Warning: This review mentions controversial topics covered in the film. Reader discretion is advised.

Sean Baker has a unique and firm touch on the vein of rural American poverty, and Red Rocket is the most exceptional example of what Baker’s unique talent has to offer. Anchored by an exceptional lead performance by Simon Rex, Red Rocket is a unique, hilarious film that possesses the edge and hutzpah to be a classic for those willing to brave its story.

Red Rocket is a summer-in-the-life of Mikey Saber, an ex-porn star strapped for cash and job prospects. He returns to his hometown in Texas, convincing his ex-wife and screen partner Lexi to let him stay at her mother’s house. As Mikey starts to piece his life back together, he soon finds himself operating multiple hustles to make ends meet and try to find a new purpose in his life.

The magnificent thing about Red Rocket is that Simon Rex’s performance is just one part of a fantastic ensemble, even if he is the brightest star. Rex has to play the inherently unlikeable Mikey, who’s constant hair-brained schemes make him equal parts pitiful and detestable. The constant energy that Rex has to maintain to keep Mikey believable is difficult enough, but he goes past that into making him a truly memorable and, at times, even loveable character.

Rex is supported in Red Rocket by two talented actresses, each providing so much for Rex and Baker to work with. A personal favorite is Bree Elrod as Mikey’s wife Lexi, who balances a quick bite of sarcastic humor and the genuine love for Mikey in a delicate act. Suzanna Son is given the hardest part as Mikey’s underage lover Strawberry; a complicated role, given the character’s age. However, Son’s own acting ability allows for Strawberry’s independence and intelligence to shine through even as she becomes tied into Mikey’s schemes.

Sean Baker, and writing partner Chris Bergoch, give Red Rocket its greatest strength, its screenplay. The film is just hilarious, with every innuendo, panic attack, and argument hitting with the right amount of humor. They also present to viewers a cast of complicated characters, putting them and the audience through the wringer as they dive into the story unfolding.

The themes presented in Red Rocket, from self-destruction under capitalism to how poverty is a cyclical condition, make for a provocative story for viewers. It doesn’t help that Red Rocket presents a complicated scenario thanks to its ties to the pornographic industry and how Mikey’s life has been poisoned by its influence. Despite this though, Baker and Bergoch ensure that the humanity, warts and all, aren’t ignored or erased, ultimately allowing viewers to empathize with the cast even as their decisions drive them further down the spiral.

Briefly, Baker’s talents as a filmmaker are fully evident in Red Rocket. Baker captures the heat of Texas and the dirt of rural poverty with an innate talent, creating a fully lived-in world that feels familiar to anyone, even to those that haven’t been. This is helped partially by Drew Daniels, Red Rocket‘s cinematographer, who helps to provide a realistic but gripping view in every scene.

For better or worse, the way Baker edits Red Rocket leaves a viewer exhausted. Much like its constantly finessing protagonist, Baker always manages to find a hint of conclusion and stability, all before rushing the viewers into the next scheme or sequence that follows. The audience is never given a moment to relax, only catch their breath, which enhances the experience of Red Rocket.

Red Rocket is a fantastic little film, filled with dark humor and gripping drama that only unrestrained cinematic auteurs like Sean Baker can deliver. The ensemble cast is fantastic in every moment, especially the headlining Simon Rex, while Baker’s technical craft is superb. Red Rocket is just as rough around the edges but infectiously loveable like its protagonist, and the charm and quality to be found in that honesty is to be praised.

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Red Rocket

9

Score

9.0/10

Pros

• A distinct directorial vision from Sean Baker
• Hilarious and edgy script
• Fantastic ensemble of characters

Cons

• Controversial subject matter
• Purposefully exhausts the viewer in the best way