Sitting in Bars with Cake

Last updated

Sitting in Bars with Cake
Sitting in Bars with Cake.webp
Directed by Trish Sie
Written byAudrey Shulman
Based onSitting in Bars with Cake
by Audrey Shulman
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMatthew Clark
Edited byLauren Connelly
Music by Jeff Cardoni
Production
companies
Distributed by Amazon Prime Video
Release date
  • September 8, 2023 (2023-09-08)
Running time
120 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Sitting in Bars with Cake is an American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Trish Sie and written by Audrey Shulman. It is based on Shulman's 2016 book of the same name and inspired by true events. [2] The film stars Yara Shahidi and Odessa A'zion, with Navid Negahban, Martha Kelly, Adina Porter, Ron Livingston and Bette Midler appears in supporting roles. Its plot follows talented but shy baker Jane and her best friend Corinne who convinces her to bring cakes to bars, to help her build confidence but when Corinne receives a brain cancer diagnosis, their lives change.

Contents

Sitting in Bars with Cake was released on September 8, 2023, by Amazon Prime Video. The film received generally positive reviews from critics.

Plot

Jane and Corinne, best friends since they were seven, live together in Los Angeles. Corinne is the ultimate extrovert, while Jane is introverted.

Corinne works with powerhouse talent agent Benita as her assistant, where Jane works in the mailroom. Jane has a crush on lawyer Owen who is interning in the company, but hides from him because of her timidity.

On March 7, Corinne's birthday, Jane brings her homemade birthday cake out with them. Corinne insists they share it around the bar. This inspires Corinne's idea to get Jane, to commit to a year of baking cakes and bringing them to bars with the goal of meeting people.

Corinne and Jane map out a plan to hit one bar a week for a year. They try to hit many different demographics, and she makes each cake to reflect each clientele. Corinne also chooses Jane's outfits to improve her chances.

Jane's parents Tasha and Isaac take her and Corinne out for Chinese, as they are in LA for a lawyers conference. Well-respected human rights lawyers, they expect her to follow in their footsteps, although she actually wants to become a professional baker.

During their cake experiment, they tally Jane's success in interacting with men. The first sends her a dick pic, she line dances with another, and gets numbers and kisses.

Meanwhile, Benita promotes Corinne to junior agent. Jane and friends celebrate that night for drinks, but later on Corinne has a seizure following an extreme headache. An MRI and biopsy confirm a brain tumor, a life-altering diagnosis.

Corinne's parents Ruth and Fred Thompson try to take her back to Phoenix, Arizona, for treatment, but she chooses to stay in Los Angeles. Jane insists she can handle it, but they stay until they are sure. In the meantime her dad constantly finds handyman projects around to do.

During her treatment, Corinne still goes with Jane and cakes to bars, calling it cakebarring. Their boss organises a 5K run fundraising event for Corinne and also acupucture and an emotional support dog.

Meanwhile Jane is finally brave enough to meet with Owen, under the guise of learning more about international property law. Corinne is thrilled, especially as it's a way to distract away from her cancer.

In November Corinne breaks up with Dave and tells Tasha and Isaac about Jane’s disinterest in law. The cancer fundraiser takes place. She also unfortunately receives bad news from her doctor that her cancer now is more aggressive than originally believed and essentially terminal, especially as attempts to join a clinical trial are unsuccessful.

By Thanksgiving Corinne had to return to the hospital for a time. With 17 cakes left to deliver via cakebarring, Jane gets a second wind. Christmas comes and she finally starts to have a clearer idea of what she wants. Jane realises that Owen may not be 'the one', and she finally tells her parents that the idea of law school doesn't inspire her.

They go to a bar with everyone to do karaoke, a favorite activity of Corinne's. When she's too weak to finish a song, Jane pushes aside her stage fright to support her.

Quitting her mailroom job to become Corinne's fulltime caregiver for her remaining months, Jane both says goodbye to her job and Owen, who she's decided to stop dating. The girls are together right up to the end. They have her celebration of life in Arizona.

Although heartbroken, Jane delivers the 50th cake, Corinne's birthday cake. Then as promised, she opens her specialty cake shop Silverlake Cake Bar in LA.

Cast

Production

On February 9, 2022, in was reported that Yara Shahidi will star and exec produce the Amazon Studios romantic comedy-drama Sitting in Bars with Cake based on the blog and book of the same name by Audrey Shulman. Trish Sie joined the film as director while Shulman adapted the script. [3] On September 22, 2022, Bette Midler, Ron Livingston, Maia Mitchell, Aaron Dominguez, Rish Shah, Odessa A’zion, Martha Kelly, Adina Porter, Navid Negahban, Simone Recasner, Will Ropp and Charlie Patton have joined the cast. [4] Principal photography took place in Los Angeles in October 2022. [4] It is the first film to be distributed through Amazon MGM Studios Distribution, a new film and television distribution unit for Amazon and MGM projects, with this film being released through the MGM banner. [5]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 75% of 44 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.5/10.The website's consensus reads: "A well-acted if slightly formulaic story of friendship, Sitting in Bars with Cake moves between laughter and tears without succumbing to melodrama." [6] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 64 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [7]

Film critic Natasha Alvar from Cultured Vultures compared Sitting in Bars with Cake with 1980s comedy-dramas like Beaches and Steel Magnolias . [8] Adrian Horton from The Guardian wrote in her review: "Shahidi is capable if a tad recessive as the film’s emotional center, one whose can-do attitude is both grating and absolutely necessary. But it’s A’Zion’s performance that sparkles; her Corinne – vivacious and deadpan, her rapid-fire wit papering over a visceral denial – adds some much needed tartness to a recipe that could easily become too maudlin. “Most of the time, I don’t feel like a sick person,” she bitterly admits after a workplace-sponsored fundraiser for her illness, and it's true; even as Corinne's condition deteriorates, A’Zion's performance maintains a distinct, bristly vitality." [9] Sheila O'Malley from RogerEbert.com also give the film positive review and praised A'zion's performance: "Because Corinne's diagnosis is so central, the film thankfully avoids the trap of "illness as plot point", and A'zion's performance is so strong it's impossible not to feel Corinne's sense of loss, her sense of how unfair it all is, even when (or especially when) she tries to cover it up with cracking a joke." [10] Meanwhile, Amy Nicholson from Variety gave it a negative review for having too much of a melodramatic tone. [11]

Accolades

AwardCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef
The ReFrame Stamp Best FeatureWon [12]
Guild of Music Supervisors Awards Best Music Supervision for a Non-Theatrically Released Film Liz Gallacher Nominated [13]
55th NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Yara ShahidiNominated [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bette Midler</span> American actress and singer (born 1945)

Bette Midler is an American actress, comedian, singer, and author. Throughout her five-decade career Midler has received numerous accolades, including four Golden Globe Awards, three Grammy Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and a Kennedy Center Honor, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards and a British Academy Film Award.

<i>The Rose</i> (film) 1979 film by Mark Rydell

The Rose is a 1979 American musical drama film directed by Mark Rydell, and starring Bette Midler, Alan Bates, Frederic Forrest, Harry Dean Stanton, Barry Primus, and David Keith. Loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin, the film follows a self-destructive rock star in the late 1960s, who struggles to cope with the pressures of her career and the demands of her ruthless business manager.

<i>For the Boys</i> 1991 film directed by Mark Rydell

For the Boys is a 1991 American musical comedy-drama film that traces the life of Dixie Leonard, a 1940s actress/singer who teams up with Eddie Sparks, a famous performer, to entertain American troops.

<i>Outrageous Fortune</i> (film) 1987 film by Arthur Hiller

Outrageous Fortune is a 1987 American comedy film written by Leslie Dixon, directed by Arthur Hiller and starring Shelley Long and Bette Midler. The title is taken from Shakespeare's Hamlet. It is the tenth film of Touchstone Pictures.

"From a Distance" is a song by American singer-songwriter Julie Gold, initially penned in 1985. Gold's friend Christine Lavin introduced the song to Nanci Griffith, who first recorded it for her 1987 album Lone Star State of Mind. A successful cover version by Bette Midler was released in 1990.

<i>The First Wives Club</i> 1996 film by Hugh Wilson

The First Wives Club is a 1996 American comedy film directed by Hugh Wilson, based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Olivia Goldsmith. The film stars Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton as three divorcées who seek retribution on their ex-husbands for having left them for younger women. The supporting cast comprises Stockard Channing as Cynthia; Dan Hedaya, Victor Garber, and Stephen Collins as the three leads' ex-husbands; and Sarah Jessica Parker, Elizabeth Berkley, and Marcia Gay Harden as their respective lovers. Supporting roles are played by Maggie Smith, Bronson Pinchot, Rob Reiner, Eileen Heckart, Philip Bosco, and Timothy Olyphant in his feature film debut; cameo appearances include Gloria Steinem, Ed Koch, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Ivana Trump.

"Wind Beneath My Wings" is a song written in 1982 by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley.

<i>Jinxed!</i> (1982 film) 1982 film by Don Siegel

Jinxed! is a 1982 American comedy film starring Bette Midler, Rip Torn and Ken Wahl. The film was the last to be directed by Don Siegel, who suffered a heart attack during production. Siegel hired Sam Peckinpah, who had worked for him in the past, to shoot second-unit work, for which Peckinpah was uncredited.

<i>Misery</i> (film) 1990 film by Rob Reiner

Misery is a 1990 American psychological thriller film directed by Rob Reiner from a script by William Goldman, based on Stephen King's 1987 novel of the same name, The plot centers around an author who is held captive by an obsessive fan who forces him to rewrite the finale to his novel series. Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen, and Lauren Bacall also star.

<i>The Catered Affair</i> 1956 film by Richard Brooks

The Catered Affair is a 1956 American comedy drama film directed by Richard Brooks and produced by Sam Zimbalist from a screenplay by Gore Vidal, based on a 1955 television play by Paddy Chayefsky. The film stars Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine, Debbie Reynolds, Barry Fitzgerald and Rod Taylor. The Catered Affair marked the first appearance of Bette Davis in a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. It was also Rod Taylor's first film for MGM after signing a long-term contract with the studio. The film score was by André Previn and the cinematographer was John Alton.

<i>Stella</i> (1990 film) 1990 American drama film directed by John Erman

Stella is a 1990 American drama film produced by The Samuel Goldwyn Company and released by Touchstone Pictures. The screenplay by Robert Getchell is the third feature film adaptation of the 1923 novel Stella Dallas by Olive Higgins Prouty. Previous film versions were Stella Dallas (1937) and the silent film Stella Dallas (1925).

<i>Imagine That</i> (film) 2009 film by Karey Kirkpatrick

Imagine That is a 2009 fantasy comedy film starring Eddie Murphy, directed by Karey Kirkpatrick, and written by Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson. It centers on the relationship between a workaholic father (Murphy) and his daughter, Olivia, whose imaginary world becomes the secret to her father's success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yara Shahidi</span> American actress and producer (born 2000)

Yara Sayeh Shahidi is an American actress and producer. She began her career as a child, appearing in the films Imagine That (2009), Butter (2011) and Alex Cross (2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amazon MGM Studios</span> American entertainment company

Amazon MGM Studios, formerly Amazon Studios, is an American film and television production and distribution studio owned by Amazon. It was launched in 2010. It took its current name in May 2023 following its merger with MGM Holdings, which Amazon had acquired the year prior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie von Haselberg</span> American actress (born 1986)

Sophie von Haselberg is an American actress. She is best known for co-starring in Woody Allen's 2015 film Irrational Man, alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone. Other notable roles have been in FX's The Assassination of Gianni Versace (2018) and the Lifetime television series American Princess (2019). She is the daughter of Bette Midler and Martin von Haselberg.

<i>The Glorias</i> 2020 American biopic by Julie Taymor

The Glorias is a 2020 American biographical drama film directed and produced by Julie Taymor, from a screenplay by Taymor and Sarah Ruhl. The film is based upon My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem who is played by 4 actresses, representing her life in different ages. It stars Julianne Moore as Steinem, with Alicia Vikander portraying a younger Steinem, from ages 20 to 40, Lulu Wilson portraying a teenage Steinem, and Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Steinem when she was a child. The cast also includes Lorraine Toussaint, Janelle Monáe, and Bette Midler.

<i>Peter Pan & Wendy</i> 2023 film by David Lowery

Peter Pan & Wendy is a 2023 American fantasy adventure film directed by David Lowery from a screenplay he co-wrote with Toby Halbrooks. Jim Whitaker served as producer on the Walt Disney Pictures and Whitaker Entertainment production, based on the 1904 play of the same name by J. M. Barrie and a live action adaptation to Walt Disney's 1953 film Peter Pan. The film stars Alexander Molony and Ever Anderson in the title roles. Jude Law, Yara Shahidi, Alyssa Wapanatâhk, Joshua Pickering, Jacobi Jupe and Jim Gaffigan also appear in supporting roles. The story follows Peter Pan and Wendy, who go to the magical world of Neverland with Wendy's brothers and Peter's best friend Tinker Bell. Along the way, Wendy embarks on the adventure that will change her life and encounters Peter's archenemy Captain Hook.

<i>Hocus Pocus 2</i> 2022 film by Anne Fletcher

Hocus Pocus 2 is a 2022 American fantasy comedy film directed by Anne Fletcher, written by Jen D'Angelo and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. It is a sequel to the 1993 film Hocus Pocus and the second installment in the Hocus Pocus franchise. The film stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, and Doug Jones reprising their roles. Sam Richardson, Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, Tony Hale, and Hannah Waddingham join the cast.

Odessa Zion Segall Adlon, also known as Odessa A'zion, is an American actress. On television, she is known for her roles in the CBS series Fam (2019) and the Netflix series Grand Army (2020). Her films include Hellraiser (2022), The Inhabitant (2022), Sitting in Bars with Cake (2023), and Fresh Kills (2024).

Rishabh "Rish" Shah is an English actor. He had his breakout role as Kamran in the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel (2022). He has also appeared in the short film The Long Goodbye (2020), the feature films The Sweet East (2023) and Do Revenge (2022), and the Netflix thriller series Obsession (2023).

References

  1. ↑ de la Fuente, Anne Marie (October 3, 2023). "Amazon Studios Now Called Amazon MGM Studios, Exec Pablo Iacoviello Reveals in Iberseries Keynote". Variety . Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  2. ↑ "'Sitting In Bars With Cake' (2023) Review: Prime Video's Film Is Underwhelming And Lacks Emotional Depth | Film Fugitives". September 7, 2023. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  3. ↑ Grobar, Matt (February 9, 2022). "'Sitting In Bars With Cake': Yara Shahidi To Exec Produce & Star In Amazon Studios Rom-Com". Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Cordero, Rosy (September 22, 2022). "'Sitting In Bars With Cake': Bette Midler, Ron Livingston, Aaron Dominguez & Rish Shah Among 12 Rounding Out Cast Of Amazon Rom-Com". Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  5. ↑ Whittock, Jesse (May 8, 2023). "Amazon MGM Studios Distribution To Launch At LA Screenings". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Sitting in Bars with Cake". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Sitting in Bars with Cake". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  8. ↑ Alvar, Natasha (September 11, 2023). "Sitting in Bars with Cake REVIEW - Tearfully Sweet". Cultured Vultures. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  9. ↑ Horton, Adrian (September 8, 2023). "Sitting in Bars with Cake review – uneven tale of cancer, cakes and friendship". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  10. ↑ O'Malley, Sheila. "Sitting in Bars with Cake movie review (2023)". RogerEbert.com . Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  11. ↑ Nicholson, Amy (September 7, 2023). "'Sitting in Bars With Cake' Review: A Lumpy Friendship Tale With a Bittersweet Bite". Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  12. ↑ "ReFrame (2022)". IMDb.
  13. ↑ Bechara, Diego Ramos (January 22, 2024). "'Barbie' Leads Music Supervisors Guild Awards Nominations".
  14. ↑ Jackson, Angelique (January 25, 2024). "Colman Domingo, Ayo Edebiri, Victoria Monét and Usher Lead NAACP Image Award Nominations".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.