View source for Mack & Rita

{{Short description|2022 comedy film}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Mack & Rita
| image          = Mack & Rita.jpeg
| alt            =
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Katie Aselton]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* Alex Saks
* [[Diane Keaton]]
* Stephanie Heaton-Harris
* Jina Panebianco
* Dori Rath
}}
| writer         = {{Plainlist|
* Paul Welsh
* Madeline Walter
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* Diane Keaton
* [[Taylour Paige]]
* [[Elizabeth Lail]]
* [[Loretta Devine]]
* [[Amy Hill]]
* [[Lois Smith]]
* [[Wendie Malick]]
* [[Simon Rex]]
* [[Martin Short]]
* [[Dustin Milligan]]
}}
| music          = [[Leo Birenberg]]
| cinematography = Sean McElwee
| editing        = Michael A. Webber
| production_companies = {{Plainlist|
* [[Page Fifty-Four Pictures]]
* Rhea Films
* Hercules Film Fund
* CaliWood Pictures
}}
| distributor    = [[Gravitas Ventures|Gravitas Premiere]]
| released       = {{Film date|2022|8|10|[[NeueHouse]]|2022|8|12|United States}}
| runtime        = 95 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $500,000<ref name="MM-Interview"/>
| gross          = $2.7 million<ref name="NUM">{{Cite The Numbers |title=Mack & Rita (2022) |id=Mack-and-Rita-(2022) |access-date=September 5, 2022}}</ref><ref name="BOM">{{Cite Box Office Mojo |title=Mack & Rita (2022) |id=14330236 |access-date=September 5, 2022}}</ref>
}}
'''''Mack & Rita''''' is a 2022 American [[comedy film]] directed by [[Katie Aselton]], from a screenplay by Madeline Walter and Paul Welsh. The plot follows a 30-year-old woman ([[Elizabeth Lail]]) who wakes up as her 70-year-old self ([[Diane Keaton]]) after a bachelorette party. [[Taylour Paige]], [[Loretta Devine]], [[Amy Hill]], [[Lois Smith]], [[Wendie Malick]], [[Simon Rex]], [[Martin Short]] and [[Dustin Milligan]] also star.
The film was released on August 12, 2022, by [[Gravitas Ventures|Gravitas Premiere]], to negative reviews from critics, including a [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress]] nomination for Keaton,<ref>{{cite web |last=O’Connell |first=Mikey |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/hollywood-too-sensitive-razzies-1235342479/amp/
|title= Is Hollywood Too Sensitive for the Razzies?
|date=March 10, 2023 |publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=March 12, 2023}}</ref> but the performances of Paige and Milligan were praised.
==Premise==
Thirty-year-old Mack Martin reluctantly joins a Palm Springs bachelorette trip for her best friend Carla, but then decides not to go to the event. Instead, the self-proclaimed homebody finds a pop-up tent and does a past life regression and winds up as her seventy-year-old self. Freed from the constraints of other people's expectations, Rita comes into her own, becoming an unlikely social media sensation, and sparks a tentative romance with Mack's dog-sitter, Jack.
==Cast==
{{castlist|
* [[Diane Keaton]] as Older Mackenzie "Mack" Martin / "Rita"
** [[Elizabeth Lail]] as Mackenzie "Mack" Martin
* [[Taylour Paige]] as Carla
** Ayla Rae Nael as Young Carla
* [[Dustin Milligan]] as Jack
* [[Simon Rex]] as Luca
* [[Loretta Devine]] as Sharon
* [[Wendie Malick]] as Angela
* [[Lois Smith]] as Betty
* [[Amy Hill]] as Carol
* [[Martin Short]] as the voice of Cheese
* [[Nicole Byer]] as Urth
* [[Patti Harrison]] as Stephanie
* [[Aimee Carrero]] as Sunita
* Addie Weyrich as Ali
* Catherine Carlen as Grammie Martin
* Sara Amini as Michelle
* Lauren Beveridge as Molly
}}
==Production==
The film initially began development in January 2020, but fell apart amid the start of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. That October, producer Alex Saks approached director [[Katie Aselton]] saying she had secured about $500,000 of funding.<ref name="MM-Interview">{{cite web|url=https://www.moviemaker.com/mack-rita-director-katie-aselton-big-challenges-small-budget/amp/|title=Mack & Rita Director Katie Aselton on Navigating Big Challenges With a Small Budget|first=Margeaux|last=Sippell|website=Movie Maker|date=August 15, 2022|access-date=August 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818152802/https://www.moviemaker.com/mack-rita-director-katie-aselton-big-challenges-small-budget/amp/|archive-date=August 18, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2021, it was announced [[Diane Keaton]], [[Elizabeth Lail]], [[Taylour Paige]], [[Dustin Milligan]], [[Simon Rex]], [[Nicole Byer]], [[Patti Harrison]], [[Loretta Devine]], [[Wendie Malick]], [[Lois Smith]] and [[Amy Hill]] had joined the cast of the film, with a screenplay by Madeline Walter and Paul Welsh.<ref name="Deadline">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/diane-keaton-taylour-paige-set-for-romantic-comedy-mack-rita-1234717836/|title=Diane Keaton & Taylour Paige Set For Romantic Comedy 'Mack & Rita'|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=March 18, 2021|access-date=March 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719132929/https://deadline.com/2021/03/diane-keaton-taylour-paige-set-for-romantic-comedy-mack-rita-1234717836|archive-date=July 19, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> Shortly after, it was reported that [[Elizabeth Lail]] joined to the cast.<ref name="Deadline2">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/elizabeth-lail-romantic-comedy-mack-and-rita-gossip-girl-reboot-1234718036/|title=Elizabeth Lail To Star In Romantic Comedy 'Mack And Rita', Joins 'Gossip Girl' Reboot|first1=Denise|last1=Petski|first2=Anthony|last2=D'Alessandro|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 19, 2021|access-date=March 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823155807/https://deadline.com/2021/03/elizabeth-lail-romantic-comedy-mack-and-rita-gossip-girl-reboot-1234718036/|archive-date=August 23, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/diane-keaton-mack-rita-wendie-malick-nicole-byer-cast-1234722680/|title='Mack & Rita': Diane Keaton Comedy Adds Wendie Malick, Nicole Byer, Dustin Milligan, Simon Rex & More|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=March 26, 2021|access-date=March 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212115715/https://deadline.com/2021/03/diane-keaton-mack-rita-wendie-malick-nicole-byer-cast-1234722680/|archive-date=February 12, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Principal photography]] began on March 25, 2021 and concluded on April 23, 2021 in [[Los Angeles]], California.<ref name="VarietyInsight">{{cite web|url=https://www.varietyinsight.com/production_restart_full_view.php?track_id=189274|title=Film and TV Projects Going Into Production - Mack & Rita|website=[[Variety Insight]]|access-date=March 18, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319011149/https://www.varietyinsight.com/production_restart_full_view.php?track_id=189274 |archive-date=March 19, 2021}}</ref> Due to a limited production budget and the ongoing pandemic, several changes had to be made to the script during shooting, including the forced removal of a [[Coachella]] sequence due to the event's cancellation and combining days of shooting into one, as well as not being able to have chemistry tests between the actors prior to filming.<ref name="MM-Interview"/>
==Release==
In April 2022, [[Gravitas Ventures|Gravitas Premiere]] acquired distribution rights to the film, and set it for an August 12, 2022, release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/gravitas-premiere-launched-by-gravitas-ventures-acquires-mack-and-rita-1235010393/|title=Gravitas Ventures Launches New Theatrical Release Label Gravitas Premiere; Katie Aselton's 'Mack & Rita', Starring Diane Keaton, Set As First Acquisition|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=April 27, 2022|access-date=April 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607115047/https://deadline.com/2022/04/gravitas-premiere-launched-by-gravitas-ventures-acquires-mack-and-rita-1235010393/|archive-date=June 7, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> The red carpet took place at the [[NeueHouse]] in [[Los Angeles]], California in August 10, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/gallery/mack-rita-los-angeles-premiere-188971/diane-keaton-88492|title=The Mack & Rita Los Angeles premiere brought out some of Hollywood's biggest stars, including Diane Keaton, Elizabeth Lail and Taylour Paige at NeueHouse on Aug. 10. Here's a look at the best looks and moments from the night.|first=Apryl|last=Lovera|date=August 11, 2022|website=[[Entertainment Tonight]]|access-date=August 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812080310/https://www.etonline.com/gallery/mack-rita-los-angeles-premiere-188971/diane-keaton-88492|archive-date=August 12, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
The film made $310,000 from 1,930 theaters on its first day.<ref name="VarietyOpen">{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/box-office/bodies-bodies-bodies-expansion-bullet-train-second-weekend-1235339309/|title='Bullet Train' Repeating on Top as August Box Office Slows Down|first=J. Kim|last=Murphy|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=August 13, 2022|access-date=August 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816072215/https://variety.com/2022/film/box-office/bodies-bodies-bodies-expansion-bullet-train-second-weekend-1235339309/|archive-date=August 16, 2022|url-status=live|quote=an alarming "D+" grade on Cinema Score indicates that most of those ticket buyers were not satisfied}}</ref> It went on to debut to $1.1 million.<ref name="opening">{{cite web|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=August 13, 2022|title='Bullet Train' Second Go-Round Now At $13.3M As Summer 2022 Clocks Lowest Weekend To Date With $64M – Saturday PM Box Office Update|url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/box-office-bullet-train-bodies-bodies-bodies-pete-davidson-1235091498/|access-date=August 14, 2022|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826102217/https://deadline.com/2022/08/box-office-bullet-train-bodies-bodies-bodies-pete-davidson-1235091498/|archive-date=August 26, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Critical response ===
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|23|4.3|64|Diane Keaton gives ''Mack & Rita'' her all, but this cloying comedy lets her down at nearly every turn.|access-date=February 25, 2024|ref=yes}} {{Metacritic film prose|49|13}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Mack & Rita (2022) Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/mack-rita|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[Fandom, Inc.]]|access-date=August 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907002105/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/mack-rita|archive-date=September 7, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "D+" on an A+ to F scale, while [[PostTrak]] gave the film a 61% overall positive score, with 46% saying they would definitely recommend it.<ref name="VarietyOpen" /><ref name="opening" />
Lisa Kennedy of ''[[The New York Times]]'' commended Aselton's "unexpected beats" as a director for capturing the "esprit de girlfriends" quality of ''[[Insecure (TV series)|Insecure]]'', despite borrowing from [[Nancy Meyers]]' "rom-com catalog of upscale homes."<ref name="NYT">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/11/movies/mack-and-rita-review.html|title='Mack & Rita' Review: 70 Is the New 30|last=Kennedy|first=Lisa|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 11, 2022|access-date=September 10, 2022|url-access=limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824060741/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/11/movies/mack-and-rita-review.html|archive-date=August 24, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Nell Minow]], writing for [[RogerEbert.com]], gave credit to Paige and Milligan's performances but wrote that "[T]he film's promising setup and excellent cast are let down by a script so forgettable that even to try to summarize it is to feel it dissolve from memory."<ref name="Ebert">{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mack-and-rita-movie-review-2022|title=Mack & Rita|last=Minow|first=Nell|author-link=Nell Minow|website=[[RogerEbert.com]]|publisher=Ebert Digital LLC|date=August 12, 2022|access-date=September 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830002539/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mack-and-rita-movie-review-2022|archive-date=August 30, 2022|url-status=live}} {{Rating|2.5|4}}</ref> Katie Walsh of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' was also critical of the film's script, saying it "ditches character establishment and clear conflict for fish-out-of-water physical comedy and some vaguely affirmative lessons about learning to be yourself, unapologetically."<ref name="LAT">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-08-11/mack-and-rita-review-diane-keaton|title=Review: Who wouldn't want to be Diane Keaton? But in a better movie than 'Mack & Rita'|last=Walsh|first=Katie|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=August 11, 2022|access-date=September 10, 2022|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831154612/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-08-11/mack-and-rita-review-diane-keaton|archive-date=August 31, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The A.V. Club]]''{{'}}s Courtney Howard and ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s Leah Greenblatt both gave the movie an overall C+ grade, the former saying it followed the same "whimsical fantasy boilerplate" of the body-swap subgenre with similar themes of "confidence, regret and friendship" and the latter calling it "a body-swap comedy so daffy and weightless it nearly levitates."<ref name="AVC">{{cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/mack-rita-review-diane-keaton-katie-aselton-1849383490|title=Mack & Rita, a body swap brings changes|last=Howard|first=Courtney|newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]]|publisher=[[The Onion]]|date=August 11, 2022|access-date=September 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813005814/https://www.avclub.com/mack-rita-review-diane-keaton-katie-aselton-1849383490|archive-date=August 13, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movies/movie-reviews/musts-misses-bodies-harley-quinn-league-of-their-own/|title=Bodies Bodies Bodies is fun Gen-Z surface, while a reinvented A League of Their Own goes deep|last1=Greenblatt|first1=Leah|last2=Baldwin|first2=Kristen|last3=Franich|first3=Darren|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=August 12, 2022|access-date=September 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908172815/https://ew.com/movies/movie-reviews/musts-misses-bodies-harley-quinn-league-of-their-own/|archive-date=September 8, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> Amy Nicholson of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' called it "a bewildering generational culture-war comedy", criticizing the mixed messages on [[Ageism|agism]] and the "underwritten" roles given to the supporting cast.<ref name="VarietyReview">{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/mack-and-rita-review-1235336446/|title='Mack & Rita' Review: Diane Keaton is a Millennial Misfit Embracing Granny Chic in a Confused Body-Swap Comedy|last=Nicholson|first=Amy|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=August 10, 2022|access-date=September 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823063243/https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/mack-and-rita-review-1235336446/|archive-date=August 23, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://www.mackandritamovie.com/ Official website]
* {{IMDb title|14330236}}
{{Katie Aselton}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mack and Rita}}
[[Category:2022 films]]
[[Category:2020s American films]]
[[Category:2020s English-language films]]
[[Category:2020s fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:2020s female buddy films]]
[[Category:2022 romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:2020s romantic fantasy films]]
[[Category:American fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:American female buddy films]]
[[Category:American romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:American romantic fantasy films]]
[[Category:English-language fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:Films about body swapping]]
[[Category:Films about rapid human age change]]
[[Category:Films about social media]]
[[Category:Films about wish fulfillment]]
[[Category:Films directed by Katie Aselton]]
[[Category:Films set in Palm Springs, California]]
[[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:English-language romantic fantasy films]]
[[Category:English-language buddy films]]