Rarely do you come across a film that is truly original in that it is unlike anything you have ever seen, but that description feels valid for I Love Boosters. From the mind of Boots Riley, the creator of the indie breakout Sorry to Bother You and the under-the-radar Prime Video gem I’m a Virgo, the dark comedy I Love Boosters is sure to go down as one of the year’s weirdest, most visionary movies — but it’s all the better for it.
What is I Love Boosters about?
I Love Boosters follows a group of shoplifters who decide to get revenge on the fashion maven responsible for making their lives a living hell. But if you have seen Sorry to Bother You, it likely comes as no surprise that there’s a lot more to the story than that. I Love Boosters takes some incredibly strange (not to mention risky) turns, and while it does feel like a lot to happen in one movie, so many of the ideas he comes up with are so downright insane that it’s hard not to at least admire the audacity of what he’s attempting to pull off.
I Love Boosters Review
Also like Sorry to Bother You, Riley’s script for I Love Boosters wears its politics on its sleeve. The film is a very obvious anti-capitalist satire, but what makes the movie so special is that it doesn’t stop at a simple “eat the rich” message. It takes things so much deeper, lampooning and attacking the various institutions that cause the disparities that Riley points out.
Yet, I Love Boosters never feels like it is posturing, mostly because it is firmly grounded — at least from an emotional standpoint. For a film as driven by absurdity and magical realism as I Love Boosters to work, it needs to be utterly sincere, and Riley delivers that in spades. He gets you invested in these characters so early that you are fully along for the ride.
The heart and soul of the movie is Keke Palmer, who again proves that she is one of the best leading ladies working in film today. She is such an incredible actress in every sense, and quite possibly one of the best to ever make the leap from cable child star to bona fide actress. She’s obviously very funny and charming and carries the comedy with ease, but where she really stands out are the moments when the movie mellows out and allows her to absolutely devastate the audience emotionally.
Palmer is supported brilliantly by Naomi Ackie (Mickey 17) and Taylour Paige (Zola), who round out the Velvet Gang. The chemistry between the three actresses is electric and lived-in, with them able to bounce off each other incredibly well. But also impressive is the fact that Ackie and Paige both get their solo moments to shine without ever wholly stealing the spotlight away from Palmer.
But beyond that, I Love Boosters is just outright hilarious. There are some lines that are instantly quotable, and some images so meme-worthy that the actors demanded GIFs be made of them when the film is released. The comedy in the movie runs the gamut from situational humor to sharp dialogue and quirky characters for the heroes to encounter on their strange journey.
A lot of the success of these side characters is thanks to the film’s committed A-list supporting cast. Fresh off her Oscar-nominated role in The Substance, Demi Moore plays the villain, and does so in a deliciously campy way. It’s not as rich or deep a role as that career-defining turn, but it’s still a ton of fun to watch. Will Poulter also stands out, having a smaller role, but what are some of the movie’s funniest deliveries. LaKeith Stanfield’s role is incredible, but impossible to talk about without spoiling some of the film’s greatest moments. Then, there is a near-unrecognizable Don Cheadle, who seems to be having more fun here than he ever has before.
That being said, the real stars of I Love Boosters are all the artisans who contributed to the movie’s exquisite and extremely detailed technical elements. The production design and costume design are jaw-dropping and filled with color, drawing us into the strange world that Riley is constructing. It is clear that Riley had such an elaborate vision for this film, and that he and his team succeeded in bringing it to life is astounding.
The visual effects are also as eclectic as the movie’s inspirations and ideas. It’s no Avatar, of course, but the scrappiness of some of the visuals lends the film a personality and charm that very few other movies have. For example, the very thorough use of stop-motion animation fits perfectly with the tone and vibe of Boosters.
Riley also recruited fellow Oaklandians Tune-Yards to compose the score, and it’s one of the most unique scores in recent memory. You will undoubtedly have the catchy marching band-esque main theme running through your head for days after seeing the movie, and this, along with the songs (performed by Palmer), gives the movie a propulsive energy.
Is I Love Boosters worth watching?
Even if it doesn’t quite reach the “instant classic” status that Sorry to Bother You earned, I Love Boosters is still one of the boldest, most singular works that any filmmaker has made… maybe in the history of cinema? Love it or hate it, I Love Boosters is undeniably a massive swing, and that’s the type of thing that I personally want to see more of.
I Love Boosters is screening at the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival, which runs March 12-18 in Austin, TX.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
from FandomWire https://ift.tt/mzlQn2x
No comments: