Cheers, now available on Netflix, presents a rather whimsical journey. It revolves around a young Brazilian woman on a quest to find her only living relative in Israel. But what can she expect to encounter? Stunning landscapes? Comedic misadventures? Unexpected romance? Or perhaps, uncovering parts of herself she never knew existed?
Key Points: Jessica (played by Lopez) is a struggling sales representative for Bone S products. She tries to send an expensive 60s necklace to a woman, only to inadvertently stir up trouble by mentioning its connection to an oppressive environment. Then, there’s a flashback to happier moments from Jessica’s childhood, where her mother gifts her a treasured rocket, the last remnant of her early years. After losing her mom at a young age, Jessica is left to discover her living relative. While sorting through old boxes at work, she stumbles upon a strange collection of dolls and, humorously, an old vibrator—curiosity piqued!
In her search for the vibrator’s original owner, Jessica meets Gabriel (Rodrigo Simas), who sheds light on her family. Shockingly, her grandmother, Haba, is alive. Flashbacks reveal Haba’s dramatic escape from a forced marriage all those years ago. Now living in Tel Aviv, she is part of a family reunion that Jessica is eager to claim—along with her potential inheritance. But, of course, the film keeps throwing its characters into delightful chaos.
Interestingly, Jessica decides to bring Gabriel along, and although they discover they are technically cousins, there’s a noticeable tension—despite their very human urges. By uncovering that her grandfather owns a vacation company, the duo embarks on a visual feast, exploring iconic sites from King Solomon’s mines to the Western Wall. They buy tickets to locate Grandpa Ben (Jonas Brock), but Jessica hesitates, mindfully avoiding revealing her identity as his granddaughter. This could complicate things, especially since Ben left Haba behind long ago for a life filled with adventure. So, Jessica, Gabriel, and Ben embark on this road trip to tie up loose ends.
What movies does that remind you of? Well, Cheers might make you think of a quirky, genealogy twist on I Pray for Love, especially since it references that title.
Performance worth watching: Lopez brings a charming aura, even when the plot seems overly cliched. I just wish there was a better script for her and Simas to work with.
Memorable conversation: Haba’s initial narration hints at a deeper narrative the film never quite reaches.
Sex and Skin: There’s a brief nude swimming scene featuring a fair share of bare skin, just a light touch though. It maintains a PG-13 rating.
Our Take: Spoiler alert: Jessica’s journey isn’t about “finding herself,” which is somewhat ironic. The film offers its characters a chance to travel extensively, but it doesn’t lead to any significant growth. While the movie visits numerous historic and sacred locations, it often feels like a series of pointless escapades fueled by contrived decisions. And yes, the slapstick humor certainly attempts to inject comedy, yet it frequently falls into a realm of familiarity and predictability. The drama lacks a genuine emotional core, and quirky background music tends to telegraph every nuance. It seems the film relies on common tropes while failing to present characters in a relatable way. Ultimately, it feels like a bland tourist trip with thin emotional depth.
Our Call: It could be lively, but honestly, it’s best to skip it.
