Sitting in Bars with Cake movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Sitting in Bars with Cake

This BFF comedy/drama was released on September 8, 2023 on Amazon Prime.

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 2 hours

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: B+

IN A NUTSHELL:

The film is based on the real-life cookbook “Sitting in Bars with Cake” by Audrey Shulman.

Inspired by true events, Sitting in Bars with Cake follows best friends Jane (Yara Shahidi) and Corinne (Odessa A’zion) navigating life in Los Angeles in their twenties. Corinne, the ultimate extrovert, convinces her shy but extremely talented home baker best friend Jane to commit to a year of baking cakes and bringing them to bars with the goal of meeting people and developing confidence – which they call “cakebarring.” During their year of “cakebarring,” Corinne receives a life-altering diagnosis, and the pair face a challenge unlike anything they’ve experienced before. Sitting in Bars with Cake isn’t only a madcap joyride through some of L.A.’s most colorful watering holes, it’s a moving celebration of female friendship, forging identity, and finding joy in the most unexpected places.

THINGS I LIKED:

Yara Shahidi and Odessa A’Zion really knocked it out of the park in their roles in this movie. Well done, ladies! I really enjoyed both characters and loved their opposites-attract friendship.
Bette Midler! Yes! I just wish we could have heard the Divine Miss M. sing the closing song or something!
Corinne’s parents are hilarious and played by Ron Livingston and Martha Kelly. Their characters are so clearly defined and offer a nice balance to the other characters in the film.
Poppin soundtrack, which is appropriate since several characters work in the music business in the story.
You ARE going to get hungry for cake watching this. Mmm….cake.
I didn’t watch the trailer, so I was worried that the whole movie would just be about trampy girls hooking up with guys they met in bars, but it’s so much deeper and better than that.
Yes, you will cry.
At the end of the movie, we get to see photos of the real people this movie is about. I always love that.
It was entertaining to see which funky outfit Odessa A’Zion’s character would wear next.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

It’s annoying that all of Jane’s friends get so excited and congratulate Jane for making out with a complete stranger in a bar. Movie Review MOM advice: Get new friends if the ones you have encourage you to be a slut…
The film is advertised as a rom-com, but I wouldn’t call it that at all. Girls hook up with guys and break up. That’s not romance to me.
Be prepared for a switch in tone from lighthearted fun in bars to serious drama.
SPOILER: It doesn’t make sense that Jane brought cakes to bars in order to meet a nice guy. When she does find a great guy, she breaks up with him so she can continue baking cakes in order to meet a nice guy.
If you hadn’t seen the trailer or knew nothing about the film, you might assume it was a movie about a lesbian relationship based on the movie poster alone. It’s not.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

LOTS of alcohol.
A LOT of scenes in bars
Profanity, including 1 F-bomb
People get high on weed.
Some crude humor and situations.
Talk of an inappropriate photo on a cell phone.
An LGBTQ+ flag is featured many times.
Single people sleep together (we don’t see anything though)

THEMES:

Friendship
Community support
Anxiety
Baking
Cancer
Hope
To love and be loved
Finding your unique magic in the world

FUNNY LINES:

“Looks good.” – boyfriend “Thanks. Quality feedback.” – Jane (Yara Shahidi)
“You’re going to give your golden ideas to Benita and then you’ll find them in the garbage covered in keto dressing and contempt.” – Alex (Charlie Morgan Patton)
“It’s Los Angeles, okay; everyone here is weird.” – Corinne (Odessa A’zion)
“My general rule of thumb: if it works for Mr. Rogers, it works for me.” – Jane (Yara Shahidi)
“For the sake of our relationship, I can’t see your bare feet anymore.” – Corinne (Odessa A’zion)
“You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever known.” – Jane “Duh.” – Corinee