Patti Cake$ (2017)

Review

108min

Genre:       Drama, Music

Director:    Geremy Jasper

Cast:         Danielle Macdonald, Siddharth Dhananjay, Cathy Moriarty…

Writer:      Geremy Jasper

-Synopsis-

On the rundown streets of the garden state, New Jersey youngster and unlikely aspiring rapper ‘Patricia Dombrowski’ (aka ‘Killa P’) struggles to break the bleak grip of her environment and make her dreams come true—with the help of her quirky friends—in this feel-good streetwise urban fantasy from indie filmmaking newcomer Geremy Jasper.

Everyone loves a classic underdog story, where a plucky pretender struggles against the odds and the naysayers to make their mark, culminating in a defining final performance—in either in the sporting or the artistic arena—forming bonds and learning some life-lessons along the way. Now for his debut feature film, writer/director Jasper applies this timeless, tried & tested Hollywood formula to this upbeat, Indie modern working-class urban rap parable about life’s struggles and self-acceptance.

Aussie TV actress and young indie stalwart Danielle Macdonald stars as Patty Dombrowski herself, an overweight twenty-something ‘Jerseyite’ with hip-hop dreams which betray the sombre working-class reality, enduring the grind while living with her no-nonsense granny (Cathy Moriarty) and her tough but loving mom ‘Barb’ (Bridget Everett)—herself with unrealised musical aspirations. When her best friend and hip-hop compadre ‘Jheri’ (Siddharth Dhananjay) and their new anarchist producer ‘Basterd’ (Mamoudou Athie) start to make things happen for the plucky outsider, ‘Killa P’ will struggle to break free from the shackles of her life while reaching for the stars.

Not only might you find the core narrative here a tad familiar, but you might also see some clear echoes of cinema from the recent past. ‘Patti Cake$’ has already been described (accurately) as ‘8 Mile’ meets ‘Juno’, but you can also see some of Andrea Arnold’s ‘American Honey’ and a little ‘School of Rock’ thrown into the mix—not to mention ‘Rocky’ of course—plus perhaps an inadvertent hint of 1999’s ‘Whiteboyz’. Yet for all the strong language and urban grit involved in the drama, this is ultimately a rather innocent and sentimental crowd-pleaser at heart.

Jasper carefully crafts a grounded but aspirational little positivity tale about acceptance and loving thyself—with the marginalised outsider as the hero—built on socially progressive foundations when it comes to its themes and characters, revelling in Patty’s highs and straining to ensure the lows pack a dramatic gut-punch . . .  while just about staying on the right side of cultural appropriation.

Although her lead performance being hailed as groundbreaking and star-making may qualify as unsurprising hyperbole from some critics, Danielle Macdonald does nevertheless hold the entire film together with an empathetic and self-styled performance which is distinctly impressive, particularly when you consider that this Aussie actress with primarily comedic chops had no real previous hip-hop ‘spitting’ experience. But thanks to her force of personality and some clever little rhymes from Jasper (a former music video director)—who lives out his own New Jersey childhood fantasies through ‘Killa P’— Macdonald triumphantly crafts a likeable character within a relatable narrative . . . ably aided by an eclectic supporting cast.

However for all the novelty which Jasper introduces in terms of the characters and the cultural setting, ‘Patti Cake$’ ultimately comes off like a slight variation on an established theme. This well-meaning little underdog indie has no real edge and is tame when it comes to drama or any hint of real poignancy, but conversely is never funny or idiosyncratic enough to be completely endearing, and a tad too underwritten to be particularly memorable.

Yet despite the predictable narrative and overly earnest tone, ‘Patti Cake$’ can’t be knocked for lack of heart and life-affirming positivity, and Jasper deserves credit for conceiving and executing a plucky little underdog outsider parable which will often entertain, and occasionally delight. It may not quite justify the festival darling and indie gem status it has garnered among some, but Geremy Jasper’s assured debut will make you leave the cinema feeling better than when you went in . . . perhaps spitting a few of your own rhymes along the way.

The Bottom Line…

A classic underdog drama wrapped in life-affirming and self-accepting indie packaging, ‘Patti Cake$’ is too familiar to break the mould and too sanitised and overly earnest to leave a lasting impact, but thanks to the efforts of its star and no small amount of heart, Geremy Jasper’s feature debut is quirky and endearing enough to make for an entertaining little urban ode to the outsider.

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

8 Mile (2002)

In the rundown outskirts of 90s Detroit, an aspiring young white rapper struggles to make his hip-hop dreams come true while dealing with personal demons and the difficulties of his personal life, in this semi autobiographical drama based on the life of superstar rapper Eminem.

Directed by Curtis Hanson and starring Eminem, Kim Basinger and Mekhi Phifer among others.

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