Red Rocket – ABC Film Challenge – Catch-Up 2022 – R – Red Rocket – Movie Review
Director: Sean Baker
Writer: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch (Screenplay)
Cast
- Simon Rex (Scary Movie 3)
- Bree Elrod (Shutter Island)
- Suzanna Son
- Brenda Deiss
Plot: Mikey Saber is a washed-up porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown, not that anyone really wants him back.
Runtime: 2 Hours 10 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Red Rocket starts as washed-up porn star Mikey Saber (Rex) returns to a small Texan town. He returns to his wife Lexi (Elrod) who lives with her mother Lil (Deiss), promising to help with rent if he can stay there. Mikey turns to former local drug dealer to help him with his finances.
When Mikey meets a donut waitress Strawberry (Son), he sees something special about her. He starts to get close to her, believing she could become the next big star in the porn industry.
Verdict on Red Rocket
Red Rocket is a comedy drama that follows a washed-up porn star who wants to get back into the industry. He has returned to his wife, hoping to bring things back together again. This sees him select a young woman he believes could help him return to his former stardom.
The movie gets to show how former stars in any industry will always want to recapture their success. Sean Baker continues to show how low-income families on the verge of poverty get through each day. He tends to cast relatively unknown actors who get to shine. Simon Rex is fantastic, having only previously seen in him parody movies in the past. The movie shows how people will give up on their dreams to make sure can chase false dreams.
Final Thoughts – Red Rocket is another brilliant movie from Sean Baker.
