Hope and talent drives the title character in Patti Cake$, but nearly everything else is stacked against her. Her bid for rap stardom is blocked by her appearance and her circumstances, all things you’ve seen before, but not in one place, and not with the lively optimism promised by this trailer.
A big hit at Sundance, Patti Cake$ is expected to be a breakout turn for star Danielle Macdonald, who has already signed on to appear opposite Jennifer Aniston in the upcoming dramedy Dumplin’. Patti Cake$ is filled with unknowns like Macdonald in front of and behind the camera, so a clever marketing push is needed to sell the film to wide audiences.
Fox Searchlight was confident enough to drop big money for distribution rights ($9.5 million to be exact), and the trailer is playing up feel-good aspects of the film that have broad appeal. A close look, though, hints that writer/director Geremy Jasper didn’t play it totally safe with his debut. Note the moment Patti lifts from the ground, literally buoyed as she walks down the street.
The infectious energy of music can earn fanciful moments like that, as can finding unlikely friends with common passions. Patti Cake$ looks like it has all of that in spades, so it may just live up to its feel-good hype.
Patti Cake$ is directed by Geremy Jasper and stars Danielle Macdonald, Siddharth Dhananjay, and Mamoudou Athie. It will be released in the U.S. on August 18th, 2017 and in the U.K. on September 1st, 2017. For international release dates, click here.
Do you think Patti Cake$ will be a hit with general audiences? Let us know in the comments!
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