DADDY ISSUES (2019)

Edited & Directed By: Amara Cash 
Written By: Alex Bloom & Amara Cash 
Story By: Alex Bloom 
Cinematography: Nico Aguilar 


Cast: Madison Lawlor, Montana Manning, Andrew Pifco, Kamala Jones, Jodi Carol Harrison, Monte Markham, Seth Cassell 

Maya, a 19-year-old queer pixie, spends her days working on her art and cyberstalkng her insta-crush, the sexually fluid fashion designer, Jasmine. One night Maya boldly meets Jasmine IRL, there's an insta-spark and the two begin an inspiring romantic relationship that gives Maya her first taste of true love and Jasmine the inspiration she needs to jump start her career. It's all gumdrops and fairytales until Maya discovers Jasmine's in a co-dependent relationship with a neurotic sugar daddy. What started as a dream come true turns into a beautiful nightmare.

The acting throughout isn’t that great but becomes better the more invested the movie becomes in the characters and itself.

Montana Manning is the break out star she has such a swagger in the film that she can be desirable and somewhat innocent. Though it always feels like she has control of the situation and the scenes where she doesn’t make her come off as more vulnerable. What is shocking is finding out that in real life she is British. Which makes her come off as more impressive as in the role she comes off more natural and raw.

One can admit that my admiration for this film comes from a fascination with her and this film letting her inhabit the character that seems almost written for her and truly showing off her skills.

As the film starts off it feels like a fairytale as the main character played by Madison Lawlor is stuck with a cruel mother and a stupid step father who pretty much piss on her dreams and lightly insult her. It also helps play up this narrative her fashions and look with her pink hair bright wardrobe and innocence she looks like a anime animated character. Though as the film always seems a bit out of reality. As the film goes on the emotions get heavier and then the film finally starts to feel more like it can be identifiable.

What is strong about the film is that while at first you questions the characters and dynamic once it all comes together you can enjoy their harmony yet worry about what will happen when the inevitable does occur.

Once it does it is brutal more than expected as there seems to be so many misunderstandings but also you can tell all three do care about one another and while one Denies ever loving the to her saying they were more of a plaything and toy while you believe it you can also tell that there were true feelings more than she is letting on. While the other truly fell in l love for maybe the first time.

While the male involved In the relationship does care about both but cares about his long lost daughter more and has to grow up and put away his own toys and chasing his particular enjoyment and take responsibility.

So while he cares about his mistress he also realizes how wrong they are for one another. He cares but cares more about the daughter he has neglected and maybe his arrangement has a little to do with that feeling of kissing intimacy with a girl younger than him.

When it comes to Jasmine her character seems to live up to the title itself she is self centered but we see why when we meet her mother who seems dependent on the wrong men. She seems to be heading down the same path but is somewhat smarter about it realizing the lack of male authority in her life has brought her to her arrangement but also falling for an older male who treats her like a little girl and a woman. Takes care of when and shares with her. As she fills out his little girl fantasies. He finds her dreams but also pays attention. Though the problem with his character is that again he feels more like a cartoon or played in a way that feels more comedic at times rather than totally real or even serious.

As she seems more to take anyone attracted to her for granted and uses them for what they are worth. She delivers that with one of the coldest lines of the movie.

What makes her fall for this girl is not only that she worships her but also seems to care and once her art and designs also help her to become somewhat successful she feels she has found more of a partner in all ways but she’s not as more financial and creative where as her feelings and sexuality more revolve around the male.

The fact that she has found love within the sake family is interesting.

The Ending Design does show her love for the other character In Giving of herself creatively and in essence giving her a gift that keeps on giving by sending her, her designs to keep making her clothing line. Shows she loves her but will let go for her to find her own path especially now that she has lost her arrangement. As she wants her to prosper even if they can’t be together. Even though she might log deserve it in the way things ended.

While she has reinvented herself with a new look and a new partner maybe while we know her father has decided to grow up and is dealing with his own father issues. As he still lives with his own who is judge mental and cold

The film starts off in a more artistic design and technology front and soon Loses that for raw emotions. Though It ends on a sign of hope and happiness.

It might be that the attraction is also that they are wounded and know they are kind of messed up and see that as a kindred relationship where they feel they are the only ones who understand one another and belong together.

I will admit that I more enjoy the film for some for the aesthetics and the actress but it grew on me while watching and actually got invested in the story and characters. It more a small scale film but one could identify with the characters.

Especially Finding someone so charismatic, cool and good looking. Where everything about them seems impressive and being not only taken with them but feeling so special when they show you any attention and continuously being in awe by them when In Their company as they just seem so fearless and even their flaws or problems which might be warning signs seem so glorious, magical mysterious and or impressive to you. Where any actually talent they have you might inflate it or try to have them realize how impressive they are to you.

As the first night they meet they indulge in alcohol and drugs. Where once they being to take effect she takes her on a tour through her apartment and is really when the fairytale aspect of the movie begins if going to a wonderland that has continuing signs of reality but the fantasy stays constant and keeps getting better and better as long as they have one another.

A film that you like the more you think about it as it is a love triangle movie an unconventional one that whole not trying to define a generation offers some examples of more the outsiders. So that it feels invested in some kind of reality. An LGBTQ that doesn’t defined itself only on or in those terms.

Grade: C