Worth: $14.50
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Rudy Mancuso, Camila Mendes, J.B. Smoove
Intro:
… captivating high concept comedy.
For those who are chronically online, you might recognise co-writer, director, and star Rudy Mancuso from his early work on YouTube and Vine. For better or worse, he’s best known on the big screen for his role as Albert Desmond in 2023’s The Flash, a fate Mancuso might finally be free of thanks to this captivating high concept comedy.
Taking the lessons he learned from his time on Vine, back when he had six seconds or less to make his mark, Mancuso uses rhythmic flash cuts and sweeping motion to create a dynamic world that’s bursting with life and movement. Throw in inspired set pieces and a role for his real-life mother, and Mancuso’s semi-autobiographical chronicle of a subway busker on a journey of self-discovery does all it can to set itself apart from your average romcom.
Co-written with Dan Lagana (Christmas with the Campbells), Musica is the story of a young Brazilian-American man named, you guessed it: Rudy, who lives with his mum (the scene-stealing Maria Mancuso). Recently dumped and just months shy of graduating college, Rudy is desperately searching for purpose between busking and trying his hand at amateur puppeteering, all while trying to manage a condition that might be labelled synaesthesia but looks a whole lot like hallucinatory episodes with a catchy soundtrack.
It’s a twist on the classic Hollywood musical where one character bursts into song, and everyone around them automatically knows the lyrics. In Rudy’s world, a spoon dropped into a sink can cause an all-out flash mob in his brain, but it’s always a song only he can hear. That is until he meets Isabella (Camila Mendes), the first person who’s ever bothered to try and see the world through Rudy’s eyes.
It’s a sweet and silly romance that distinguishes itself from the usual fare by making use of Mancuso’s expansive imagination. With fast and flashy fantasy sequences showcasing a blend of music, animation, and puppetry, Mancuso keeps the pace snappy, and constantly delights the eye with innovative staging and unique camera angles.
Unfortunately, beneath all the flash, there’s not a lot of substance when it comes to characterisation. It’s not just the women in Rudy’s life who suffer the fate of one-dimensional supporting character, his best friend Anwar (J. B. Smoove) gets the same treatment—his job is Food Truck Guy and that’s pretty much all we get to know. Camila Mendes does the very most with what she’s given to work with, the chemistry between Isabella and Rudy feels playful and effortless, which makes a lot of sense given that the pair began dating in real life shortly after filming wrapped. Ultimately, though, this is a one-man show, and what it lacks in original storytelling, it makes up for with distinctive visuals and a lively soundtrack (as if Mancuso didn’t have enough on his plate with co-writing, directing, and starring, he also composes the film’s score and original songs), which helps to provide a solid rhythm to keep the senses occupied whenever the narrative misses a beat.
