Taglines: Love is a joke and it will break your heart.
Cora Bora movie storyline. In her hilarious follow-up to Before You Know It, director Hannah Pearl Utt gives Hacks scene-stealer and queer comedy maven Megan Stalter the star vehicle she so rightly deserves. After chasing her dreams of becoming a musician (think a millennial Phoebe Buffay) to LA with limited success, chaotic poly bisexual Cora makes a surprise trip back to Portland to try to win back her girlfriend Justine (Fresh’s Jojo T. Gibbs) when she senses their open relationship might be on the rocks.
Arriving in time for a fabulously unannounced appearance at Justine’s graduation party, Cora willfully ignores the writing on the wall—surely that cute brunette (I Love That for You’s Ayden Mayeri) doing laundry barefoot in Justine’s house is the cleaning lady, right? Through a series of messy reunions, a lost (and misgendered) pet search and rescue, and a clumsy pansexual orgy along the way, Cora will take the route less traveled to find harmony in her universe. Margaret Cho, Darrell Hammond, Manny Jacinto, and Heather Morris make up the lively characters Cora finds along the way.
Cora Bora is an 2023 American comedy-drama film, directed by Hannah Pearl Utt, from a screenplay by Rhianon Jones. It stars Megan Stalter, Jojo T. Gibbs, Manny Jacinto, Ayden Mayeri, Thomas Mann, Chrissie Fit, Andre Hyland, Chelsea Peretti, Margaret Cho and Darrell Hammond. It had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 12, 2023, and was released on June 14, 2024, by Brainstorm Media.
Film Review for Cora Bora
Cora is a struggling singer/songwriter living in Los Angeles who’s trying to stop herself from unraveling. She walks around with an air of self confidence, but she is actually covering up her inner pain. She’s told she has one foot out the door of her own life. Like a Millennial Dorothy Gale, Cora realizes she needs to go back home to Portland to reconnect with her girlfriend, but comes to the awareness she has much more to salvage than her relationship.
Hacks breakout player Megan Stalter (Kayla) jumps from a supporting role on television to big screen stardom as the titular character in the LGBTQ+ comedy/drama, Cora Bora.
Cora Bora boasts a large female cast and crew with Hannah Pearl Utt directing from a script by Rhiannon Jones. Co-stars include Jonica T. Gibbs, Manny Jacinto and Ayden Mayeri with cameos from Margaret Cho and SNL alum Darrell Hammond. But it’s Stalter who we want to see and she’s in every scene in the movie…playing a bit toned down, but still the comically arrogant and borderline obnoxious character we love in Hacks.
Bumbling and embarrassing in the first hour, the comedian Megan, as Cora, explores her bisexuality amid a fear no one will ever understand her. The last hour we see Stalter’s range as an actress as her character breaks down her walls and finds her way back to herself.
Cora Bora is about recovery, strength and being true to yourself. It’s not laugh out loud funny and there’s not really any action. That’s probably why my husband fell asleep less than half way through. On the other hand, I appreciated the mostly believable slice of life story.
This is Megan Stalter’s moment. She needs to capitalize on it. Cora Bora won’t soar her directly to the top, but she’s knocking on the door. Cora Bora gets gets one 👁 open from Ricky and a 6 out of 10 on the TeejFlixometer. It’s in theaters now and On Demand July 12th.
Cora Bora (2024)
Directed by: Hannah Pearl Utt
Starring: Caitlin Reilly, Chelsea Peretti, Heather Elizabeth Morris, Manny Jacinto, Thomas Mann, Megan Stalter, Ayden Mayeri, Jen Tullock, Margaret Cho, Jojo T. Gibbs, Garrett Coffey
Screenplay by: Rhianon Jones
Production Design by: Gerin del Carmen, Megan Fenton
Cinematography by: Senda Bonnet
Film Editing by: Kent Kincannon
Costume Design by: Melissa Walker
Art Direction by: Gerin del Carmen
Music by: Miya Folick
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Brainstorm Media
Release Date: June 14, 2024 (Limited)
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