script.

Heaven forbid they had an all white cast in a movie or show made today - the horror! - so they forced in a black girlfriend and her son, which didn't fit into the story at all. It felt completely forced, like a square peg on a round hole. Not only did it not add to the movie, it made even less believable. Especially in Maine!!!

This is labeled as a comedy and dark comedy. It's neither. Bill Murray's talents were completely wasted. The one time he tried to be darkly comical, it fell completely flat.

The rest, was just so boring, I shut it off 1/2 way through. I couldn't care less about the characters or what happened to them.

To say the makers of this movie 'mailed it in' would be an injustice to any one who uses the postal service, they didn't write the letter , they didn't put in an envelope and they most certainly did not give it to the mailman.

Now it is one thing to see a movie you don't like but one can understand how another movie goer would like it, love it , even rave about it. I can't believe I actually sat through it.

Important point here: Bill Murray, Ed Harris and Pete Davidson , can't be too bad , right? Do not be sucked in by the talent because there is no talent that could redeem this movie.

The 'mayhem' is gratuitous and never even makes any sense, the screenplay is simply dumb at every moment of the film.

A fair description would be that the movie is trying to be' The Irishman' ( a fairly good movie I would say ) with some comedic twists. Absolutely cannot believe the aforementioned talent would associate themselves with a project with no artistic or entertainment value.

Steer clear and watch ten minutes when it comes to some second rate steaming platform , you will . . . See . . . What I mean.

I enjoyed it tremendously. It has a very good cast of characters, kinda feeding off what you would expect of them but going forward at a new speed that was great to watch.

This film was a reminder of Bill Murray's entertainment value. He was amusing in his role as a bad guy, not to the level of Albert Brooks in Drive, but it still shows Murray does have range.

Also, give credit to Pete Davidson, who was the shining forward of starting the movie in the character he always plays but giving us something extra.

Also good seeing Ed Harris do a film. Just a great character actor always worth watching. A great catch! Very funny!

This is kind of a farcical, black comedy. The characters have some life to them, but little depth or context It is reminiscent of a Fargo type story with the banal, the ordinary, sharing the story with extreme violence.

Because of the substantial lack of EARNED back story, most of the characters flat. Surprisingly, Ed Harris' new family dynamic comes across as flat and hollow. Jennifer Coolidge and Lewis Pullman steal the show with their performances. Bill Murray gets honorable mention...because he's Bill Murray, and I'd watch him read the dictionary. But, he's not that funny here, and is trying to play a straight character...who is put into black comedy situations.

If you're going to see a "Bill Murray movie" then you're going to be disappointed on many levels. But, it's not a complete waste. Although, I'm not sure it was worth his gonzo promotion campaign that included eating super hot chicken wings on First We Feast (although that interview was pretty good).

Garbage script and directing made a handful of legends look like amateurs. Hats off to the editors who seem to have tried to save this Lifetime-style movie.

I guess it makes sense why it was released for $10 on Prime.

Here's a minimum character requirement: Garbage script and directing made a handful of legends look like amateurs. Hats off to the editors who seem to have tried to save this Lifetime-style movie. I guess it makes sense why it was released for $10 on Prime.

Garbage script and directing made a handful of legends look like amateurs. Hats off to the editors who seem to have tried to save this Lifetime-style movie. I guess it makes sense why it was released for $10 on Prime.

2025 thus far, seems to be on the trajectory for being the year of mediocre films, and Riff Raff is unfortunately added to this less impressive list. The cast alone grabbed my attention as I had no knowledge of its existence prior to its release, and the performances are solid across the board, yet I'm not convinced that the narrative needed such a bloated cast list. The film is a crime-thriller dark comedy, and here lies the problem. Riff Raff struggles to execute what it set out to be, the tone of the movie just felt weird, bouncing between tense dramatical scenes and quippy comedic moments all too often took me out of the experience. Don't get me wrong the characters are interesting, and some decent exposition is given throughout the story, but I felt this would have made a better mini-series instead of a film as its content feels all too crammed in. Plus, Fargo the TV show (2014) knocked it out of the park when it comes to juggling comedy and cinematic drama and I believe this is what the movie intended to achieve. If they took these exact same cast and characters and allowed more room for them to breathe, you could potentially have a banger of a season 6 under the Frago name - right actors/characters, wrong method. Overall, I was less than impressed with Riff Raff, it's not bad and produces some good characters but I felt they needed a lot more exploration to justify the climax.

Ed Harris and this gorgeous black woman, that was creepy AF. IRL, there's a 22 year gap. On screen, looks like 30+ years. Did the main protagonists need to be dinosaurs? And if you want to pick dinosaurs, how about picking more age appropriate wives?

Did the wife need to be black? This felt so forced, again, creepy AF to have this white Dino call a doughy black kid son.

The script was really, really bad. The characters are awful. Their behaviour makes no sense. The characters don't have depth. The Johnny sub plot should have been heart breaking but wasn't. The Italian girl is stunning. The black wife is stunning too. The protagonists are dinosaurs. Nothing made sense. It was awful.

I enjoyed the wry, dark comedy, good cast.

I can see that it's maybe too introspective for some, no frisky shouting matches when the tensions were high. It was based in familial terms, accepting the negative as all too familiar and often deflected by reflex. There isn't a lot of physical transition, you see a lot of the same set, almost a stage play feel to it. It is essentially a slow burn psychodrama.

But the script was not all that predictable, and there were ample twists and turns as the story unfolded. The way the personalities interacted was an intricate puzzle revealing the whole picture when completed. Yes, there was violence, but it wasn't gratuitous. It was always the effect of the emotional cause, reaching a logical (illogical) conclusion.

See it if you like wry, dark humor about flawed personalities. Skip it if it's not your thing.

There is an extended family that includes individuals who may be criminally afiliated. Parts of the family are not criminally affiliated. Everyone is charmless, unfunny, unlikeable, and generally annoying.

It was made well enough with proper cameras and sound equipment. It was just written poorly, by unfunny, hack writers who aren't comedy writers. The lines aren't funny, they are annoying. The stupid science kid is annoying, not endearing.

I really, really wanted to like this more, but it was just so hard to watch this many gross, dumb, uninteresting jerks roll around in the pigsty of unfunny family drama for 2 hours. There's a way to make sharing intimate and graphic details to an underage, science nerd (probably,) but this movie didn't accomplish that. It was incredibly hard to keep watching jerks say unfunny charmless lines, one after the other.