‘Cora Bora’ Movie Review: Megan Stalter-Led Indie Makes You Cringe And Then Empathize
Photo from Brainstorm Media
From Jeremy Kibler
Instantly likable protagonists can be boring, and the titular Cora certainly isn’t likable right away (or boring) in Cora Bora. Having honed a particular persona that of a clueless sketch character who only operates in cringe-worthy behavior, comedian Megan Stalter leads this awkwardly funny indie character study with the admirable honesty of a true trainwreck. While the script can be hit-and-miss as a meandering road movie, director Hannah Pearl Utt and writer Rhianon Jones thrive most in showcasing Stalter’s strengths as a lively presence.
Beyond being the “Hi, Gay” girl for a satirical Pride Month ad, Megan Stalter has proven to already be a steal-stealer in the TV series Hacks and in a few supporting film roles. Here, she plays Cora, a bisexual musician whose solo career—and life in general—is on the rocks. She used to live in Portland and be part of a band. Since then, she has moved to Los Angeles and is now in an “open relationship” with her girlfriend, Justine (Jojo T. Gibbs), who stayed in Portland for grad school. With delusions of a big-time “music career,” Cora takes gigs at near-empty dive bars and coffee shops to sing her original songs (“Dreams are stupid, and so are you for believing in them,” is the dreadful level of lyrical creativity). When she realizes Justine has met someone else (Ayden Mayeri), Cora decides to get on a plane, lugging around her broken guitar case, and surprise her supposedly current girlfriend for her graduation party. Yes, Cora really needs to get her shit together.
Cora begins as an exasperating creation who shouldn’t feel like a real person. Many people she encounters even ask, “What is wrong with you?” Megan Stalter is more than game to make this deluded, overconfident character as coarse and unlikable as ever, but Cora is also masking a vulnerability. She may not exactly endear herself to the viewer (or to really anyone on screen) from scene one, but there is more to Cora than just a bull in a china shop.
The supporting cast is peppered with familiar faces, including Margaret Cho, as an orgy commune member; Heather Morris (Glee), as one of Cora’s former classmates; and Thomas Mann, as a flat-earther Cora hooks up with at a party. Ayden Mayeri, who’s quite engaging as “other woman” Riley, is only judged by Cora but never by the film itself. Manny Jacinto, as charming as he is, gets stuck in the contrived role of a magical stranger who’s “drawn to broken people” and keeps popping up in Cora’s life after her flight home.
The script does withhold a lot, hinging on what led to Cora and her bandmates to break up. This is intended to explain why she acts the way she does. Sure, we never know what is going on in another person’s life, but the people around Cora do, so the switch to sudden pathos is a little jarring at first. Fortunately, the filmmakers have enough affection for Cora, even as she keeps on embarrassing herself and making mistakes. While it does come after a lot of chaos entirely brought on by Cora, the film lands on solid ground with an emotional core that actually feels earned. Because of Stalter’s surprisingly layered performance, Cora Bora is a lot sadder and empathetic than it lets on.
Rating: 3/5
Cora Bora is currently in theaters and will be available On Demand on July 12th, 2024.
