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Typically, romantic comedies go through the same lovably predictable formulas as they follow a couple of lovesick characters on their way to their Happily Ever After. But writer/director Sean Baker has created his own kind of completely out-of-the-ordinary rom-com in his latest film, Anora.
Anora stars Mikey Madison as Ani, a young dancer at a Brooklyn strip club, where she’s assigned to Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a Russian oligarch, because of her knowledge of Russian. But their one night at the club turns into more—and on a trip to Vegas, they decide to get married. This new life of fun and adventure and riches seems like a dream come true for Ani—until word of the marriage gets back to Russia, and Ivan’s parents board a plane to New York to get the marriage annulled.
Though it starts out as a kind of Pretty Woman-esque romance, Anora doesn’t waste too much time on the characters’ love story. Viewers get to know tough, resourceful Ani and her adorably goofy new husband in a relatively short amount of time—and it soon becomes clear that this isn’t just an edgy love story. Really, it’s not until Ivan’s Armenian handlers find out about the marriage—and the news makes its way back to Russia—that the real story begins. A couple of men show up at the door to Ivan’s mansion demanding proof of the marriage—and it all spirals into comic chaos from there.
What plays out from there is even more wildly entertaining than a quirky love story between a spoiled but spineless rich kid and a lovably resilient exotic dancer. Mikey Madison shines as her character fights back against the hired goons sent to bring her Cinderella story to an end. And audiences will be captivated by the character—and the star—as Ani continues to fight for herself and her husband and their life together.
Of course, this hard-R rom-com won’t really appeal to general audiences—and its over-two-hour runtime could have used some trimming to keep the action from dragging in the middle. But it definitely makes for a wild and often surprisingly madcap love story turned adventure.
Anora definitely isn’t the typical mainstream rom-com. It’s darker and grittier with a retro late-night movie feel. But that’s also what makes it an intriguing and entertaining new film from a director who’s known for working outside the box.
You can join in the adventure as Anora continues to expand to more theaters across the country. Check your local listings to see if it’s showing near you.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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