Dakota Johnson, star and producer “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” said she first got to know director-writer-actor Cooper Raiff by seeing his debut feature film “Sh-House,”A SXSW Winner about a sweet college romance. Raiff also directed, starred and wrote that film.
“I just found him to be supremely intelligent, but soulful and sweet and complicated and accessible,” Johnson said at ’s virtual Sundance studio. Raiff was also present. “Cha Cha” cast members Leslie Mann, Evan Assante, Vanessa Burghardt, Raúl Castillo, Brad Garrett and Odeya Rush.
Raiff added “When we first met, it was electric chemistry.”
Johnson said she loved the movie’s title. A 22-year old college graduate (Raiff) is employed as a bar mitzvah hostess. He forms a friendship (Johnson and Burghardt) with Johnson. The “Cha Cha Slide”The bar mitzvah circuit is a popular place to sing and dance.
“Cha Cha”The Sundance Film Festival Audience Award was given to U.S. films. Dramatic film at this year’s fest.
Of the character of Andrew, Raiff said: “I wouldn’t tell anyone to aspire to be Andrew for sure. But, I wanted to make a movie about someone who, who really likes to take care of other people and I wanted to get at why and how that’s not necessarily the best thing.
Raiff noted that Andrew is very good at starting other people’s parties, but “there’s got to be more to life than throwing yourself into other people. Your 20s are a time when you really have to start your own party.”
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’s Sundance Studio is presented by NFP and National Geographic Documentary Films.
