Marmalade (2024) User Reviews

Awkward but Refreshing.

[eziukwuuprightness · 7/10 · 15 February 2024]

Keir O'Donnell's charming debut film "Marmalade" is a delightful rollercoaster of comedy, throwing unexpected twists and turns that keep you on your toes. It's a tale of love, crime, and betrayal, yet it feels refreshingly new and exhilarating from the get-go.

Initially, I was skeptical, bracing myself for a cliché "boy meets bad girl, boy gets into trouble" storyline. But as the movie unfolds, it defies expectations at every corner, never ceasing to surprise until the very end.

The dynamic duo of Baron and Marmalade, portrayed by Keery and Morrone, electrify the screen. Keery's Baron starts off as a simple guy, content with his routine until Marmalade shakes up his world. Morrone embodies Marmalade with infectious energy, leading Baron into a whirlwind of excitement and danger. Yet beneath her playful facade lies a darker motive, adding depth to her character.

So, sit back, buckle up, and enjoy the wild ride of "Marmalade." It may not be what you anticipated, but that's all part of its charm.

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legitimate entertainment, hard to find these days

[A_Different_Drummer · 7/10 · 12 February 2024]

If the movie seems familiar at first glance, the effect is intentional. Fledgling director Keir O'Donnell sets out to catch the audience by surprise, and succeeds more often than he fails. Just when you think the story is going somewhere, it zigs when it should zag. The result is actual honest-to-God entertainment, something most movies today seem to have overlooked. Camila Morrone is a find, rocking her role like a deranged Claire Danes, and the camera loves her. The audience will too. Hodge is one of those rare actors who literally cannot give a bad performance, and he holds up his end of the "deal," even with limited screen time. Recommended. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

FUN AND CLEVER

[jeromesgabilo · 6/10 · 18 March 2024]

It was definitely refreshing and amazing to have watched this sort of a movie nowadays when we get scarcity of thrilling and unexpected comedies. The plot was outstanding because it was flexible open to interpretation and easy to manipulate like what the director and writer just did. The protagonist's performance was so smart and clever die to his ability to portray such complex character that initially seemed innocent and unsuspecting to someone more sinister and clever. The scenes were also intelligently edited because there were no plotholes and the twist was satisfying in the end. The whole anagram thing was a bit corny though.

This is not my jam

[greyfeatherd · 10 February 2024]

In the world of cinema, where originality is the gold standard, "Marmalade" emerges as a film that, unfortunately, falls short of striking it rich. Directed by Keir O'Donnell in his debut feature, the film aspires to weave a tale of intrigue, love, and desperation but ends up tangled in its own ambitions.

The story centers around Baron, played with a naive charm by Joe Keery, who finds himself in prison recounting the convoluted series of events that led him there. His narrative is supposed to serve as the backbone of the film, offering a mix of flashbacks that intertwine with his current predicament. However, the story is as flimsy as a house of cards in a breeze, too weak to support the weight of its own aspirations.

O'Donnell's filmmaking is undeniably dynamic, a kinetic energy pulsating through each scene. Yet, this vibrancy feels more like a facade, a cover-up for the lack of originality and inspiration that plagues the film. It's as if the movie is dressed in a dazzling suit with nowhere to go, offering nice images that, upon closer inspection, reveal nothing but emptiness behind them.

The narrative attempts to take us on a journey through Baron's life, from his childhood in a wheat field to a desperate bank robbery orchestrated by the enigmatic Marmalade, played by Camila Morrone. This journey, however, quickly becomes tedious. Each new path we're taken down feels as routine and uninspired as the last, a sentiment echoed early on by Baron's cellmate Otis, portrayed with a weary patience by Aldis Hodge.

Otis's role in the film is emblematic of the audience's own experience: forced to listen to a story that struggles to justify its own existence. The interludes between Baron's storytelling and his interactions with Otis offer brief flashes of personality and cleverness, but they are mere islands in a sea of mediocrity.

The film's major twist, intended to shock and awe, instead comes across as a momentary jolt that quickly fades into the background. It's a testament to the film's inability to fully engage its audience, relying on shock value over substance. The characters, while quirky, feel too calculated, too deliberately eccentric without the depth needed to make them truly compelling.

"Marmalade" tries to be a twisty thriller but ends up twisting itself into knots. The plot, which should be the film's strongest asset, becomes its Achilles' heel. We're led to believe we're exploring uncharted territory, only to find ourselves walking in circles, covering familiar ground.

In the final act, the film attempts to shift gears, embracing its plot's winding nature with a newfound energy. Yet, this late-game attempt to salvage the narrative feels like too little, too late. The performances, particularly from Keery and Morrone, strive to inject life into their characters, but they're hamstrung by a script that doesn't quite know what it wants to be.

In conclusion, "Marmalade" is a film that promises much but delivers little. It's a cinematic journey that, despite its dynamic presentation and moments of fleeting charm, ultimately leads nowhere. It's a reminder that in filmmaking, as in storytelling, the substance is as important as style. And sadly, in the case of "Marmalade," it's a lesson learned too late.

A movie that thinks that it is much smarter than it actually is

[puzgolac · 4/10 · 18 February 2024]

This is the kind of movie that relies heavily on the story and its twists. Unfortunately, the story, while shiny on the outside, falls apart upon the slightest inspection. It is not original, and it is not nearly as clever as it thinks it is.

When the movie has such gaping plot holes, and requires such enormous suspension of disbelief, then it needs to be extremely fun in order to make up for it. But this movie is not fun. The pacing is uneven, sometimes it drags slower that the terrible southern drawl of the main character, and other times it tries to rush too many things into a few minutes. Despite being billed as a comedy too, all you get form it are just a few chuckles.

The acting is perhaps the best part of it, but that goes only for some of the supporting characters. Camila Morrone was excellent and Aldis Hodge did a solid job, although his acting is uneven - some moments he is excellent, some moments downright bad. Unfortunately, Joe Keery wasn't good, although his character was supposed to carry the movie. In keeping with the aforementioned lack of originality, two characters from two famous movies immediately jump out as the inspiration (to put it politely) for the main character, but the actors in those movies are light years ahead of Keery (I won't go into any details in order to avoid spoilers).

Overall not a terrible movie, but not a good one.

Panic Pixie Dream Girl to the extreme

[arc-ts · 1/10 · 26 February 2024]

I thought I knew Panic Pixie Dream Girl before this movie but all other Panic Pixie Drean Girl tropes pale in comparison to this movie. It was so painful to watch.

Good cast but terrible writing. The Marmalade character reads like a character written by a 13 year old boy who had never interacted with a real girl in his entire life.

It had potential but the pace of the story was so agonizingly slow. It has a normal runtime of around an hour and a half but feels like four very long hours.

I didn't care for it at all. I could not look past the Panic Pixie Dream Girl on steroids. Every scene with Marmalade just got worse and worse.

Delightfully unexpected

[littlebats · 10/10 · 27 February 2024]

This one was definitely a fun watch from start to finish. I really don't get surprised by movies very often, however I genuinely thrown off the trail of the true tale of the film, and every time I thought I had it figured out I'd be proven wrong.

It draws a lot of inspiration from a few very famous films, and gives you a few blatant tropes that at first make you roll your eyes a bit, but it all feels so deliberately just enough to make you confident in how wrong you are about the plot.

I am looking forward to watching this one again, for sure. All of the acting is fabulous, better than it might seem at first glance. It's a deceptively fabulous film. Don't judge this one on the surface alone, it's a great ride.

Absolutely Obsessed

[sensitiveprincess · 10/10 · 4 March 2024]

I think that this movie is great, it has become one of my favorites. The cast is absolutely amazing, they play off each other so well. Joe Keery as 'Baron' has got to be one of my favorite performances from him. I also loved seeing Camila Morrone as 'Marmalade' after seeing her in Daisy Jones & the Six, she's got such range. In the movie, all of the emotional beats hit and (almost) all of the comedy was great. After watching the trailers, I thought this was gonna be more of a 'manic pixie dream girl' situation, but I was so wrong. The movie really makes you interested in learning more about Marmalade and her past. If you think the movie sounds interesting, then I'd definitely recommend you watch it. <3.

Eat your heart out, Ed Norton

[mackshaw-21332 · 8/10 · 10 February 2024]

I thought this movie was absolutely terrific. It was fun, interesting, and refreshing, and any doubts or qualms I had with it in the beginning were resolved by the end.

In fact, a little ways into it I thought I had guessed then ending, and thought "wow, what a neat little concept." By the end, it had taken what I thought would happen and added a few twists, and really left me pleasantly surprised. I've seen plot progression similar to this before, but this really stuck the landing and left me wanting more (in a good way).

Some of the performances and character decisions do feel a little off in the beginning, but this makes sense at a certain point and becomes part of the charm.

As a directorial debut and possibly best performance yet by the rising Joe Keery, I have to go with a 10/10 for this one. I can't think of anything that would have enhanced it, and it all wrapped up in a satisfying, if not 100% original, way.

By the way, I only knew about this film because I follow Justin Long (apparently a friend of the director) on Instagram. Really curious as to how this gem slipped by with minimal promotion or recognition.

Unexpectedly Great

[deenkhalil · 10/10 · 17 April 2024]

I did not expect this movie to be as good as it was. I was looking to watch a descent enjoyable indie film starting Joe Keery, but it delivered much more. This movie had great writing, great casting, great lead acting, and some nice scenery. The plot was obviously what carried the film, but Keery's performance was really good. One thing that helps this movie is that it is not wifey advertised, meaning the audience doesn't have any pre conceived ideas on the movies. They have no idea what's going to happen, and they really used this to their advantage. Overall, one of my favorite movies, and an indie classic.

unique and unexpected

[poorpoorroddy · 10/10 · 12 February 2024]

This has to be the most unique movie I've seen in awhile. At first it seems like you know what you're getting into, but there are plot twists my family and I didn't see coming at all. Not to mention the cast really put their whole careers into this movie, in my opinion. There are also little easter eggs through out the entire movie that hint towards certain things at the end, which makes me excited to rewatch it and see what I missed and what makes more sense after knowing how it ends. I truly hope this movie and its cast / crew get at least a few awards for this. I've never written a review on here before but this movie warrants one.

Great fun.

[order-63027 · 8/10 · 5 April 2024]

Was not sure what to expect going into this as I'd never heard of "Marmalade" before. From the get go, it seemed to have a lot of charm and you knew there definitely laughs to be had. Joe Keery plays "Baron" a dimwitted bank robber who finds himself locked up alongside "Otis" played by Aldis Hodge. The pair strike up a friendship and immediately hatch a plan to escape, with Baron promising Otis a cut of his stashed cash. Not before Baron decides to tell his new buddy of his wonderful Bonnie & Clyde romance with " Marmalade"...

Nice wee indie film and easily worth an hour and a half of your time. Funny, heartfelt, with a few twists and turns capped off with some great performances.

Recommend!