When it comes to romantic comedies, I often have mixed feelings. They tackle familiar territory, sometimes in a rather clumsy way. However, Musica took me by surprise. It presents the mostly true story of an artist, Rudy Mancuso, who interprets life’s sounds in a unique way. The movie delivers this experience in a manner that feels genuine, realistic, and intriguing.
Based on the life experiences of filmmaker and star Rudy Mancuso, Musica follows the character Rudy as he comes close to completing his current educational goals while trying to decide how to proceed with his adult life in the real world. At the same time, Rudy struggles with ending one romantic relationship while attempting another that feels more akin to what he wants out of life.
After a heartbreaking end to his relationship with Haley (Francesca Reale) and an uncertain future ahead, Rudy finds himself attracted to a fellow Brazilian-American woman named Isabella (Camila Mendes), with whom he begins another relationship. Struggling with his synesthesia and with his plans for the future, Rudy has no idea how he wishes to proceed with his life. He faces several conflicts exacerbated by his culture, his mother, and internal conflicts about his life’s direction.
Written and directed by Rudy Mancuso, who co-wrote the screenplay with Dan Lagana, Musica is an absolute delight in rom-com cinema. The movie is a creative mix of maturing, navigating relationships, and dealing with cultural mores while its protagonist tries to find the right path for his future. His aptitude for music is exacerbated by his synesthesia, which plagues his everyday life and allows him to advance his artistic visions.
Mancuso and his crew do a fantastic job presenting to the audience what it is like to experience the world through Rudy Mancuso’s eyes and ears. I was very impressed with the exceptional sound design, choreography, and inventive visuals, which present how Rudy’s synesthesia impacts his perception of the world around him. Also, I was entertained and amused by the natural humor that resulted from this experience, along with the usual comedy that comes from this genre.
As an actor, Mancuso’s portrayal of Rudy is not only natural but also deeply relatable. While he may be playing a slightly fictional version of himself, his natural charisma works perfectly in giving the audience a protagonist they can truly connect with. I was also charmed by the performance of Camila Mendes, who brings to life Rudy’s main love interest Isabella. The film also features a very funny turn by J.B. Smoove, who plays Rudy’s friend and confidant Anwar.
Musica is now available for streaming via Amazon Prime and is a movie I highly recommend. Though I watched it in a theater, it would be ideally enjoyed in the comfort of one’s home. Rudy Mancuso is a creative and exciting artist, and I hope he will get the chance to do more exciting work. He has an excellent mind for comedy and music. I would love to see more movies from filmmaker, or even stage productions in the future.